The Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union which opened on Wednesday,
July 16th, in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, has already yielded discussions of much interest. The effect of the Pact of Paris on the rights, especially the trading rights, of neutrals touches a subject of vital importance. The resolution calling for the registration with the League of Nations of Inter- national Cartels and Trusts indicates a useful way of approaching a difficult problem. Except for the contri- bution of the Egyptian members, who naturally took their opportunity with eagerness, the discussion on parlia- mentary procedure was somewhat academic. Perhaps the most important pronouncement, however, was that of Lord Cecil on the first day, that disarmament was a " sounder safeguard " than schemes of arbitration, since it removed the temptation to go to war.
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