FEWER CONVENTIONS, MORE RATIFICATIONS DECLARED NECESSARY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18406, 7 March 1928, Page 9

FEWER CONVENTIONS, MORE RATIFICATIONS DECLARED NECESSARY

PRESENT POSITION WILL ENDANGER THE LEAGUE, SAYS SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 7. 9.45 a.m.) GENEVA, March 6. The Council of the League of Nations discussed at length the non-rati-fication of agreements and conventions concluded under the League auspices. Sir Austen Chamberlain cited the opium and other important conventions, and pressed for their immediate ratification, pointing out that non-ratification was endangering the League. He urged that there should be fewer conventions and more ratifications. It was finally decided to place the whole question on the next Council agenda paper. Lord Cushendun deeply impressed the Council by a declaration of the Empire’s unequivocal rejection of compulsory arbitration under the proposed model treaty. He said: “Our far-flung Empire is a different problem from that which confronts other nations. We are unable to commit the Empire members to obligations which at present are unmeasurable. Can anyone say the extent to which the model treaty would justify them in specifically declaring their readiness to reduce armaments?”