TO ENSURE PEASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 6

TO ENSURE PEASE

DISARMAMENT QUESTION PRESIDENT HARDING SUGGESTS A CONFERENCE. POWERS APPROACHED, f >By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian am! N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 11, 8.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 10. It is announced that. President Harding has approached Britain, Prance, Ltaly, and Japan to ascertain Whether they are trilling to participate*, in conference on the subject of the limitation of armaments, to held at Washington at a time fo be mutually agreed upon. If the propo&al is found acceptable formal invitations to such conference will he issued. The text of the inquiry addressed to ttlie Powers states: “It is manifest that the question of the limitation of armaments has close relation to the Pacific and Far Kaatern problems, and the President suggests that the Powers specially interested should undertake in connection with this conference consruleratioji of all matters bearing on their solution, with a view to reaching a common understanding in respect to the principles and policies of the Far East. China is : also invited to participate in the discussion of Far Eastern problems. NEW YORE, July 7. The “New York World’s’’ correspondent at Washington says that it n) understood /that President Harding, who conversed with Senator Borah, pro-_ mised to shortly take up the disarmament question, and'-proposed to call aconference. He admitted that he Kad been feeling out the situation with tho aim of initiating the necessary steps. ‘ A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. Hemter’a Telearram. (Received Julv 12, l-. 10 a.m.) liONDON, July 11. Mr Llt>yd George communicated with President Harding-and also with Japan and China regarding the proposed conrerence, and it is confidently anticipated that beneficial lesults will follow President Harding’s s^ep. PEELING IN JAPAN . LIKELIHOOD oUnAVAL ENGAGEMENT. TOKIO, July 7. Recent meetings of the Elder Statesmen have produced the impression that the ground is being prepared for formal negotiations between Britain,, the United States, and Japan on naval Limitation. The “Nichi Nicm Sfflmbun” declares editorially that negotiations for the abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance are being conducted, due to the likelihood of a naval arrangement between the three nations. The" secretary of the Japanese Embassy at Washington, Mr Kaku, in. a statement, said' that President Harding often had occasion to express the conviction that an Anglo-American, Japanese Entente 'should be made the basis of world peace. Mr Kaku’s impression "was that the Americans would be prepared to fight if challenged, but otherwise would be/ the last to take up arms against the Japanese.

- AMERICA AS LEADER f /

A SENATOR’S VIEWS. NEW YORK, July* 10. • The “New York Times” correspondent at Philadelphia interviewed Senator Penrose, wh.o said: ‘‘l favour the general principle of disarmament, and in a large measure disarmament on the part of the United States, regardless of /any agreement or understanding with other nations. None can picture another war during the present generation, and perhaps in the next. No nation desires to attack the United States or can do so successfully. Let ether nations go ahead if they wish to confer to reduce armaments. The United States is big enough to settle its own questions.” . . ‘ ■

JAPANESE ALLIANCE

HOW IT WILL AFFECT POSITION. VANCOUVER, July 7. The United Press Agency at Washington has been informed that the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance an its present form would prevent America initiating a disarmament conference. It is pointed out that the,Alliance is eminently military, providing that should either party go ‘to war with a third party the other Power is obligated to aid. However, should the protest he renewed, Apierica would desire specific exemption from the ap-, plication of the terms. * NEW YORK, July 7. The Japanese Consul-General, Mr Kumaski, addressing the members of the Japanese Diet, said that he was semi-omcially visiting America, and predicted an Anglo-Amorican-Japanese Alliance. Other speakers favoured disarmament.