WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17909, 11 October 1921, Page 6

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the Prime Minister contrived in his speech at Wellington yesterday to do less than justice to the United States Government Everyone mil share his regret that the preliminary conference on Pacific questions suggested by Mr. Massey and Mr. Hughes was found to be impracticable, but most people who have taken the trouble to follow the development of the conference negotiations will agree that, the American veto was justified When Japan was invited to the conference her press and her Government were suspicious and to some extent hostile. Instead of accepting directly she presented an inquiry as to the agenda and the United States Government then stated that the agenda would be determined after conversations anung the parties to th e conference. On this understanding Japan accepted. The success of America's attempts to disarm her suspicions has since been demonstrated by the publication of an agreed agenda covering all the vital Pacific questions. Mr. Massey appears to make little allowance for the very delicate negotiations which might have ' been wrecked by the preliminary conference he advocated, and his speech concedes nothing to the necessity for preserving the freedom and authority of the full Parliament unimpaired. Only the most conciliatory statesmanship, has endowed the Washington gathering with its present bright prospects, and all that is known of Mr. Harding's strong efforts for peace suggests that he would have met the convenience of Mr. Massey and Mr. Hughes had that been possible without exciting suspicion in other countries and prejudicing the principal object of the conference. It is satisfactory to learn that New Zealand will be represented at Washington. Many New Zealanders will regret that Mr. Massey will not be able to attend the conference in person, but these regrets avail nothing. The thing now is to send a delegate who will speak authoritatively for New Zealand and asfiist in making the conference a success. The resurrection of old controversies will not assist to this very desirable end.