GENEVA PROTOCOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19374, 9 January 1925, Page 5

GENEVA PROTOCOL

PROPOSED IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. ATTITUDE OF THE DOMINIONS. Prats Association —By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, January 7. Tho Australian Press Association has been authoritatively informed that not a single dominion has definitely approved or disapjxroved of the suggested I rotocol Conference. . . , . Australia, while pointing out tho inconvenience of attending such a conference postponed its decision pending the arrival of Sir L. E. Groom (Federal Attorney-General). Canada and South Africa stated that they preferred cable communication, but thev were willing to appoint representatives if the other dominions were represented. New Zealand was reluctant but willing, if necessary, to participate. India and Newfoundland are awaiting tho decisions of other dominions. Meanwhile the Colonial Office emphasises tho concluding passage in Mr Amoxy’s despatch of December 2; “There is one pressing matter which raises an issue affecting the vital interests of tho whole Empire on which personal consultation is, in tho view of tho Imperial Government, essential. I refer to tho Protocol for tho pacific settlement of international disputes.” The Foreign Office concurs in tho essentiality of personal consultation, but neither the Colonial Office nor the Foreign Office wishes to impose its desires upon tho dominions. Both are still hopeful of devising a plan to overcome tho difficulties. —A. and N.Z. Cablo,