"SECRET DIPLOMACY."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 10

"SECRET DIPLOMACY."

THE OPTIONAL CLAUSE

LABOUR MEMBERS COMPLAIN

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Keporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The attitude of New Zealand towards the optional clause of the Statute for the Court of International Justice was discussed in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the subject l>eing raised by Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour, party, who formally moved the adjournment to give the opportunity of debate. Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Holland pointed out, were the only two portions of the British Empire which had not yet signified adherence.

He considered that it fras due to Parliament to know what was the attitude adopted by the Government, which was a minority Government, and might conceivably run the risk of having its undertaking repudiated by the House when submitted for confirmation. Acceptance of the clause would not, he argued, dispos" of the Dominions' rights to appeal to the Privy Council on interImperial matters, for such disputes were not likely to involve the Dominions in warfare with each other.

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) was unable to carry the subject further, for he opened his reply by declaring that Mr. Holland did not appear to realise that all the communications which had come from the Home Government, and which had gone from the New Zealand Government on this subject, were marked "secret." All the questions which had been put to him by the opening speaker could be comfortably answered but for this bar to publicity at the present moment.

Mr. Holland: The people should know everything that is being done. It should not prevent you from explaining your Government's attitude, and the instructions sent forward.

"Is that a proper position to put me in?" asked Sir Joseph, who reiterated that all the documents were secret. He had been receiving communications almost every day, since early in March, and the file included telegrams of thousands of words involving messages to and from the Prime Minister of England and Prime Ministers of the self-govern-ing Dominions. He was hopeful thai, next week he would be relieved from the obligation of secrecy.

"I have taken up a certain attitude, which I consider justifiable, on the optional clause," added. Sir Joseph, "and while the lion, gentleman has put hi? views on record I am not yet relieved of the responsibility of regarding this matter as secret. The High Commissioner, who has been representing New Zealand at the League of Nations Assembly, was authorised to sign the optional clause, subject to certain reservations which are the result of consultations with all the representatives of His Majesty's governments. I understand that the signatures of representatives of all parts of the Empire will be made to-day. Our main consideration has been to secure united action by all His Majesty's governments."

The comment of the Leader of the Opposition (Rt. Hon. J. G. loates) was that the proper thing had " ?en done to enable the Empire to maintain a united front. Labour members carried on the debate at sonic length, as they were of opinion that the whole subject should have been dealt with by. Parliament, and that there should be 110 "secret diplomacy."