A DISTINCTION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 October 1924, Page 5

A DISTINCTION.

BUT WITH A DIFFERENCE. TEXT OF JAPAN’S AMENDMENT. 81 Cable—press aspoutatton —copyrtcij" A . • i GENEVA, Sept. 30. .. Article six defines an aggressor ; (inter alia) as a State resorting to war m violation of the undertaking contained m the covenant of the protocol, or resorting to war knowing that the dispute between it and another belligerent State arises out of a matter "’{W by international law, i s solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the latter State. Tim amendment says: ‘ ‘Nevertheless such State shall only be considered the aggressor if it has not previously submitted the question to the Council of the Assembly under article eleven of the covenant.” Another clause in the same article defines an aggressor' also as a State Violating an armistice ordered by the Council. It also empowers the Council to call on the signatories to apply the prescribed sanctions. An addition thereto has now been made which provides that any signatory thu s called upon shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a belligerent. ATTITUDE OF NEW ZEALAND. (BV TELFQKAPH —-PRESS ASSOCIATION.j WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The attitude of New Zealand regard- » ing the impasse at the meeting of the League of Nations was mentioned in the House to-day. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) put the following question to the Government: “Believing that the entry of all the nations of the world into the League of Nations is necessary in the interest of the future peace of the world, and believing that the Japanese amendment at Geneva, to the disarmament protocol may possibly prevent the entry of the United States into the League of Nations, will the Government immediately advise any New Zealand delegates at Geneva to make definite reservations on behalf r>f the . Dominion of New Zealand with reference to such amendment, so that this country may not be committed to eyen a preliminary arrangement by which a member of the League could he excluded from being declared an aggressor if she attacks another State, on the ground that arbitration before aggression should be the foundation principle in reference to domestic laws.’’ < The Prime Minister (Mr. W. F. Massey) said he was in constant communication with Sir James .Allen and the Imperial representatives. The matter was one that must be dealt with very carefully, and he had the best reasons for believing that the .British Government fully understood the position taken up by the people of New Zealand on this subject. The • Government had taken care to see that nothing would be done that would be detrimental to the interests of this country or the Empire.