Evening star., 1929-06-30
BY HENRY w. BUM.
THE following is a brief summary
of the most important news Of
the world for the seven days
ended June 20.

GREAT BRITAIN.-The new West
minister Parliament assembled on June
Is.
Sidney Webb, the new secretary Of
state for the colonies and dominionS
and greatest of living literary eXponentS
of socialistic theory, has been elevated
to the peerage as Baron PaSsfield of
Passfield Corner, PasSfleld Corner being
his country residence near Southamp-
ton. Sir John Sankey, the new lord
chancellor, has been created Lord
Sankey of Moreton. A very able judi
cial officer, he acquired much fame as
head of commission of some years
back which recommended nationaliZa-
ton of the mines. He is reputed a nom
party man. Ben Smith, member of Par
lament and former taxi driver has been
appointed treasurer of the royal house,
hold.
The present indication is that Premier
MacDonald's projected visit to Wash
ington will not take place as soon as
first rumorS indicated: that 1t may not
be till next year. Indeed, one need not
be surprised If it never takes place.
Perhaps permanent pacific results will
not be prejudiced (conceivably, indeed
the contrary might be true) should a
certain charming impulsiveness subside
One should discreetly try to expedite,
but it may be a mistake to rush, the
millennium.
We are told that Premier Macdonald
! intends to announce in the League Of
Nations Assembly in September that
Great Britain accepts the optional
clause of the World Court statutes; to
| be precise, article SO of the statutes, of
the Permanent Court of International
Justice. This is expected notably to
advance the Kellogg pact in its teething.
Indeed, Mr.. Macdonald regards the
| World Court as. the best existing ma
chinery for "implementing" the Kel-
logg pact. The optional clause" pro-
| vides that a state adhering to 1t ac-
cepts as compulsory the Jurisdiction Of
the World Court in all disputes having
regard to: (a) Interpretation of the
Versailles treaty; (b) any question of
international law; tc) the existence
of any fact which. II established, would
/ constitute breach of international OBJ
| ligation"; (d) the nature and extent
of the reparation to be made in any
! specific case for a breach of interna-
tional obligation.
| Elihu Root wrote the clause in 1920.
Should Mr. Macdonald act at Geneva
as We are told he will, and should his
action be ratified by the Westminster
Parliament, such action would not bind
Great Britain'S sisters of the British
commonwealth of nations, whose adhe-
sion will or will not be individually
given. Moreover, it is limited that Mr.
Macdonald may make some reserva-
tions, as that, until the freedom of the
seas" issue has been settled, rulings OF
British prize courts in time Of war
must be protected.
Presumably, should we at last adhere
to the World Court, we will reserve
against article SO; very interesting, OF
course, in view of the fact that the out
standing champions of its provisions
have been Americans. All of the great
powers which have adhered to the court
have accepted the optional clause, ex-
cept Great Britain, Japan and Italy
(France's acceptance lacks the consum-
nation of formality, but she has prac-
ticaIly accepted). 1t is generally thought
that, should Great Britain accept, japan
and Italy q. e., MussolinD win trail
along.
The National Trust for Scotland pro-
poses to acquire for national reserva-
ton q tract In the highlands of not less
than 100 square miles, perhaps as great
as 200. comprising the most picturesque
part of the Grampians. Such a pro-
posal makes the heart leap: