61. In the opinion of the British Empire Delegation these amendments conferred no new powers or functions on either the Council or the Assembly. They merely served to make clear the relationship between paragraph 8 of article 15 and article 11 of the Covenant. Article 11 of the Covenant only operates in time of war or threat of war, and it confers no right on the Council or the Assembly to impose a solution of a dispute without the consent of the parties. The Council or the Assembly may mediate and conciliate, but they cannot make recommendations which are binding under paragraph 6 of article 15 of the Covenant. When these amendments were adopted at the final plenary meeting of the First Committee on the 30th September, the British representative made a statement on the above lines. This interpretation proved generally acceptable, and it was agreed to incorporate it in the report to be submitted to the Assembly. 62. At the final plenary meeting of the First Committee the British representative drew attention to the difficulty in which many Delegations were placed, in that they had had no {244} opportunity to consult their Governments in regard to these amendments. The Delegations of Australia and several other countries thereupon stated that, though they accepted the texts, they could not commit their Governments in any way. _Article 6._ 63. Article 6. When the system of compulsory arbitration, contained in article 4, had been established, the British representative pointed out that under paragraphs 9 and 10 of article 15 of the Covenant a dispute might still be referred to the Assembly. Article 6 was therefore drafted to ensure that the provisions referring to the actions and powers of the Council should apply to the Assembly under the new system. After considerable discussion it was decided to reserve questions of procedure to the Council as being a more suitable body. _Article 10._