T.M. Healy to the Duke of Devonshire (London)
(No. 462)

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to Mr. Thomas's despatch No. 628 of the 4th ultimo relative to the registration of the Treaty at the Secretariat of the League of Nations, ¹ and to state that Article 18 of the Convention of the League clearly imposes upon States Members of the League an obligation to deposit for registration all Treaties and International engagements entered into by them.

2. Inasmuch as the Irish Free State is a member of the League and as the Treaty is the basis of the relations existing between the Irish Free State and the remaining members of the Commonwealth[,] also States Members of the League, my Ministers were and are convinced that, in pursuance of Article 18 of the Covenant, it was eminently their duty to deposit the Treaty for registration. Action to this effect was accordingly taken and the Treaty was duly registered on the 11th July of the present year.

3. As a condition of admission to membership of the League the Irish Free State gave guarantee of its sincere intention to observe its international obligations and to carry out all the obligations involved in membership of the League. In the opinion of my Ministers the view, expressed on behalf of the British Government in the despatch under reply, that the terms of Article 18 of the Covenant are not applicable to the Treaty, constitutes a disavowal of that Article of the Covenant and would, if accepted by my Ministers, involve a repudiation of their guarantees. My Ministers are, therefore, unable to accept that view.