OPTIONAL CLAUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 9

OPTIONAL CLAUSE

WHOLE EMPIRE TO SIGN TODAY CEREMONY AT GENEVA Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9 a.m. GENEVA, Wed. The whole of the British delegations except the Irish Free State will ceremonially sign the optional clause in an agreed form tomorrow. It is understood that the form limits acceptance to ten years, and includes disputes between members of the British Empire, also those falling within the jurisdiction of the Empire Courts. A Geneva message on Monday said: The prospect of finding a universal form of acceptance of the optional clause -of the International Court on behalf of the whole British Empire was changed at the week-end by the act of the Irish Free State representative, who signed it unconditionally, except that it is subject to ratification by the BailIt is understood that South Africa views the matter in the same way. Notwithstanding the action of the Irish Free State, however, the Empire representatives are continuing their consultations, not very hopefully, with the aim of arriving at a common form of acceptance of the clause. By signing the optional clause, which is in the Covenant of the League of Nations, the nations of the Empire agree to refer all disputes to the World Court of International Justice for arbitration.