DOMINIONS AND TREATIES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3599, 3 April 1924, Page 5

DOMINIONS AND TREATIES

OUR OBLIGATIONS IN EUROPE. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Au'h. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday, .7.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 1. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, replying in the debate on the ratification of the Lausanne Treaty, requested the postponement of the second reading until next week for reasons of Parliamentary convenience. The Premier stated that India and New Zealand long ago agreed to the ratification. Canada concurred with what the Imperial Government did and Australia and South Africa replied to-day agreeing to ratify and accepting the responsibility of the Straits Guarantee, but both take advantage of article sixteen under the trade and economic section which specifically provides that the Dominions may or may not ratify. Mr MacDonald stated that there was much in the Treaty with which everybody disagreed, but It must be ratified because otherwise there was not going to be an end to the state of war.

Sir E. Grigg moved the rejection of the treaty until the Government definitely stated whether the Dominions and India were fully Informed regarding the liabilities of the Empire involved by the guarantee of a demilitarised zone astride the Straits, also whether the Dominions were prepared to ratify the treaty with the Straits Convention. The speaker trounced the Government for renouncing its obligation in the Pacific and simultaneously asking the Dominions to ratify their obligations in Europe. He asked what form of Imperial co-operation was this. The debate was adjourned.