FOR THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18823, 11 March 1931, Page 9

FOR THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Settlement of Disputes. NATIONS AGREE TO ARBITRATION. British Official Wireless RUGBY, March 9. In the House of Commons, Mr Henderson (Minister of Foreign Affairs) asked approval for the ratification by the British Government, subject to the four conditions enunciated in the recent White Paper, of the General Act for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. He said this would complete the country’s acceptance of arbitration for all classes of international disputes, subject to certain reservations. The Government regarded the ratification of the General Act as important, partly in preparation for the success of the coming Disarmament Conference, which it is believed by its results would determine the future course of events in Europe and the world. Referring to the amendment moved later by Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr Henderson said he could not agree that acceptance of the General Act would diminish the authority of the League Council. Sir Aiistin Chamberlain observed that the United States, the author of the Pact of Paris, did not share the view that it needed other measures to give it force. He maintained that the effect of the General Act would be to withdraw from the League Council questions with which it specially was competent to deal, and to encourag;e frivilous claims, and create trouble.

Pertinent Questions. Sir Austen Chamberlain asked: Could territorial questions, or our position in Egypt, or the desire of some other Power to take over our Palestine mandate, be referred to arbitrators? The most difficult and dangerous international disputes were not legal questions. Why did the League Council and the Covenant exist if not to deal with such issues? If these were taken away, they might as well tear the Covenant to pieces. The Government was asking the nations to take risks over their most vital interests which they would not take in their own party affairs, and they were ignoring the limitations which practical experience placed to the utility of compulsory arbitration. Liberal Viewpoint. Sir Robert Samuel (Liberal) said the General Act, instead of superseding either the Covenant or the functions of the League Council, was the League's own proposal to work for J;he settling of disputes. The Government had properly reserved the right, in certain cases, to invoke the conciliation of the Council, instead of arbitration. The acceptance of Sir Austen Chamberlain's amendment would leave the international machinery patently incomplete; it would amaze the peaceloving dominions, and create an impression that there was a sinister purpose which they were ashamed to confess; it would strengthen the reactionary and militarist elements throughout the world, and prejudice the Disarmament Conference. He admitted that there were some risks in arbitration, but if we refused that we were accepting the risks of war. Amendment Rejected. Sir Austen Chamberlain’s amendment was negatived by 231 votes to 139. (The text of Sir Austen Chamberlain’s amendment has not been received.)