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" (b.) Where a bilateral treaty imposes obligations on more than one part of the Empire the treaty should be signed by one or more plenipotentiaries on behalf of all the Governments concerned. " (c.) As regards treaties negotiated at international conferences, the existing practice of signature by plenipotentiaries on behalf of all the Governments of the Empire represented at the conference should be continued, and the full powers should be in the form employed at Paris and Washington. " 3. Ratification. —The existing practice in connection with the ratification of treaties should be maintained. "IT. " Apart from treaties made between heads of States, it is not unusual for agreements to be made between Governments. Such agreements, which are usually of a technical or administrative character, are made in the names of the signatory Governments, and signed by representatives of those Governments, who do not act under full powers issued by the heads of the States : they are not ratified by the heads of the States, though in some cases some form of acceptance or confirmation by the Governments concerned is employed. As regards agreements of this nature the existing practice should be continued, but before entering on negotiations the Governments of the Empire should consider whether the interests of any other part of the Empire may be affected, and, if so, steps should be taken to ensure that the Government of such part is informed of the proposed negotiations, in order that it may have an opportunity of expressing its views." The resolution was submitted to the full Conference and unanimously approved. It was thought, however, that it would be of assistance to add a short explanatory statement in connection with Part I (3), setting out the existing procedure in relation to the ratification of treaties. This procedure is as follows : — (a.) The ratification of treaties imposing obligations on one part of the Empire is effected at the instance of the Government of that part. (b.) The ratification of treaties imposing obligations on more than one part of the Empire is effected after consultation between the Governments of those parts of the Empire concerned. It is for each Government to decide whether parliamentary approval or legislation is required before desire for, or concurrence in, ratification is intimated by that Government. X.- THE UNITED STATES AND "C " MANDATES. Certain general questions concerning the territories in South-west Africa and the southern Pacific administered under " C " mandates had been raised by the Government of the United States of America, and the opportunity of the Conference was taken to examine these questions. XL CONDOMINIUM IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. The developments in the New Hebrides since the Conference of 1921 were examined, and the present situation and possibilities of action further discussed by representatives of the British Government in consultation with the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand. XII. DEFENCE. The Conference gave special consideration to the question of defence, and the manner in which co-operation and mutual assistance could best be effected after taking into account the political and geographical conditions of the various parts of the Empire. The Lord President of the Council, as Chairman of the Committee of Imperial Defence, opened this part of the work of the Conference by a statement outlining the main problems of defence as they exist to-day. He was followed by the First

2—A. 6.