Britain Rejects Forced Arbitration

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 9

Britain Rejects Forced Arbitration

MODEL TREATY IDEA LEAGUE COUNCIL IMPRESSED

By Cattle.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 10.45 a.m. GENEVA, Tuesday. Lord Cushendun deeply impressed the Council of the League of Nations by his declaration of the Empire’s unequivocal rejection of compulsory arbitration under the proposed model treaty.

“Our far-flung Empire,” he said, “is a different problem from that which confronts other nations. We are unable to commit the nations of the Empire to obligations which are at present unmeasurable. “In any case,” he asked, “can anyone say the extent to which the model treaty would justify them in specifically declaring their readiness to reduce their armaments?” The most definite event of the opening day was the production by the Committee on Arbitration and Security of a draft of a model treaty for the judicial settlement of disputes by arbitration and conciliation. It consisted of 38 articles.

Lord Cushendun, in a lengthy explanation, intimated that Britain could not accept the optional clause in regard to submitting disputes to the International Court of Justice. France is so far the only great Power to have signed the optional clause. The Council discussed at length the non-ratification of agreements and conventions concluded under the League of Nations’ auspices. Sir Austen Chamberlain cited the opium and other important conventions, and pressed for immediate ratification, pointing out that the non-ratification was endangering the League. He urged that there should be fewer conventions and more ratifications.

It was finally decided to place the whole question on the next Council agenda paper.

There has been considerable comment in League circles on the Note from the United States to France. The general impression is that America’s proposals need elucidation. When they are examined closely they do not reveal any material difference from the League's Covenant. It is freely stated that the United States could work more effectively for world peace by joining the League. Prominent members of the Council also express the opinion that the peace of Europe would be on a safer basis if Signor Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy could be induced to take a personal part in the work of the League. The Council’s hopes that the first General Disarmament Conference would be held this year have been shattered, as it is now announced that all the resolutions adopted by the Committee on Arbitration and Security will oe subject to approval by the Assembly of the League, and as the Assembly only meets in September a disarmament conference will be impossible before 1929.