PACIFIC INTERESTS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 72, 27 March 1922, Page 8

PACIFIC INTERESTS

THE WASHINGTON CON-

FERENCE

SENATOR PEARCE'S VIEW

IMPORTANCE OF DIRECT REPRE

SENTATION.

Senator G. F. Pearce, who was Australia's representative at the Washington Conference, arrived in Wellington by the Tahiti to-day, and will leave by the same vessel to return to the Commonwealth. . He had received the news of the ratification by the United States Senate of the Pacific Treaty, and when interviewed by a Post reporter expressed keen gratification with the result. "In view of all the circumstances," he said, "I think the majority is very gratifying. Not only is there the active opposition of the irreeoncilables, but in the United States you can feel that, even on the part of people who are quite friendly and desirous of promoting peace, there is hesitation about entering into international agreements, for fear they may involve a departure from traditional policy Of course, the Pacific Treaty is so unmistakably plain that all attempts by its opponents to read into it entangling alliances failed. I am quite sure now that all the other treaties will be ratified with probably even larger majorities, because it was upon this one that the lrreconcilables concentrated their fire. In fact, they commenced their attacks upon it as soon as it had been agreed to in the Conference, and Senators Reed and others were attacking it-for several days before the President sent it down for ratification." AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE THANKFUL. As to the special effect of the Treaty upon Australia and New Zealand, Senator Pearce preferred not to speak until he returned to Australia. It would be his duty then to make a report, and no doubt New Zealand would receive a report from her own representative. But this much he did say: "I do not think that there are any countries that have more reason to Be gratified and thankful for the agreements arrived at than have New Zealand and Australia., Their effect upon the Pacific mean everything to us. A peaceful Pacific and a Pacific where peace, for a decade at least, is the deliberately accepted policy of the nations that have it in their power to make war, is of incalculable benefit and interest to both the Dominion and the Commonwealth." - OUR OWN POINT OF VIEW. Before the Conference was held there were differences of opinion in New Zealand, if not in Australia, as to the ne-. cessity for direct representation, in view of the great difficulty of arranging for it. Senator Pearce yas asked if his experience showed that direct re : presentation was essential, or whether New Zealand and Australia could leave their views to be placed by the United Kingdom delegates. " I do not think," he replied, " that anybody . from the United Kingdom, with no reflection on their ability, could at such a Conference as this adequately represent New Zealand or Australia. It is absolutely essential that there should be direct representation. Because of our environment we have a different angle of view 1 from, the' United Kingdom. It is not that they are unsympathetic or dp not want to put our point of view, but they do not see things from the same angle. Not only, is the, direct representative able to put a view before the Conference, but there is the view and the influence he is able to bring to bear on the British delegation. Then the view that is put before the Conference is from Empire point of view. I am not sure that is not of greater value than the view placed before the Conference itself. ■ As to the way in which the Dominion representatives were .received by the other delegations, Senator Pearce said that nothing could have been friendlier. "I noticed nothing of what might b» called a tendency to differentiate between the representatives of the. Dominion and the representatives of the United Kingdom on the part of any of the delegations. There was the natural respect that an outstanding man like M»\ Balfoui' commanded, as leader of the delegation and its senior member, but otherwise there was no distinction made between the different members comprising the Empire party." With the Americans the Dominion representatives were on very friendly terms, naturally, 'because of the similarity of their environment, their common language, and, othen' qualities which they shared. Senator G. F. Pearce, who was Australia's representative at the Washington Conference was tendered a reception by members of the New Zealand Cabinet this afternoon. • i,