OPTIONAL CLAUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 7

OPTIONAL CLAUSE.

SIGNED AT GENEVA. "Another Step To World Peace," Says Mr. Henderson. TWO DOMINIONS EEFRAIN. (Australian Tress Assn.—United Service.) (Received 1.30 p.m.) GENEVA, September 19. Britain, New Zealand, South Africa and India signed the optional clause. In the absence of instructions from their Governments the delegates from Australia and Canada did not sign. The optional clause was signed in the large glass liall in which the Council meets. At the last moment Sir Granville Ryrie, of Australia, and Mr. Danclura nd, of Canada, were unable to join Mr. Henderson, Sir James Parr, and the Indian and South African delegates, whe signed respectively. Sir G. Ryrie declared that owing to the political crisis in Australia he had not received definite instructions from the Government, therefore he was unable to sign to-day. Mr. Dandurand announced that ho was still without authorisation from his Government. Mr. Henderson, before signing, claimed that this was another important contribution towards world peace. He referred to the exclusion of inter-Empire disputes. Sir James Parr merely repeated Mr. Henderson's declaration in identical terms, then the signing took place. France, Czeeho-Slovakia and Peru also signed, and the ceremony was photographed.