Skip to main content

Geneva Conventions (British Reservations)

Volume 478: debated on Wednesday 25 October 1950

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

109.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reservations were attached to British signatures to the Geneva Conventions, set out in Command Paper No. 8033; and when those Conventions will be ratified by this country.

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom reserved the right to impose the death penalty in accordance with the provisions of Article 68, paragraph 2 of the Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War without regard to whether the offences referred to therein were punishable by death under the law of the occupied territory at the time the occupation begins. Similar reservations were made by the representatives of Canada and New Zealand. In addition, New Zealand made a reservation to Article 70.The ratification of the Conventions by this country is being given urgent consideration and a decision on this matter will be reached at the earliest possible date.