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One interesting point about the Hague Convention (and the Geneva Convention as well) is that they apply only when the signatory nations are fighting each other, not within those nations or in their colonies. So the British didn't need to worry about jacketed bullets until the war with Germany, another "civilized" nation. Up to then it was a matter of "police action" within their "own" territory (India, etc.).
IIRC, the U.S. never signed either convention, but has agreed to abide by them. But it is a fine legal point whether either the Hague or Geneva conventions apply to fighting an organization like Al Qaeda, which is not a nation or a political entity and not a signatory.
It is interesting that British troops were issued lead bullets in WWII, though; technically, the Germans could have shot those soldiers if they were captured. Not that the British did a lot of shooting with their .380 and .455revolvers. The normal issue was 12 rounds (one box) of ammo, and there was one more box in unit supply if needed. So it was, "Here are your twelve rounds of ammo, Leftenant Smedley, now carry on with the war." No wonder they resorted to things like crimping the rims of 9mm and using them in their revolvers.
Jim
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