ENDURING PEACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10965, 29 July 1921, Page 5

ENDURING PEACE

JAPAN’S GREAT HOPE INVITATION TO WASHINGTON GLADLY ACCEPTED. A RESERVATION. Hr Telegraph—Press As*n.—Copyright: Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Julv 29. 9.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON. July 27. The State Department has published the correspondence between Japan and the United States relative to the Pacific. Conference. The Vnind States Government on July 23rd d m Note to Tokio answering -Japan’s request to Ik? advised of tho scope and nature of the subject- to be discussed at the conference. The Note stated that the Secretary of State, in conversations with Air Sbideharn, expressed ihe hope that Japan would not pres-? its inquiry in view of the fact that it was desirable that there should bo full acceptance of the United States invitation, leaving this matter open for adjustment in the precise* agenda to be arrived at later. The Note concluded: “The Secretary of State is trilling to proceed with exchange© of opinion regarding th© agenda prior to the meeting of th© conference. He considers it inadvisable at» th© present moment to hamper th© programme and particularly to delay the arrangements for th© conference pending an agreement regarding this matter.”

Japan’s reply states: “The Government is informed that tho United States is willing to pr»x*eed with exchange© of opinion regarding the agenda prior to the conference meeting, and the United States considers it advisable ip adjust in the agenda th© nature and scope of the Pacific and Ear Eastern questions, which will be discussed. Japan, upon that understanding, is happy to inform the United States of its intention to gladly a©* cept the invitation to the conference. Japan, in order to secure the success of tho conference, deems it advisable that the agenda should be arranged according to the main object of the discussion, namely, th© establishment of enduring peace, th© of human, welfare, and the introduction therein of problems of sole concern to certain particular Powers or such matters as raav be regarded as accomplished facts should be scrupulously avoid* ed.” DISCUSSED IY PREMIERS NOTHING- SETTLED REGARDING PRELIMINARY MEETING. CONFLICTING RUMOURS. LONDON, July 27. The Imperial Conference discussed the Pacific question this morning. Later the Prime Ministers met them privately and alone. Th© strictest- secrecy was observed. Th© Conference resumes tomorrow, and the end is expected on Friday. In the absence of official statements, conflicting rumours are clouding th© main business of the Imperial Conference. In many places dates are named for the preliminary Pacific discussion, but the only fact in the maze of uncertainty is that nothing _ has been settled. Imperial and Dominion delegates, when questioned, say: ‘‘lf any meeting-place has been mentioned, it has not .been as a result of our deliberations.” Late to-night dispatches were still being exchanged overseas, bat the most eagerly-awaited had not arrived. TH! this reply is definite and clear, it ds impossible to arrange details. It is expected that a decision will bo to-morrow, when an official announcement will be made of the Pacific meeting-place. Meanwhile, papers are changing the scene, regardless of geographical difficulties, - and the expressed intentions of those most interested. Mr AY. M. Hughes meets Sir Henry Babington Smith to-morrow, with reference to the proposed duplication of the Pacific cable. MUST TAKE NO RISKB WARNING NOTE BY MR ROOSEVELT. (Reoeived Julv 28, 9.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Julv 27. Air Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant*. Secretary to the Navy, in a speech, declared that the limitation of armaments will be thought uppermost ah the coming limitation of armaments conference, “but I want to 63y we must never under any circumstances put our country in a position where she will be unable to defend herself against anything and everything arising. Tlie 'pacifists are muddle-headed idiots and will shout for the United States to set an example, but wo roust never disarm and then wait for othfiV armed nations to act.”