LEAGUE COUNCIL SEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 9

LEAGUE COUNCIL SEAT

FREE STATE SEEKS TO REPLACE CANADA EMPIRE COURT PROPOSED Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.14 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. It is officially confirmed that tile Irish Free State has informed the other of her candidature for a seat on the League - Council in 1930. The Australian and New Zealand Press Association is informed that its announcement takes too much for granted, as there is no justification for assuming that Australia will press its claims as the next senior Dominion, the principle to which the Free State’ objects. The earlier message said it was understood that the Irish Free State had definitely decided to contest the Dominions seat on the Council of the League of Nations in 1930 with the idea of replacing Canada. I This was not intended as a slight to Australia, but as a protest against the seniority’ idea. The Irish Free State Is notifying the other Dominions that it is agreeable to the creation of a Commonwealth Court of Appeal to consist of the Empire’s Chief Justices, to deal with inter-Dominion disputes. Even bigger issues than the Optional Clause of the World Court statute were involved in the almost daily Anglo-Dominion conferences during the recent League Assembly. The question of Dominion independence has gained much prominence. The whole relations of Britain and the Dominions were discussed, differences of such a nature being .produced that the next Imperial Conference will be faced with inter-imperial problems as important its those of 192 G. The Irish Free State and, to a lesser extent, by virtue of the League Covenant, South Africa and Canada, made the assembly the occasion to claim every right of independence of action. The meetings did not achieve much adjustment, the issues being too important for the delegates to act, and the decision must rest with the Prime Ministers after mutual discussions. These meetings, although they were friendly, were most outspoken, Canada, particularly, taking a strong stand in the matter of the Optional Clause, declaring that she would make her own reservations and would not be tied to Britain’s apron strings. NEED OF EMPIRE COURT Canada was clearly of the opinion that Geneva was the place to show her independence. The Dominions’ resentment of the British Cabinet’s assumption that they would quickly follow Britain’s example in signing the Optional Clause contributed to later complications, one of which was the question of what would happen in the event of an inter-Dominion dispute which the majority did not desire to submit to The Hague or the Privy Council. It became understood that South Africa desired the establishment of an Empire Court, compulsorily to arbitrate in such matters, which was discussed with similar questions without a decision being reached. Mr. Louw (South Africa), in his speech, said: “South Africa recognises the right of The Hague to settle international disputes, but prefers settlement by other means.” An indication of the measure of independence that some Dominions claim was given by Mr. Henderson’s speech, in which he said, “They are international units in the fullest sense.”