INTERNATIONAL COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 15

INTERNATIONAL COURT.

DOMINION'S ATTITUDE

LABOUR SEEKS DETAILS

DECISIONS OF A MINORITY.

[by TELEGRAPH. —rUESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON*. Thursday

The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, raised in the House today tho delay which he said was occurring in tho matter of New Zealand's signature to tho optional clauso of the Permanent Court of International Justice.

Mr. Holland said tliero was a good deal of interest as to what would be New Zealand's action in this matter, in view of tho fact that so many members of tho League of Nations had already signed or expressed their intention to sign this important clauso. It was regrettable that the 1926 Imperial Conference had decided that tho timo had not then arrived for a renunciation of war. Howover, tho new Government in Britain had different views on tho subject, and Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald had expressed his intention to sign the optional clause. The Prime Minister of France had also unreservedly declared his willingness to adhere to this clause.

Question of Reservations,

A cable from Britain had indicated that New Zealand was demanding some reservations, and Mr. Holland stated that tho country was entitled to know what were those reservations. He protested against the secrecy surrounding the actions of the Government in such an important matter as this. Tho only possible reservation that ho could conceive was a request that in any inter-Imperial dispute no Dominion should have power to invoke tho International Court. Surely it would bo the simplest thing for tho dominions to agree among themselves not to refer any inter-Imperial dispute to that court.

Mr. Holland asked what tho position was to-day. Had tho negotiations been completed, and if so would the Primo Minister tell the Houso tho nature of the arrangement arrived at ? If no arrangement had been arrived at. how could Sir James Parr state New Zealand's attitude?

Negotiations Secret,

The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, said Mr. Holland did not appear to recognise that he was discussing matters that the Prime Minister of Britain had bound upon him (Sir Joseph Ward) as secret. Every communication on the subject had been marked " secret." The Primo Minister said ho could answer all Mr. Holland's questions and make tho position a very easy one for himself if lie were to commit a breach of an honourable undertaking with the Primo Ministers of Britain and the other dominions, but until the correspondence had been concluded and everyone was in a position to discuss the subject freely, it was impossible to make any definito announcement.

Mr. Holland: Could not tho Prime Minister of New Zealand follow the example of the Prime Minis'ter of Britain and announce his policy in the matter ? Sir Joseph Ward stated Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald had been perfectly entitled to inako his statement, which had been issued after the negotiations had been in progress for some time and an agreement had probably been reached. As a matter of fact he expected a communication from tho Prime Minister of Britain on the subject to-morrow, and he hoped that that communication would be of such a nature that he would be able to speak freely on tho subject.

Early Statement Promised

Sir Joseph said he was able to give the House this much information. £-ir James Parr was attending tho League of Nations' Assembly on New Zealand's behalf and was authorised to sign the optional clause, subject, to reservations which were the result of conversations between representatives of all His Majesty's Governments and which at the present stage must be regarded as secret. He expected, however, that a document would bo signed to day and that the details would be available to-morrow.

Mr. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central) said it seemed that tho Prime Minister had not grasped tho fact that all people had outgrown secret diplomacy. Tho British Prime Minister and all tho leading countries had broadcast their attitudo to the world, but little New Zealand took up the stand that the matter could not be mentioned outside tho Cabinet room. A frank statement should be mads. "A Hopeless Minority." The Leader of tho Opposition, Mr. Coates, said it was important that negotiations between parts of tho Empire should bo regarded as confidential. "I seo no harm in tho attitude taken up by the Prime Minister," said Mr. Coates. "I think it is the proper conrso. The eosition ia met quite well if tho Prime Minister places the communications before Parliament at a later stage, and tho who> matter can then bo discussed. I believo tho Prime Minister desires poaco as much as anyone in this House. The whole Empire should show a united front." Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West) said it seemed that a Government in a hopeless minority was seeking to dictate international policy. In times past Prime Ministers had gone to England and made agreements for which they could obtain ratification because of their majority in the House, but tho position was different to-day. The fact was that a majority of the House could, if it chose, reverse (ho Government''s decision and tho Government would then have to repudiate its agreement. Mr. F. Waite {Reform —Clutha) said it was all very well for Labour members to complain of the actions of a Government which happened to be in a minority, but Labour membors should remember that they had put the Government on the Treasury benches. It seemed that every now and again they regretted having done that. A cablegram from Geneva, published this morning, states that all tho British delegations except the Irish Free State, will sign the optional clause