DISARMAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10951, 13 July 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

AMERICA’S LEAD MR IxLOYD GEORGE WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. SUCCESS HOPED FOR. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 12. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. Mr Lloyd George, in the of Commons, announced that Britain has received President Ejarding’a invitation to the Associated .Allied Powers to confer on the disarmament and Pacific questions. China has already replied favourably. No invitation had yet been received by Japan, but there was good reason to believe that it would be-in the same sense. Mr Lloyd George said the world had been looking to the United States for a lead. He heartily wished it success, and no effort would be lackihg to make it so on the part of the British Empire. Turning to the Anglo-Japanese agreement, he said the broad lines of the Government’s Far Eastern policy had met with general acceptance at the Conference. PEACE IN FAR EAST. It was desired to maintain close friendship and co-operation with Japan, to preserve the “open door*’ in China and give the Chinese every opportunity for peaceful progress and "development We desired friendly co-operation with the United States. Upon principles more than on anything else depended the peace and well-being of the woild. In the conference upon the Pacific question China would be treated a 6 an independent power. In Japan we had our old ally. For twenty years the alliance had not only benefited ns, but the peace of the Fax East. China was an enormous country with great potentialities. We would hftve tp hear in mind not only our own interests, but the interests of China. LIMITING NAVAL EXPENDITURE. The object of the discussions had been to find some limit to the danger of heavy naval expenditure in the Pacific and remove those evils tending to limit the development of our legitimate interests in the Fair East. The Japanese Treaty would only lapse at the expiration of twelve months after notice of denunciation had been given. It was the desire of the British Empire .and Japan that the agreement should be brought into complete haxmonv with the Covenant of the League of Nations and where one was inconsistent with the other the terms of the Covenant would prevail. Notice to this effect had been now given to the league. FARSEE3NG STATESMANSHIP. Lord Curzon had .held conversation with the American and Japanese Ambassadors and the Chinese Minister and informed them of Cabinet’s views. Now President Harding had taken the momentous step of inviting the powers to a conference on the limitation of armaments, fo be held at Washington in the near future. He also suggested a preliminary meeting on Pacific and Far Eastern questions between the powers most, directly interested. President Harding’s act was one of farseeing statesmanship. (Cheers). A NEW HOPE CANADA WILL DO HER PART. Pnbliafaed in “Tbe Times.'*(Received July 13, 1.45 a.m.) LONDON. July 11. Mr A. Meighen, interviewed, said that President Harding’s proposal offers new hope and promises relief to a distracted world. Nowhere will it be more eagerly welcomed than in Canada, where there has always* been an unwavering belief that the issues involved can best be settled by a free conference of the nations concerned. Canada will unquestionably seek every means to ensure success. PEACE AND GOODWILL. Published -in “The' Tim’Se.— (Received July 13, 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. Mr Massey, interviewed, said that in years to come it may happen that the Empire will again be called upon, to defend her rights and liberties. The time, therefore, is most opportune to secure an understanding which for generations will ensure peace and goodwill. PROPOSAL ENDORSED, CONFERENCE CONSIDERS- MEMORANDUM. (Received July 12, 11.35 pan.) LONDON, July 11. The conference held a special meeting at Downing street this morning for the purpose of drafting a reply to President Harding’s memorandum. General Smuts was the only absentee. The conference unanimously endorsed President Harding’s proposal. * ♦ FRANCE FALLS INTO LINE M. BRIAND WILL PROBABLY ATTEND CONFERENCE. (Received July 12, 5.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 11. The “New York Times’- 1 Paris correspondent states that M. Bnand will accept President Harding’s disarmament conference invitation, and he will probably attend personally.

A TIMELY MESSAGE TASK OF CONFERENCE. Published In “The Time*." LONDON, July 11. The “Unies,” in a leader, say* “President Harding’s momentous and timely statement opens a new, and wo "hope a fruitful, phase of the problem of the Pacific. No doubt th© British Government, with the full concurrence of the Dominions, will gladly and promptly accept the proposal in the same spirit as it is made. The Dominion Premiers at the week-end were the guests of Mr Lloyd George at 'The Chequers,’ and probably were aware of the imminence o>f the message, and already had discussed the expedience Of a Pacific conference. For this reason the arrival of the message was specially timely, precluding misapprehensions of th£ American attitude. These misunderstandings now appear trivial in view of President Harding’s opportune action. The task of the proposed conference i« ae delicate and dangerous as that which any conference has essayed to discharge. The Peace Conference at Paris was not faced with vaster issues, fraught with greater possibilities for good or evil. The Paris Conference’s haphazard methods should servo as a warning and a deterrent to the Pacific Conference, which should only be summoned after most careful examination of the preliminary problems and the utmost cautiort: in * the

preparation of the agenda. With these precautions it should succeed, to thf world’s lasting benefit.” IN TIME OF NEED POINTED REMARKS BY MB HUGHES. THE EMPIRE FIRST. (Received July 13. 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. President Harding’s invitation and Mr Lloyd Georges,,reply overshadowed the proceedings at the conference of Premiere, yet the discussion on foreign relations was continued, Mr Meighen and Mr Hughes taking opposite sides. Mr Hughes took exception to Mr Moighen’s veiled suggestion that Canada would judge the rights of a quarrel before rallying to help the Motherland. Mr Hughes replied that Mr Mcighen’s attitude was exactly correct and academic. Australia expected nothing from Canada or South Africa, nr.r -; id they expect anything front Australia. That was quite right. But they owed all to England and the Empire. The Dominions had the same rights as a non coming of age. Similarly the father could legally turn the son adrift at 13, but what a poor world it would be if every sen and ever, father exercised his rights to the letter of tbo law. Tbe world was not satisfied with that kin dof thing It would never do in family life, or in the family of vbo Empire. Mr Hughes was "immensely pleased at the new disarmament development. His view was summarised in the remark: “Wo hare got all we set mat to get.”