GENEVA CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, 15 December 1920, Page 5

GENEVA CONFERENCE.

MEETING OF ASSEMBLY.

INTERNATIONAL COURTS REPORT ADOPTED, (By Eloctric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Last Night, 8.1") o'clock. GENEVA, Doc V.\. The Assembly unanimously adopted the report on International Courts. THK LEAGUE'S .MOULD. Ml?. BALFOUR'S ADVICE. Received Last Night, 10.30 o'clock. GENEVA, Dec. 13. Speaking in the Assembly ol : the league, Mr A- J. Balfour said tliat if iii ° hasty spirit they tried to forco the nations into the League's mould, the latter would break and inflict a. fata! blow on the greatest instrument the world had yet contrived for carrying out international justice. SUSPICION OF BIG BUDGETS. MORE QUESTIONS OF PROCEDURE. GENEVA, Dec. 13. Senator Milieu, at the Budget Commission, criticising the expenditure on ! the Labour organisation, said the [rapidity with which the expenditure was increasing might soon find the League laced with a budget of two millions. Australia's contribution was unfair and unjust, and would cause Parliament to scan the expenditure minutely. Lie suggested that an advance copy of the Budget should reach distant States at least six weeks before a session, and that any later alterations should be notified by caUel Mr Rowell (Canada) protested in the Fifth Commission (on new admissions to the League) against, the action of the London. Conference in regard to Armenia, and declared that the admission of new States was being, settled in Geneva, not in London, Paris, and Rome. Lord Robert Cecil and Dr. Nausen supported Mr Howell. The Assembly examined the Commission's report on the International Court, Several .members of the Commiss'iCiU were strongly of opinion that the Court could only lie established by protocol, and not by resolution of the Assembly. Others feared that this would establish a harmful precedent The Commission finally agreed that it was possible to submit the Constitution of the Court for the approval of Governments without creating a precedent. When the protocol was signed by a majority the Court would come into being. The Commission agreed that when Labour questions came before the Special Chamber, live Judgeshould bo assisted by four technical advisers without the right to vote The nations signing the protocol may at any time declaro r/i favour of compulsory jurisdiction without special agreement, in relation to any other Slate accepting the same obligation. INTERNATIONAL LAW. DISCUSSED BY DELEGATES. Received This Morning, 1.30 o'clock. GENEVA, Dec. 13. Senator Milieu gave a luncheon to the British delegation. In the Assembly the debate occupied all the morning and afternoon sitting's, and was confined entirely to delegates from smaller nations, who regretted that jurisdiction was not made compulsory. A delegate from , Panama pointed out that no measures had been devised to enforce the decrees of the Court. Mr A. J. Balfour said by implication it had been suggested that some great Powers were obstructing the full developments of the Court. The nameiof Britain and France- wvre mentioned in this respect. Speaking for Britain, he said she ardently supported the new Court, but preferred voluntary to compulsory jurisdiction. \f the Court was to be p successful they must allow it free growth, which was the secret of permanent success. The Court had been created to administer international law, which itself was ever changing and growing.