A TEST VOTE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1929, Page 6

A TEST VOTE

IN HOUSE OF LORDS. (United Press Association —By Eleetrir Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, May 2. In the House of Lords, Viscount Cecil moved: “That in the opinion of the House of Lords, the time has arrived when the British Government should sign the Optional Clause of the League of Nations Covenant, providing for the judicial settlement of intern at ion a 1 d i sprites. ’ ’ The Lord Chancellor said that the Government could not accept this motion. It was not a question of the desirability. of arbitration, or the acceptance of the International Court at The Hague. It wn** a question of whether it uas expedient, in the interests of Britain and the Empire, to sign this clause now. The Lord Chancellor pointed out that in the event of a dispute between Britain and one Dominion, or more than one of the Dominions, it would be most undesirable to go to the International Court. The feeling of the Imperial Conference of 1926 was opposed to- this course, and it was decided not to take any action without further discussion. The Dominions, ait present, were considering a non arbitration treaty with . the United States. Beth the Dominions and Britain thought that the American treaty ought to lie concluded before they signed the League optional clause. Britain had more often 10sorted to The Hague Arbitration Court than had any other country, lutematinnl law, he said, was being amplified and modified, in the hope that the time wo.uld arrive when the Empire would he able to accept that Court’s compulsory jurisdiction, with or without reservations. Lord Reading said that the fact that sixty of the nations have, now agreed to tlie Kellogg Pact nas the strongest argument in favour of the motion of Lord Cecil. Lord Salisbury said that the Government had repeatedly affirmed the manciple of arbitration as ail alternative to war. but that they should not be too precipitate and lose their heads Lord Cecil insisted on a division. The motion was then negatived by 26 votes to 19.