THE QUESTION OF TREATIES

Evening Star, Issue 19412, 22 November 1926, Page 10

THE QUESTION OF TREATIES

Regarding treaties, any Government must obtain the other Governments’ assent before involving them in active obligations. Where all the Governments of the Empire should ratify a treaty the initiating Government may assume that a Government which has had a full opportunity of indicating its attitude and has not commented adversely on it concurs in the ratification. The method of using in the preamble of the League of Nations’ treaties the term “ British ' Empire ” tends to obscurity and misunderstanding, wherefore all treaties,. whether under the auspices of the League or otherwise, should be made in the name of the heads of the States. If a treaty is made in’ the ..name, of the. King at will be as a, symbol of the special

relationship between the different parts of the Empire. The plenipotentiaries for the various British units should have full powers issued hy the King indicating the part of the Empire for which they sign. This should also cover mandated territories. Where more than one part of the Empire desires representation at international conferences this may be accomplished through a common plenipotentiary, through the Empire delegation representing the various parts, or by separate delegations representing each part. While recognising that the major share of responsibility for foreign affairs rests with the British Government, the committee felt that the general principle regarding treaty procedure already outlined should apply as a guide. The British Government accepted the suggestion that any application by a foreign Government for the issue of a consul’s exequator should be referred to the dominion Government concerned. Since the Governor-General no longer represents the British Government in any dominion, the members of the conference desire the development of a system of personal'contact between London and the dominion capitals, supplementing the present system of intercommunication. The details of this system should be settled between tho Imperial and dominion Governments, any new arrangements supplementing, hut not replacing, the present system of direct communication between the Governments.

Though no resolution has been submitted regarding compulsory arbitration in international disputed, it was agreed that no Government represented at the conference would accept the compulsory jurisdiction of tho Permanent Court of International Justice without further discussion. The results of tho_ Locarno Treaty were explained and discussed, tho conference completely approving of the conduct to a successful conclusion of the negotiations. It was resolved accordingly, and the conference congratulated the British Government on its share in this successful contribution to tho promotion of the peace of tho world.