THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 257, 25 July 1921, Page 5

THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

PRELIMINARY GATHERING IN LONDON ADVOCATED BY MR. MASSEY AND MR. HUGHES FOR SETTLEMENT OF PACIFIC PROBLEMS By Telegrapn—Press Association —Oopyright, (Rcc. July 24, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 23. Washington dispatches submitted to the Imperial Conference do not contribute to a settlement of the controversy between London and Washington. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey will be unable to attend at Washington in November. They will therefore urge a preliminary conference in London immediately, at which Japan, ths United States, and other interested Powers will be represented, for the purpose of settling Pacific problems, leaving disarmament to be settled at the Washington conference, at which Britain might 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 conference. Neither side yielding, tho conference adjourned till Monday, hoping that a compromise would be effected during the -week-end, failing which'one Dominion Premier predicts that tho conference will break up within a week. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FAR EASTERN QUESTION REPRESENTATION OF NATIONS INTERESTED. (Roc. July 24, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, July 22. Mr. Hughes has advised Belgium, Holland, and Portugal that when the Washington conference discusses the Far Eastern question in such a way as will affect the interests of those nations, there will be no difficulty about their being represented. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ! LIMITATION i6f~ARMAMENTS DEPENDENT ON SETTLEMENT OF PACIFIC PROBLEMS. (Rec. July 25, 0.45 a.m.) ® London, July 23. Mr. Hughes, interviewed, said:—“There can be no disarmament until the need for armaments no longer exists. It follows from this that until the vital problems in the Pacific are settled by agreement among the throe great naval Powers, disarmament or limitation of armaments is impossible. Therefore, it is vital that a conference to deal with these problems should be held, as as possible. London is convenient, and I believe tho conference should bo jield hero within three weeks. Washington might be more convenient for the disarmament conference. There must bo giving as well as taking if the Pacific or any other conference is to be success-ful.’’—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.