Written Answers
Salvage Cases
asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can now give information respecting the salvage of the. "Demodocus," "Kingstonian," "Ogono," and "Mitra"?
The cases of the "Demodocus," "Kingstonian" and "Ogono" are still under consideration. As regards the "Mitra," the vessel was privately owned; the Government does not accept liability, and a claim will be made by the Crown.
Peace Treaty (Opium Convention)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the terms of Article 295 of the Treaty of Peace, those Powers which have already ratified the International Opium Convention of 1912 and are parties to the Peace of Versailles will be held to have signed the Special Protocol which was opened at the Hague in accordance with the Resolutions adopted by the third Opium Conference, in 1914, for bringing the Opium Convention into force?
Paragraph 3 of Article 295 of the Peace Treaty implies clearly that ratification of the Peace Treaty is to be interpreted as covering both ratification of the Opium Convention and signature of the Special Protocol which was opened at the Hague in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the Third Opium Conference in 1914 for bringing the said Convention into force; all the more then must it be held to cover signature of the Special Protocol in the case of those Powers which have already ratified the Opium Convention.