At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 30th day of September, 1953

Present,

The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Whereas by Section 6 (1) of the Consular Conventions Act, 1949, (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") it is enacted that Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that Sections one and two or Section four of the Act (which provide for the exercise by consular officers of certain powers in relation to the property of deceased persons, and for the restriction of the powers of entry in relation to consular offices) shall apply to any foreign State specified in the Order, being a State with which a Consular Convention providing for matters for which provision is made by those Sections has been concluded by Her Majesty;

And Whereas a Consular Convention(1) (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") between His late Majesty King George the Sixth in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the President of the French Republic was signed at Paris on the 31st day of December, 1951, which provides for matters for which provision is made in the said Sections one and two and Section four, and which takes effect on the thirtieth day after the date of exchange of instruments of ratification;

And Whereas Her Majesty desires to ratify the Convention:

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue and in exercise of the powers in this behalf conferred on Her by the Act or otherwise in Her Majesty vested, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows: