This snapshot, taken on , shows web content acquired for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search may not work in archived websites and contact details are likely to be out of date.

 

 

The UK Government Web Archive does not use cookies but some may be left in your browser from archived websites.

Advanced search

Our publications

• Annual reports and official publications
• Special collections
• Treaty command papers and explanatory memoranda
• Treaty Command Papers by date
• Explanatory Memoranda
• Treaty Command Papers by subject
• Treaties
• Transfer of 1981 and 1982 FCO files to The National Archives
• Transparency and data
• Colonial administration files
• Freedom of information

Treaty command papers and explanatory memoranda

The responsibility for concluding treaties involving the UK lies with the Foreign Secretary.

The FCO publishes these treaties as Command Papers and Explanatory Memoranda (EM).

Command Papers – which include a variety of documents, not just treaties – are prepared by the Government and presented to Parliament.

The name Command stems from the presentation process: in the official language the documents are "presented to Parliament by command of Her/His Majesty". 

This segment of our website lists Treaty Command Papers published since January 1999 and, where relevant, the accompanying EM. Our UK Treaties Online database includes the full text of Treaty Series Command Papers up to and including 1997. You can view them:

• in publication date order
• alphabetically by subject

 Explanatory Memoranda are all in date order.

Contact us

Our Treaty Enquiry Service (which is free of charge) is open from 0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday.

Tel: 020 7008 1109.

Email:treaty.fco@gtnet.gov.uk

Written enquiries can also be made to:

Treaty Enquiry Service
Legal Advisers Directorate
Rm WH. MZ 23
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
London
SW1A 2AH

 

See also