Protocol for the Prohibition
of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological
Methods of Warfare
(February 1928)
Wilson's Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles
represented an idealistic view of a peaceful twentieth century after the
astonishing horrors of World War One. Although the rise of Hitler
soon ended this optimism, the governments of many countries made an honest
effort in the 1920s to move toward disarmament and to abolish whole classes
of weapons. This Geneva convention of 1928 was the first really "modern"
agreement on the limitation of warfare. It is still in effect, although
amended by many subsequent treaties and protocols.
8 February 1928
The undersigned Plenipotentiaries, in
the name of their respective governments:
Whereas the use in war of asphyxiating,
poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices,
has been justly condemned by the general opinion of the civilised world;
and
Whereas the prohibition of such use
has been declared in Treaties to which the majority of Powers of the world
are Parties; and
To the end that this prohibition shall
be universally accepted as a part of International Law, binding alike the
conscience and the practice of nations;
Declare:
That the High Contracting Parties, so
far as they are not already Parties to Treaties prohibiting such use, accept
this prohibition, agree to extend this prohibition to the use of bacteriological
methods of warfare and agree to be bound as between themselves according
to the terms of this declaration.
The High Contracting Parties will exert
every effort to induce other States to accede to the present Protocol.
Such accession will be notified to the Government of the French Republic,
and by the latter to all signatories and acceding Powers, and will take
effect on the date of the notification by the Government of the French
Republic.
The present Protocol, of which the English
and French texts are both authentic, shall be ratified as soon as possible.
It shall bear to-day's date.
The ratifications of the present Protocol
shall be addressed to the Government of the French Republic, which will
at once notify the deposit of such ratification to each of the signatory
and acceding Powers.
The instruments of ratification of and
accession to the present Protocol will remain deposited in the archives
of the Government of the French Republic.
The present Protocol will come into
force for each signatory Power as from the date of deposit of its ratification,
and, from that moment, each Power will be bound as regards other Powers
which have already deposited their ratifications.
In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries
have signed the present Protocol.
Done at Geneva in a single
copy, the seventeenth day of June, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five.