Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
HENDERSON VIEWS
ARE OPTIMISTIC
Delegates Agreed League
Should Make Strides in
Solving Problems.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
GENEVA, August 31.-A yirile note
of optimism for the work of the AS
Sembly OF the League of Nations, which
begins its tenth annual session on Nom
day, was sounded by British Foreign
Secretary Arthur Henderson today and
met with prompt and cordial indorse-
ment in League circles. Delegates and
officials were agreed that the coming
session should make long strides toward
solution of outstanding international
problems.
Mr.. Henderson told newspapermen
that The Hague settlement on repara-
tons had cleared the international at
mosphere like a violent thunderstorm
and had left the great powers in a
happy state Of mind. He predicted
the most effective and progressive ses-
sion of accomplishment since the
League was established.
Move Toward Consolidation.
The swing of British policy toward
compulsory arbitration of international
disputes, as indicated in the interview
with the foreign secretary, was regarded
here as affording strong impetus to the
constantly growing international move
ment for consolidation of peace.
Some of the delegates, going even
States will adhere to the World Court
under the proposed Root formula are
even asking whether the United States
will not go a step further and follow
the lead Of Great Britain in accepting
the compulsory arbitration clause.
This so-called optional" clause Is
binding only as between those nations
which accept and stipulate compulsory
arbitration Of disputes juridical in
nature.
Signing of the optional clause of the
statutes of the World Court was said
by Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson
of Great Britain today to be only one
of the steps the British delegation ex-
pect to take in a program designed
to carry out the true spirit Of the
League Of Nations" The British will
present to the assembly of the League,
which opens on Monday, some Of the
program outlined in the election CAM
paign in Britain last May.
Silent on Macdonald Speech.
The foreign secretary emphasized in
his interview that the British Govern
ment will do all in its power to pro-
cure adoption of the principle Of ob1iga-
tory arbitration of international dis
putes.
Regarding the prevailing expectation
that Prime Minister Ramsey Mac
Donald will make a statement on the
progress of his disarmament CONVERSE
ton with Gen. Charles c.. Dawes, Mr..
Henderson protested that he had no
intention of anticipating the address of
the premier before the assembly, but
said to wait and see"
If the negotiations now proceeding
between Premier Macdonald and the
American Government succeed and 1
believe they will" he went on. land If
they result in the early converting of a
flve-power conference on disarmament,
We will be taking one of the most ef-
fective steps ever made for dealing with
the disarmament problem"
The foreign secretary came here d.
rectly from The Hague and was conf
dent that the result of the PREPARATIONS
conference had left happy atmosphere
which promised distinct progress toward
solution of the main questions before
the League Assembly. He stated that he
regarded The Hage settlement as OPEN
ing a new era in which for the first
time it can be said war is ended"
Mr.. Henderson showed telegram
from Ambassador Dawes congratulating
him on his brilliant success" at The
Hague. He expressed the warmest ap-
probation of the message.
The secretary expects the latest report
of the situation in Palestine between
the Jews and Arabs to reach him short
ly for his use in informing the Council
and the Assembly of the situation in
that territory for which Britain received
a mandate from the League of Nations.