EMPIRE POLICY ON TREATIES PERPLEXES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18000, 10 November 1926, Page 11

EMPIRE POLICY ON TREATIES PERPLEXES.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES DISCUSS AFFAIRS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn,—Copyright. Aui and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 8.

While rapid headway is being made by committees dealing with things within the realm of the Empire's purely domestic affairs, in most of which finality is likely to be reached next week-end, there are some subjects on which, after three weeks’ debate, a decision is no nearer.

I This position does not arise from a disagreement on vital points, but from the difficulty of finding formulas Particularly is this the case with the Empire policy on treaties. For more than a fortnight, the Legal Sub-Committee, of which Mr E. La Point, of Canada, is chairman, has been discussing the British memorandum on the subject, with the resfilt that to-day it virtually fourid itself back to the commencing point. The chief difficulty, of course, relates to British treaties with foreign Powers, such as the Locarno Treaty, and the desire, if possible, to have a clause satisfying dominion apprehensions while consistent with the practices oi foreign diplomacy. Whether it will be possible to achieve the object is a matter of doubt. In Imperial Confer ence circles it is suggested that a definite solution may not be reached by November 25. when the Conference is expected to end, but that it will then be agreed to cover the position in an explanatory general statement. This course may be adopted in relation to other matters on which it is not easy to obtain unanimity in declaratory motions. FASTER MAIL SERVICES. It is gathered that the matter of dominion representation on the League of Nations Council has so far not been raised, and it is generally understood that it wfiU not figure among the Conference’s decisions. A matter of special interest to Australia engages the special Shipping Sub Committee to-morrow in the proposed acceleration of the mail services to and from Australia. It is gathered that the matter will not be left wholly in the hands of the Imperial Shipping Committee. There is a desire among the delegates to the Conference to have the subject examined afresh, apart from preconceived ideas, as was done when the present faster trans-Atlantic services were planned. For this reason, the matter will at first be examined by representatives of Britain and Australia, with New Zealand and India sitting as interested observers. Difficulty is being experienced in d* fining a uniform policy on the nationality of foreign women marrying Britons in the dominions, some delegates contending that the sanctity of the marriage vows trenscends every consideration in the problem. NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS. It is learned that the migration plans concerning New Zealand as now before the Imperial Conference sub-committee need a good deal of alteration before they can be finally approved. It is understood that they are at present in need of recasting in important directions before they will be acceptable to New Zealand. Fortunately, compared with Australia and Canada, migration plans for New Zealand are simple and straight ahead. New Zealand does not envisage any great innovations or sweeping changes, but a continuation to the utmost capacity along the welltried lines followed in the .last few years. Mr Coates met the Dairy Control Board and five representative traders according to arrangement and discussed at length the whole question. The traders reiterated their objections to the fixation of prices. The discussion was not completed when the meeting adjourned.