NEWS OF THE WEEK.
NO definite announcement has yet been made as to the close of the Peace Conference, but it is clear that little of interest or value is to be expected from the remaining sittings. The scheme for the new Court of Arbitral Justice will be shortly submitted to a plenary sitting of the First Com- mittee, but it will apparently not go beyond a series of sugges- tions to the Governments represented. Controversy has arisen over the declaration of those delegates who, in supporting the MIA with regard to the preliminary arrangements for the next Conference, maintained that " the initiative of Russia had been definitely," and thus permanently, "acquired." This view, which was advanced by the representatives of Roumania and Austria- Hungary, and supported by Germany and Italy, has not been endorsed by Great Britain and America. Indeed, the Times correspondent significantly remarks that there is a wide- spread feeling that if this view were to prevail it is more than doubtful whether another Peace Conference could be success- fully convoked. We deal elsewhere with the net results of the Conference, but may remark here that its most sub- stantial achievement, the establishment of an International Prize Court, is so fraught with difficulties and dangers to this country—alike by its constitution, its jurisdiction, and its procedure—as to render its acceptance by the British Govern- ment practically impossible.
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