ACCESSION to the International Convention for the creation of an International Agricultural Institute.-Rome, June 7, 1905.(1)

IRISH Free State became a member of the Institute (Group IV of Article 10) the 15th April, 1924.

(1) Vol. C, page 595.

ACCESSION to the International Red Cross Convention.— Geneva, July 6, 1906.(1)

ACCESSIONS to the International Convention relative to the International Circulation of Motor Vehicles.-Paris, October 11, 1909.(1)

Saar Basin. Territory of... July 3, 1924.

(1) Vol. CII, page 64.

(2) Notification made that Irish Free State considers itself bound

by the Convention.

(3) With effect as from May 1, 1925.

RATIFICATIONS, &c., of the International Convention for the Suppression of the "White Slave Traffic."-Paris, May 4, 1910, (1)

RATIFICATION, &c., of the International Agreement for the Suppression of Obscene Publications.-Paris, May 4, 1910.(1)

ACCESSIONS to the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.-Washington, June 2, 1911.(1)

ACCESSIONS to the International Radiotelegraph Convention.-London, July 5, 1912.(1)

RATIFICATIONS of the International Convention and Protocol relative to the Simplification of Customs Formalities. -Geneva, November 3, 1923.(1)

(1) Vol. CXVII, page 408.

August 29, 1924.
August 29, 1924.
September 11, 1924.
October 4, 1924.
May 17, 1924.

June 13, 1924.

(2) Not ratified in respect of Canada, Irish Free State, Newfoundland, Irak and Nauru.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION and Statute on the International Régime of Railways and Protocol of Signature.-Geneva, December 9, 1923.(1)

[Ratifications deposited on behalf of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, August 29, 1924, and on behalf of New Zealand (including Western Samoa) and India, April 1, 1925.]

THE British Empire (with New Zealand and India), Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, the Free City of Danzig, Spain, Esthonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Salvador, Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Siam, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Uruguay,

Desirous of making provision to secure and maintain freedom of communications and transit, and of promoting for that purpose international co-operation in the organisation and working of railway traffic;

Being also desirous of ensuring the application of the principle of the equitable treatment of commerce to the international régime of railways;

Considering that the best method of achieving their present purpose is by means of a general Convention to which the greatest possible number of States can later accede;

(1) Treaty Series, No. 23 (1925)" (Cmd. 2418). Signed also in the French language.

Recognising that international agreement in respect of railway transport has already been the subject of many special Conventions between States and between railway administrations, and that it is precisely by means of such special Conventions that international co-operation in this domain can make the most effective progress in the practical application of principles established by a general Convention;

Considering, however, that, so far from limiting the effect and scope of such special Conventions or interfering with direct relations and negotiations between railway administrations, or in any way affecting the rights of sovereignty or authority of States, it is, on the contrary, by a concise and systematic codification of recognised international obligations. in respect of international railway traffic that the principles already established between certain States or certain Administrations can be given the widest possible extension, and that in the future the conclusion of new special Conventions, to suit the requirements and developments of international traffic, can be facilitated in the greatest possible

measure;

And whereas the conference which met at Barcelona on the 10th March, 1921, on the invitation of the League of Nations, recommended that a general Convention on the international régime of railways should be concluded within a period of two years; and whereas the conference which met at Genoa on the 10th April, 1922, requested, in a resolution which was transmitted to the competent organisations of the League of Nations with the approval of the Council and the Assembly of the League, that the international Conventions relating to the régime of communications contemplated by the Treaties of Peace should be concluded and put into operation as soon as possible; and whereas Article 379 of the Treaty of Versailles and the corresponding Articles of the other Treaties provided for the preparation of a general Convention on the international régime of railways;

Having accepted the invitation of the League of Nations to take part in the conference which met at Geneva on the 15th November, 1923;

Anxious to bring into force the provisions of the Statute relating to the international régime of railways adopted thereat and to conclude a general Convention for this purpose: The High Contracting Parties have appointed as their plenipotentiaries

The President of the German Reich: Dr. Seeliger, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit; and M. Paul Wolf, Ministerial Counsellor in the Ministry of Communications, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

The President of the Austrian Republic: M. Emerich Pflügl, Resident Minister, representative of the Federal Government accredited to the League of Nations, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

His Majesty the King of the Belgians: M. Xavier Neujean, Minister of Railways, Mercantile Marine, Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones of Belgium, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil Commandant-Major E. Leitão de Carvalho, Staff Officer, Professor of the Staff College at Rio de Janeiro, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit; and M. Eliseu da Fonseca Montarroyos, member of the Advisory and Technical Committee for Communications and Transit, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India: Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith, G. C.B., Chief Economic Adviser of the British Government, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

For the Dominion of New Zealand: the Honourable Sir James Allen, K.C.B., High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom;

For India the Right Hon. Lord Hardinge of Penshurst, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., I.S.O., Privy Councillor, former Viceroy, former Ambassador; His Majesty the King of the Bulgarians: M. D. Mikoff, Chargé d'Affaires at Berne;

The President of the Republic of Chile: M. Francisco Rivas Vicuña, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Federal Council, to the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, to the President of the Austrian Republic and to His Serene Highness the Governor of Hungary, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

His Majesty the King of Denmark: M. P. A. HolckColding, Director of Section at the Ministry of Public Works, member of the Advisory and Technical Committee for Communications and Transit, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

The President of the Polish Republic, for the Free City of Danzig: Professor Bohdan Winiarski, vice-chairman of the Advisory and Technical Committee for Communications and Transit, delegate at the Second General Conference on Communications and Transit;

His Majesty the King of Spain: M. Guillermo Brockmann