BRITISH TREATIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 10 March 1927, Page 9

BRITISH TREATIES

CHANGES IN FORM. DOMINION INDEPENDENCE. PROPOSALS BEFORE THE LEAGUE. BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT Received 12.50 p.m. to-day. GENEVA, March 9. Arising out of the Imperial Conference discussion on the future formula for drawing up British treaties, and the extent to which the Dominions will be involved, Sir Austen Chamberlain, with the concurrence of the Dominions, has made a statement requesting the Council of the League of Nations to agree to four constitutional reasons, for future treaties undeT League auspices. They will follow the custom existing prior to the Versailles Treaty, namely, between the heads of States, instead of at present. It is expected that the Council will assent to the request, permitting the Dominions to accept or reject treaties as they desire. Downing Street circles state that if the League acquiesces m the proposal, British treaties henceforth will be made by His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain, and His Majesty’s Government in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Irish Free State as the case might be. This is contrary to the previous method, whereby it could be inferred that all treaties of agreement between His Majesty’s Government and any other State implied that all the Dominions were bound thereby, unless, as in the case of the Locarno conference proceedings, they were specially exempted. Incidentally, it might be pointed out that since the Imperial Conference the Government despatches from Downing St. have been headed "His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” instead of simply "His Majesty’s Government.” This was in order to remove misapprehension in foreigners’ minds that the despatch emanated from some government speaking on behalf of the whole Empire; furthermore, when despatches were intended to speak for the whole Empire they say so specifically.