NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17206, 25 July 1921, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

DISCUSSED BY CONFERENCE. THE WASHINGTON CONTROVERSY (By Cable—Press Aesociation— Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 24thj 5.5 P ,m OL LOyD'UN. July 22. The delegates to the Imperial Conference reassembled to-day. Tee inorn;ng bitting was devoted to naval defence. There was a long discussion, but no official statement was issued. It is understood the pos.tion reached is that each Dominion Parliament is to be consulted to see what can be undertaken in the way of_ financial responsibility, in the meantime the British, to develop the Fleet according to the general principles indicated. The Pacific question was discussed *t length at the afternoon sitting. Some delegates blamed Mr Hughes for imperil.ing the Washington Conference, but the majority applauded his speech, declaring that such a frank statement was a necessary preliminary to the main conference.- . , , Washington despatches submitted to the Imperial Confertnco do not contribute to the settlement of the controversy between London and Washington. Mr Hughes and M'" Massey ■will be unable to attend at Washington in November. They will therefore urge a preliminary conference in London immediately, at which Japan, the Lmtod States, and other interested Powers will be represented for the purpose of settling Pacific problems, leaving disarmament to be settled at the W "ehinjjton Conference, at which Great® Britain micht represent the whole Empire. The United States does not favour a preliminary London Conference, because it would take the gilt off the gingerbread of the Washington C° n ~ fere nee. Ne'ther side yieldintr. the Conference adjourned till Monday, hoping that a compromise would be effected during the/week-end, failing wh'ch, one Dominion Premier that the Conference will break uowith'n a week. Mr Hughes has advised Belgium, Holland, and Portugal, that _ when the Washington Conference _ discusses the Far Eastern question in such a. way as to affect the interests of those nations, there will be no difficulty about their bein? represented. Mr Hughes, in an interview, said "There can be no disarmament until the need for armaments no loncrer exists. It follows from this that until the vital problems in the Pacific are settled by agreement among tihe three treat, naval Powers, disarmament or limitation of armaments is impossible; therefore it is vital that the conference to deal with these problems should be held as soon as possible. London is convenient, and 1 believe the conference should bo held here within three weeks. Washington might he more convenient for the disarmament conference. There must be (giving as well aa taking if the Pacific or anv other conference is to be fuoceesful."