CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 216

(15190/12).

214

consider whether, in view of the abstention or

refusal to sign on the part of any state or states,

it is possible to proceed to the ratification of the

Convention. If it is decided at this Conference to

ratify the Convention, some months must necessarily

elapse before all the ratifications can be deposited,

and even the bills of laws to give effect to the

provisions of the Convention need not be presented

to Parliament till nine months after the date on

which the last instrument of ratification has been

received.

It therefore seems probable that it will be

1

nearer two years than one before His Majesty's

Government will have to bring in a bill on the subject.

In these circumstances Sir E. Grey is of opinion that

it would be wiser to defer the consideration of the

legislation involved until it is known that the

Convention will be ratified.

With regard to Mr. Harcourt's suggestion that

this Department should take the initiative in inviting

the

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