N.Z. AND WORLD PEACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 755, 30 August 1929, Page 6

N.Z. AND WORLD PEACE

PRIME MINISTER’S LIPS SEALED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Thursday. Replying to a deputation from the New Zealand Council of the League of Nations, which asked the Governinent to accept the principle of arbitration in all international disputes, and, as a first step, to sign the op! tional cause of the statute of the Court, of International Justice, Sir Joseph Ward said he was very much interested in the request. He agreed with a great deal of what the deputation had said, but he wanted to make his position clear. He could not give a definite answer, because continuous communications went on between the Government in the Old Country and the Governments of overseas Dominions. As a rule, they were strictly confidential untii a definte conclusion was reached, when the results could be announced officially. in connection with the matters represented by the deputation, there were important conferences taking place in England at which New Zealand had a representative, who was in confidential communication with him. Sir Joseph said that if he were to state what he proposed to do, his opinions would be published in the Press in England, and it would be a case of putting the cart before the horse. Therefore he regretted that he could not discuss the questions raised as freely as the deputation might wish. Another request of the deputatiOH was that facilities should be given for the instruction of children in the aims and objects of the League, as was done in England. Sir Joseph said he w ould rather not discuss the matter in detail at the moment. He believed, however, it w-as very important that the school children should be educated in regard to the League, and he thought they were working all the time toward the time when peace w-ould be assured. Anything he could do he would be happy to do.