CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 17

the but one presidency (Montreal)

h

the Leerands have passed byislation

sent it home. Ituis has passed an

ate but it has not get wached no Ihr S. A. Ports & Zanzilas hast dome nothing so far, wit is possible that 77. may want to ratify before there last places come

? Con cer in proponat

A24/1/14

(All to Dom

en)

RAP the 28/114

18. 1. 1

Alone M.2.6.1.14

In any further communication

on this subject, please quote

No.

32/14.

and addross-

Tho Under-Secretary of State.

Foreign Ofios.

Sir:-

London.

C.O

2715

18 23:4

FOREIGN OFFICE

15

January 22, 1914.

!

I am directed by Secretary Sir E.Grey to inform

you that attention has been called to the fact that no

provision is included in the International Opium

Convention for the accession of colonies or dependencies

subsequent to ratification of the Convention by the

mother country.

Great Britain is naturally affected in an especial

degree by this omission. The effect of it will be that,

if this country ratifies, the subsequent accession of

colonies outstanding at the time of ratification will

not be covered by that ratification and separate rati-

fications would be required to cover every occasion when

the Convention was signed in respect of a colony for

which there is no precedent.

The simplest way out of this difficulty would be

to suggest to the Netherland Government that a protocol

should be drawn up to provide for future accessions,

and

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.