NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1062, 27 February 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

The decision of The Haguo Tribunal in tho Savarkar caso has an aspect that is worth notice. This Hindu criminal was being conveyed by sea from England to Bombay to stand his trial on charges ;of sedition and incitement to murder. Whilo tho ship lay at Marseilles ho managed to oscapo through a porthole and swim ashore, where he was arrested by_ a, gendarme and returned to the English detectives. France claimed that by touching French soil Savarkar becamo inaccessible to the British 'authorities,- and. that he should accordingly be handed back by Britain; but the British Government, staking its case on its knowledge of international law, carried the man to India, and left him for trial- at. Bombay. The Hague Tribunal has now affirmed that Franco has no claim that can be recognised. The chief interest of tho case was in the attitude'of tho anti-Imperial or extreme Kadical press of Britain. Almost with one accord they shrieked for tho surrender of Savarkar to France. -His rc-arfest they, described as "a lawless act," and they implored France to stand firm and i'orce the British authorities to make what would have been a stupid and ignominious surrender. It was not that they really cared for international law any more : than, as the Tribunal's _ decision shows, they understood its principles. .It was enough that they saw what seemed a magnificent chance' to "play down" to tho sedition-mongers in India with tho spectacle of "hateful" Britain being forced to,"disgorge her prey." It is doubtless a bitter disappointment, not only to these extremists, but to the assassins of Hindu nationalism,, that Savarkar must now pay the penalty of his crimes.

A definite invitation has at last 'been received for eight of our members of Parliament to visit England during tho period of the Coronation ccremonieß. .Tho invitation comes from a combined committee of members of tho House of Lords and House of Commons and covers the cost of accommodating and entertaining our Parliamentarians during the fortnight over which the Coronation celebrations will bo spread. Sir Joseph Ward proposes that the invitations should bo placed at the service of fivo Government supporters and- three members of the Opposition. Presumably this covers members of both Houses of the Legislature; and no _ exception can be taken:to the division stated, even when it is borne in mind that two members of the Cabinet will also be present at tho Coronation proceedings; The invitation will no doubt be properly appreciated by tho country as : well. as. by members of Parliament.. It is very gratifying to find the members of. the British Par■liament this interest in their brother Parliamentarians at this end of the Empire, and even though it may not prove possible for members of the New Zealand Parliament to take full advantage of the opportunity thus held out to them, the spirit underlying tho invitation cannot fail to leave a very pleasant impression. Sir. Joseph Ward has telegraphed to members w*ith a view to ascertaining who would care to mako tho trip and this information will no doubt be' forthcoming within the next day or two. It will be noted that the invitation docs not cover the cost of the passages Home of those who may make thojourney. These will require to be paid by the members themselves. It is possible, of course, that seme attempt may be made to extract the cost from* the public purse. This would bo a most improper, thing, and if the suggestion is made we trust it will be 'promptly rejected by- the Government The invitation is not an official one; the cost of entertaining our legislators in London will, presumably, come out of tho pockets of individual members cf the British Parliament, and any cf our own members who-carc to make'the trip will recogniso that it must be at- their own expense. In any, case tho Do-

minion should not bo put to an' additional expense which is quite unnecessary in view of tho otlicial representation of the country already provided for.