THE CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 13 December 1921, Page 5

THE CONFERENCE

"MILITARISM ft THiNC OF THE PAST”

A REM. VI!KABUL SPEECH

(From the special representative ct tie Australian Press issocgnn-i.)

WASHINGTON, Dee. 12

Tokimawa, in a remarkable speech 10-night before the Federal Council ol (■lumber-, declared that militarism was a thing of I tie past, ’ihe policy of military aggression and rivalry bad iome " Japan was ready to wabi abreast of I.lm world in the now spirit of international goodwill, uruiei standing and cooperation. It- is authoritatively stated that da pan mav offer to turn over the Shantung ‘railway to China, leaving financial' matters for settlement by a commission. Otherwise tho good offices ol Britain and Die United btates will be invoked. .. . . , Air Tumulty, Air Wilsons rigid hand man, in a signed interview, supports the Treaty and applauds _Mr llardimH Administration Lading into Jim.- with tho rest of tho world hi the mailer of international cooperation. ■HIE NEW SBHHT (By Electric Tciegraph—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Doc. 12. The Dailv Chronicle says it is possible to regard the Conference as ending for the present tho evil prospect of a Bacilic armament race, also as placing Pacific affairs cn a satisfactory looting, with mutul consultation and recognition. Iho Empire, including Australia and Now Zealand, has mostvariable and vulnerable interests in tlie Bacilic and will be an immense miincr bv tho elimination of military rivalry in that vast region. The Dailv Tclegrapn Washington correspondent slates that the announcement, like the Irish agreement, sent round tho world a thrill of joy and hope continuing tho general sense tlia-' a new spirit had been entered mto in ordering tho world’s affairs. Tho Conference has a splendid success to its credit and undoubtedly will soon have another in tho final agreement upon a formula, for tho limitation of naval armaments. . . According to newspaper opinions the automatic expiration of the AngloJapanesc treaty when tfio kour-Powcv pact is formally ratified is an ideal solution of the problem which would have to bo faced eventually. Iho Conference achieved few belter strokes of diplomacy. The sole weakness is that it does not guarantee the integrity of China, also there are to bo considered regarding the United Slates and Japan concerning lap.

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

NEW YORK, Dec. 11Tlie New York Times Washington correspondent states that the gencia committee on the limitation ol armaments. an official body headed by the Ex-Ambassador to Turkey, Mr Stiansa, „ud including Mr «• Oompers and other prominent public men passed a resolution asking the. United States and other nations to immediately call j an international economic conference. It is pointed out Unit while limitation of armaments and settlement of ihe Pacific problems were highly desirable Urn solutions would prove futile, useless, and dangerous unless existing economic problems were solved. The proposed unofficial international financialconference was not sufficient ;> smeo we liave no authority to dea with the most vital, questions, such as tho stabilisation of exchange adjustments aim promoting economic growth and stability. BACIFIG AGREEMENT AUSTRALIAN COMMENT SYDNEY, This Day. The Daily Telegraph in a leader declares it, ‘scarcely needs saying that Ihe Pacific agreement will be warmly welcomed in Australia, After dealing with the position assigned Llnna by the Conference, the paper says: right, of any country to control the composition of its own people and the direction of its trade Was not publicly debated at the Conference, but wo gather from Hie compliments paid the Australian and New Zealand delegates t .i,at it was discussed m committee. Wb may be confident that these delc.rptes have dissipated any false idea of the aims of the White Australia policy, and any exaggerated impression of resources that are withheld f om development by the exclusion of alien races; but it is clear that for the future any nation must conduct its policy under the eyes of the whol world. International opinion has been invoked and for the future will exercise its influence. We now hold our territories subject io the review of the association which Washington has brought into being. . MELBOURNE, This Day. The Argus, commenting J> u Pacific Treaty, says it is difficult to grasp at first reading the full Significance to Australia. The adequate defence of tho Commonwealth has been a subject of growing but when tho Treaty is ratified fears may bo banished and she may proceed with hr-r peaceful development undisturbed. Tlie Treaty docs not necessarily abolish wars, but provides such safeguards that war m the Pacific henceforth is almost inconceivable. 11m Anglo-Japaneso Alliance may bo annulled, but Australians will change the old love for the now without regret. U the Washington. Conference should bear no more. fruit than this it will still h;ivo carried U»© world fax along, Hu: road towards the goal of pcipetual peace. BRITISH TRESS EULOGY 'LONDON, Dec. 12, The newspapers unanimously eulogiso (lie Washington pact, especially paying a tribute to Mr Balfour, The Morning Post says the Pacific treaty will ultimately bo connected with another agreement concerning the limitation ot naval armaments. In framing these treaties distinguished plenipotentiaries •it' tho .Washington Conference have -Town themselves great statesmen to I in, ii unmmicnts without an agreement

11 111 it IUIUtIUIVMtM " f on policy. It would have been fantastic and dangerous to have reached a, . agreement on policy and at tho same, lime given free play to an armament race. A F BEN OH COJdMENT

PARIS, Dec. 12. 1 J( . Tcinps declares that tll ° FmirPower agreement greatly benefits Until in. She severs the Japanese Alliance without breaking with Japan, and <li';iws closer to the United bUtea without loosening the bonds which bind the British Empire together internally. A FACTOR OF FIRST MOMENT LONDON, Dec. 12. The Daily News special Washington correspondent at Washington states that the importance of ” ew merit is obviously beyond the proportion of its actual contents. The Pacific Islands were nob themselves aft acute

casus belli, but tho fact^ of a formal: .agreement between Tho United States,; Britain, Franco and Japan about anything earthly Is a factor of tho first moment in tho consolidating of world .stability. Tho delegates will probably remain until (ho end of December, but it is not clear whether the Treaty will be laid before tlie Senate immediately or deferred until other agreements are ready for submission. An interesting suggestion has been (mule, that Mr Lloyd George and M. Briaml .should depart together for America immediately on tho termination of their conversations regarding reparation and the Near Eastern problem, in connection with which M. Briaml visits Air Lloyd George on tho 14th. ... , Certain ministerialists behove tiiai/ President Harding is inviting tho two premiers to participate in a new conference between ail tho Bowers to discuss tho world’s economic position.