asked the Minister for External Affairs whether any decision has yet been reached as to the adherence of the Saorstát to the Protocol of the Permanent Court of International Justice, and whether it is proposed to consult the Dáil before the Protocol is signed on behalf of the Saorstát.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
After a further examination of our position with reference to the Court of International Justice it was decided that as the ratification of the late United Kingdom covered the Irish Free State, and as we could be held to be bound by it, the League should be notified that we wished to be placed on the list of States that had accepted the statute. The League was so informed on August 25th.
Will the Minister say whether that in any way constitutes a new covenant or a new agreement entered into by the Free State Government with other nations, or am I to understand from his reply that it is merely an acceptance of a covenant that had already been entered into on behalf of the Free State?
It is merely a request that our name should be put down as adhering to a covenant which we were actually bound by.