PEACE IN THE PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 74, 28 March 1922, Page 5

PEACE IN THE PACIFIC.

VALUE OF THE TREATY. SKXATOR I'KARCES VIEW. ißy Tele;rar-h.-- T'ross Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Sehator the Right Hon. G. P. I'earce, P.C., «lto is returning tn Australia from meetings of the conference on the reduction of armaments at Washington, at which he I represented Australia on the British i Kmpirc delegation, was a passenger on the steamer Tahiti, which arrived at Wellington to-<lay. Senator Vearce, who was for over ten years Minister of Defence in the Commonwealth Government, including practically the whole period of the war, now holds the portfolio of Minister for Home and Territories. He expressed,the keenest satisfaction at the results achieved by the conference. He said that it had been a pleasure to have associated with "the other menvbers of the British Kmptre delegation, and referred in appreciative terms to th« work of hi? Xew Zealand colleague, Sir John Salmontl. "The intercat? of Australin and Now Zealand in the Pacific and Far Eastern questions are identical and 50 there was no difficulty in harmonising our respective views,' , said the Australian Minister. He proceeded to ...ay that in his judgment, with the possible exception of China, there were no countries rep.cKcntcd at. the conference which had more to gain or lose as a result of its conclusions than Australia and New Zealand. The substitution of a policy of peace and amity in the Pacific for the race in naval armaments will mean great relief for the British Dominions in naval and military expenditure. The creation of a ibetter understanding among nations having interests in the Pacific will inspire mutual confidence and assist trade and development among all. To have 'been nlble to assist in removing the. misunderstandings, jealousfes. and suspicions which undoubtedly existed among the nations having interests in these regions, snd to have contributed in some small way to a better understanding among Englishspeaking nations, was to him a source of intense satisfaction. "1 have found," proceeded the Senator, '■'A very cordial feeling in the United States, and particularly in Canada, towards this Dominion and Commonwealth, and a keen desire to learn more (Cbouf us. I trust that by improving trade and means of communicatipn we shall foster these feelings for oiir mutual 'benefit. -. Senator Pearce'expressed confidence in the ratification 'by the United States Senate of the treaties agreed to at the conference.