GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1928, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) ADMIRALTY’S STAFF. LONDON, Jan. 19. Admiral Sir Ohas. Madden told an audience at the United Service Institute that he was naturally surprised to learn of the Select Committee’s inquiry, because lie had read of it then for the first time. I thought as I am Chief of Staff, that I might have been consulted.”

A DETERMINING FACTOR. LONDON. Jan. 18. “There are some questions which no country could safely submit to arbitration,” says the British memoiyq- "T iluni to the League of Nations, npixlf-ws _ f of forthcoming discussions by the Security Committee of the Disarmament Preparatory Committee. The memorandum adds: “Countries usually make reservations when agreeing to arbitrate because they know there is a point beyond which they cannot count upon their own peoples. Article Thirteen of the Nation’s Covenant recognises that there are limits beyond which States cannot bind them- . selves. The only sanction behind nr- v bitration treaties, consists in the A world’s public opinion. A premature development of the arbitration ideal would prejudice the movement in favour of arbitration, which is steadily advancing and might embitter relations between two countries concerned. instead of improving them. “It is not the giving of a decision which is important, but the acceptance thereof. An award which one party had refused would give arbitration a setback. The time is not yet ripe for a general system of sanctions for the enforcement of awards. The only effective sanction suggested consists of an agreement with other States to employ force and compel acceptance. It is improbable that any powerful nation would undertake such a generaobligation. Even the parties to the Locarno Treaty only gave an undertaking to comply with the proposals made by the League Council. An arbitration treaty which outruns public opinion, merely deceives the public. The memorandum considers it. best ,to hasten slowly, to enable nations to understand each other better, and allow respect for international law to develop. The memorandum indicates two lines upo-n which progress is possible. Firstly, by the inclusion in any treaty of an undertaking to arbitrate disputes arising from the application or interpretation of that treaty; and secondly, of th ewidening of agreements dealing with justifiable disputes, and the pledging of contracting parties to submit such disputes to arbitration. DUKE’S PROPOSAL. LONDON, Jan. 18. “There is a growing feeling among school children that the slogan of ‘safety first’ means your own safety first, and he Mowed to anybody elseV said Alderman Jenkinson, Chairman of the Committee, at the National Safety First Association meeting. A heated discussion arose over a letter from the Duke of York, suggesting a change of name, because the present title lent itself to satire. The, Duke expressed his willingness to meet a deputation and explain his reasons for desiring the alteration. A member, Mr J. Sutcliffe, protested that opponents of the present title were cranks and faddists. He said that sonic people argued that unless’" the title was changed, the Association would lose the Duke’s patronage, hut, . he (Mr Sutcliffe) thought the suggestion was a poor compliment to the Duke. Other mondievs argued that the title only meant: “Be careful when crossing roads.” A decision was deferred till a subsequent meeting.