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The Optional Clause Next Mr. MacDonald made the very important

state- ment that he and President Hoover were " out " not merely for agreement upon naval ratios, but for " a document which will establish peace." This possibly means a documentary linking of naval reduction with the Peace Pact. Passing to the Optional Clause Mr. MacDonald said that the form in which adherence would be declared was being prepared, and that the British Government would sign before the session of the Assembly ended. He added : " I believe I have the right to say that each of the Dominion Governments will instruct its representative to sign it also during this Assembly."

He hoped that other countries would follow suit and that this Assembly would afterwards be known as the " Optional Clause Assembly."

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