INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14768, 11 September 1913, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.

RESOLUTIONS BY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

The Canterbury Chamber o? Commerce has received the following communication from the London Chamber of Commerce: —"The London Chamber of Commerce (Incorporated).—Oxford Court, Cannon street, E.C., July 17th, 1913. —International Arbitration —Dear Sir: I am desired to send, you, as one of tho bodies represented at the Fifth International Congress of Chambers of Commerce and Commercial and Indus trial Asociations held at Boston last year, tho enclosed copy of a resolution on tho above subject, which was adopted by my Council at its last meeting on the motion of Sir John Bingham, Bart. Having regard to the enthusiastic- reception accorded to the proposal when it was brought forward at tho Boston Congress, my Council feels justified in again bringing tho matter to your notice, and in urging that no opportunity should be lost of educating public opinion in favour of arbitration as a solution to International controversies, either between private people of different nations, or between Governments. I shall be obliged if you will kindly bring tho matter before your Council, and am desired to express tho hope that your Chamber (or Association) will be prepared to use its influence in the direction indicated in tho resolution, and to favour mc with a reply in due course.—Yours faithfully (Signed) Charles E. Musgrave, secretary."

Resolution adopted by the Fifth International Congress of Chambers of Commerce and Commercial and Industrial Associations, Boston, U.S.A., September, 1912, as proposed by the President (M. Canon le Grand), and seconded by Sir John E. Bingham, Bart: (London Chamber) —"Tho Congress affirms its desire to see convened, as soon as possible a number of official international conferences, assuring between nations the existence of arbitral jurisdiction in the widest sense of the term, and such as may assure an equitable solution of all International controversies, either between private people of different nations or between Governments, and agrees to the principle of a combination of nations, when and where possible, to endeavour to prevent tho atrocities of war."

Resolution adopted by. the Council of the London Chamber of Commerce, June, 1913:—"That a letter be addressed to each of the Chambers of Commerce and commercial bodies represented at the Fifth International Congress of Chambers of Commerce and Commercial and Industrinl Associations, urging their continued adhesion to the principle of •the resolution adopted at that Congress in favour of 'Arbitration as a solution-of International controversies, either between private people of different nations or between Governments, especially in view of the publicity given to tho matter in the Press and in other directions; further, that tho Chambers of Commerce and other commercial bodies concerned be invited to indicate in what direction they will be prepared to ventilate tho question and to influence commercial opinion in tho desired direction."

Simon Tappertits of the party have had their real measure taken by the public they will bo content in future with the subordinate position for which Nature intended them. If so. Sir Joseph Ward's task will be made a little less uncongenial in consequence. Whilo we do not envy .Sir Joseph Ward the undertaking before him, we are unfeignedly thankful, for the sake of the country, that there is now some prospect of the ineptitude and disorganisation of the Opposition Party being replaced by something better. ''His Majesty's Opposition" is an essential part of the Parliamentary machinery in any country ruled according to constitutional methods, but an Opposition without a responsible head is worse than useless. To do Sir Joseph Ward justice, moreover, we hope and believe that under his leadership the work of the Opposition will be carried on with a little moro decorum and honesty than have characterised the interregnum. With no policy but the policy of interjection, misrepresentation, and abuse, the conduct of the Opposition has done much of late to degrade the tone of our public life. The exploitation of mare's nests and the defamation of Ministers of the Crown, on no moro authority than that of "the man in the street." will, wo hope, now cease, and the Opposition, having a responsible head, will address itself to its proper function of criticising the Government policy and administration. What its policy is going to bo its new leader has not yet decided. He has made a long statement to tho ejfect that it is going to bo everything that is good, and in the meantime the country will accept at its proper value the vague and' intangiblo rhetoric which is offered to it pending tho discovery of some better policy than the Government's.