CONFERENCE AT WASHINGTON

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 5

CONFERENCE AT WASHINGTON

WELCOMED BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE BRITAIN’S FAR EASTERN POLICY JAPANESE TREATY AND THE LEAGUE COVENANT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. July 12, 11.35 p.m.) London, July 11.

Mr. Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, announced that Britain had received President Harding’s invitation to tho Associated and Allied Powers to confer on disarmament and Pacific questions. China had already replied favourably. No invitation had been received yet by Japan, but thero was good reason to believe that it would be in the same sense. . Mr. Lloyd George said tho world had been looking to tho United States for a lead. He heartily wished it success, and no effort would be lacking to make it so on tho part of the British Empire Turning to the Anglo-Japanese agreement, Mr. Lloyd George said the broad lines of tho Government’s Far Eastern policy had met with general acceptance at the Premiers’ Conference. It was desired to maintain close friendship and co-operation with Japan, io preserve the open door in China, and to ensure to tho Chinese every opportunity for peaceful progress and development. "Vfe desiro friendly co-operation with tho United States,” continued tho Premier. "Upon these principles more than on anything else depend the peace and well-being of tho tvorld. In the conference upon tho Pacific question China will bo treated as an independent Power. In Japan wo have an old ally. For twenty years the alliance has not only benefited us, but tho peace of the Far East. China is nn enormous country with great potentialities. We will have to bear in mind not only our own interests, but the interests of China. The object of our discussions has been to find some limit to the danger of heavy naval expenditure in ihe Paciffi'. and to remove those evils tenting to limit the development of our legitimate interests in tho Far East. ’The Japanese Treaty will only lapse at the expiration of twelve months after notice of denunciation has been given. It is the desire of the British Empire and Japan that the agreement shall bo brought into complete harmony with tho Covenant of the League of Nations, and where one is inconsistent with the other tho terms of the Covenant shall prevail. Notice to this effect has now been given to the League. Lord Curzon held conversations with the American and Japanese Ambassadors and tho Chinese Minister, and informed them of the Cabinet’s views. Now, President Harding has taken the momentous step of inviting Powers to a conference on limitations of armaments to be held in Washington in the near future. He also suggests a preliminary meeting on Pacific and Far Eastern questions between tho Powers most directly interested. ' President Harding’s act is one of farseeing statesmanship.” (Cheers.)— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFERENCE FACED WITH VAST ISSUES THE PACIFIC PROBLEM. London, July 11. "Tho Times,” in a leader, says:—“President Harding’s momentous and timely statement opens a now, and, we hope, a fruitful, phase of the problem of tho Pacific. No doubt the British Government, with the full concurrence of the Dominions, will gladly and promptly accept the proposal in the same spirit as it is made. The Dominion Premiers at the week-end were guests of Mr. Lloyd George at The Chequers, and probably were aware of the imminence of tho message, and already had discussed the expedience of a Pacific conference. For this reason the arrival of tho message was specially timely, precluding misapprehensions of the American attitude. These misunderstandings now appear trivial in view of President Harding’s opportune action. The task of tho proposed conference is as delicate and dangerous as that which any conference has essayed to discharged. The Peace Conference at Paris was not faced with vaster issues, fraught with greater possibilities for good or evil. Tho Paris Conference’s haphazard methods should serve ns a warning and a deterrent to the Pacific Conference, which should only be summoned after most-careful examination of the. preliminary problems and tho utmost caution in tho preparation of the agenda. With these precautions it should succeed, to ihe world’s lasting benefit.”— “The Times.” PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE ENDORSE PRESIDENT HARDING’S PROPOSAL. (Rcc. July 12, 11.35 p.m.) London, July 11. The Conference hold a special meeting at Downing Street this morning for the purpose of drafting a reply to President Harding’s memorandum. General Smuts was tho only absentee. Tho Conference unanimously endorsed President Harding’s proposal—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "" DOMINION PREMIERS’ VIEWS “NEW HOPE FOR DISTRACTED WORLD." (Rcc. July 13, 1.35 a.m.) London, July 11. Mr. Meighen, interviewed, said: “President Harding’s proposal offers new hope and promises relief to a distracted world. Nowhere will it be more eagerly wt-1-comed than in Canada, where, there always hns been nn unwavering belief that the issues involved can best be. settled by a free conference of tho nations concerned. Canada will unquestionably sopk every means to ensure 1 succors. Mr Massey, interviewed, said: ‘ln years' to come it may happen that the Empire will again be called upon to defend rights and liberties. The tune, therefore is most opportune to secure an. understanding which for generations will enema peace and good will. - lhe Times.” < (Rec. July 13. 1-5 London, July 11. Mr. Hughes is itnravr.sely plrored at (ho now disarmament dovelopmon . < view is summarised in the remark: We have got all we set out to get. -Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. PREMIER OF FRANCE EXPECTED TO ATTEND (Rec. July 12. 8.15 p.m.) New York, July 11. The Paris correspondent of the ‘ New York Times” states that M. Bnand, I remier of France, will accept Prreident Harding’s disarmament conference invitation and will probably attend pcrsonallr „Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.