4 MAY 1929, Page 3

There is general satisfaction at Lord Cushendun's announcement that Great

Britain and the Dominions (the Canadian delegate himself spoke for Canada) have resolved to ratify the Geneva Protocol of 1925 prohibiting the use of asphyxiating and poisonous gases. They will all be released from their pledge, of course, if nations at war with them use the prohibited gases. On Tuesday the Secretariat issued an important Report by the Economic Committee after consultation with inter- national experts representing the coal trade. This is very welcome. Great Britain's difficulties can be appreciated —and adequate remedies applied—only when the coal industry is considered as a world-wide problem.

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