HOUSE OF COMMONS.

ORDER OF REFERENCE.

[Thursday, 8th March]:-Resolved, That it is expedient that a Select Committee of this House be appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords to examine the British Law as to the nationality of Married Women; to consider in their legal and practical aspects the questions involved in the possession by husband and wife of the same or of different nationalities; and with due regard thereto and to the operation of the laws of Foreign countries, to report what, if any, alteration of the British Law is desirable.-(Sir John Butcher.)

Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

[Thursday, 15th March]:-Message from The Lords,-That they concur in the Resolution communicated by this House: "That it is expedient that a Select Committee of the Commons be appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords to examine the British Law as to the nationality of Married Women; to consider in their legal and practical aspects the questions involved in the possession by husband and wife of the same or of different nationalities; and with due regard thereto, and to the operation of the laws of Foreign Countries, to report what, if any, alteration of the British Law is desirable.'

[Monday, 30th April]:-Ordered, That the Lords Message [15th March] relating to the appointment of a Joint Committee on Nationality of Married Women be now considered.-(Colonel Gibbs.)

Lords Message considered accordingly.

Ordered, That a Select Committee of Five Members be appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords to examine the British Law as to the nationality of Married Women; to consider in their legal and practical aspects the questions involved in the possesion by husband and wife of the same or of different nationalities; and with due regard thereto, and to the operation of the laws of Foreign countries, to report what, if any, alteration of the British Law is desirable.-(Colonel Gibbs.)

Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

Committee nominated of,-Mr. Willam Adamson, Sir John Butcher, Mr. Hughes, Sir Henry Norman, and Mrs. Wintringham.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for persons,
papers, and records.

Ordered, That Three be the quorum.-(Colonel Gibbs.)

[Wednesday, 2nd May]:-Message from The Lords.-That
they have appointed a Committee consisting of Five Lords to join
with a Committee of the Commons to examine the British Law
as to the Nationality of Married Women, &c., pursuant to the
Commons Message of yesterday, and they propose that the Joint
Committee do meet in Committee Room C. on Tuesday next, at
Twelve o'clock.

Lords Message considered.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House do meet the Lords
Committee as proposed by their Lordships.-(Colonel Leslie
Wilson.)

Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

[Thursday, 10th May] :-Ordered, That Sir Henry Norman be
discharged from the Joint Committee on Nationality of Married
Women.

Ordered, That Colonel Maurice Alexander be added to the
Committee.-(Colonel Gibbs.)

The Cost of preparing for publication the shorthand Minutes of
Evidence taken before the Committee was £70.

The Cost of printing and publishing this Volume is estimated by
the Stationery Office at £217 3s., in addition to £1 16s., the cost
of the separate issue of the Report.

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ON THE NATIONALITY OF MARRIED WOMEN.

REPORT

BY THE

SELECT COMMITTEE

appointed to join with a committee of the House of Commons on the Nationality of Married Women.

ORDERED TO REPORT :·

That the Committee have met to examine the British Law as to the Nationality of Married Women, to consider in their legal and practical aspects the questions involved in the possession by husband and wife of the same or of different Nationalities, and, with due regard thereto, and to the operation of the laws of foreign countries, to report what, if any, alteration of the British Law is desirable.

The Committee, having been unable to come to an agreement as to the form of a Report, have directed their proceedings, together with the evidence, to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

ON THE NATIONALITY OF MARRIED WOMEN.

LORDS AND MEMBERS PRESENT, AND MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT EACH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE.

It is moved that the Viscount Chelmsford do take the Chair.

The same is agreed to.

The Order of Reference is Read.

The course of Proceedings is considered.

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Thursday the 5th of June next at Eleven o'clock.

Lord STUART OF WORTLEY.

The Viscount CHELMSFORD in the Chair.

The Order of Adjournment is read.

The proceedings of Tuesday, the 8th of May last, are read.

It is moved that the Committee be an open one.

The same is agreed to.

The following witnesses are called in and examined (vide Minutes of Evidence): -Mr. O. F. Dowson, o.B.E., Assistant Legal Adviser to the Home Office. Sir John Risley, K.C.M.G., of the Colonial Office.

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Thursday next, at Eleven o'clock.

The Viscount CHELMSFORD in the Chair.

The Order of Adjournment is read.

The proceedings of Tuesday last are read.

The following witnesses are called in and examined (vide Minutes of Evidence): -Sir Cecil Hurst, K.C.B., K.C., Legal Adviser to the Foreign Office, and Mr. George Mounsey, O.B.E., of the Foreign Office, Sir Willoughby Dickinson, K.B.E.

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Tuesday next at Eleven o'clock.

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The Order of Adjournment is read.

The Proceedings of Thursday last are read.

Letters from the Colonial Office and from the Civil Service Commissioners are read.

Ordered, That they be printed as Appendices. and C.)

(See Appendices B

The following witnesses are called in and examined (vide Minutes of Evidence): -Sir Willoughby Dickinson, K.B.E. (re-called), Professor H. H. L. Bellot, D.C.L. (International Law Association), Mr. George Mounsey, O.B.E. (re-called).

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Thursday next, at Eleven o'clock.

The Viscount CHELMSFORD in the Chair.

The Order of Adjournment is read.

The Proceedings of Tuesday last are read.

The following witness is called in and examined (vide Minutes of Evidence): -Doctor Ernest J. Schuster, K.C., of the International Law Association.

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Tuesday next at Eleven o'clock.

Die Martis, 190 Junii, 1923.

PRESENT:

Viscount CHELMSFORD.

Lord ERSKINE.

Lord DESART (E. DESART).

Mr. W. ADAMSON.
Colonel M. ALEXANDER.
Sir John BUTCHER.
Mrs. WINTRINGHAM.

Lord STUART OF WORTLEY.

The Viscount CHELMSFORD in the Chair.

The Order of Adjournment is read.

The proceedings of Thursday last are read.

The following witnesses are called in and examined (vide Minutes of Evidence): -Mr. Wyndham Bewes, L.L.B., of the International Law Association, Miss Chrystal Macmillan, representing the National Council of Women of Great Britain and Ireland, and the International Woman Suffrage Alliance.

Ordered, That the Committee be adjourned to Thursday next at Two o'clock.