BACK FROM THE U.S.A.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11170, 28 March 1922, Page 4

BACK FROM THE U.S.A.

SENATOR PEARCE'S VIEWS' IV ELL PLEASED WITH RESULTS OF CONFERENCE. THE TIE THAT BINDS. Senator tlio Right Honourable G. F. Pearce, P.C., who is returning to Australia from the meetings of _ tho Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armaments, at which he represented Australia on the British Empire Delegation, was a passenger on the steamer Tahiti, which arrived in Wellington yesterday. Senator Pearce, who was for over ten years Minister for Defence in- the Commonwealth Government, including practically the whole period of the war, now holds the portfolio of Minister for Home and Territories. Interviewed by a “limes” representative last night, he expressed the keenest satisfaction at the resrults achieved by the Conference. It had been, he stated, a pleasure to be associated with the other members of the British Empire Delegation, and he referred in appreciative terms to tho work of his Now Zealand colleague, Sir John Salmond. Of course (said the Australian Minister) we went over to America together on the same boat, and had plenty of time to compare notes before we arrived in Washington. INTERESTS IDENTICAL. The interests of Australia and New Zealand on the Pacific and the Far Eastern questions are identical, so there was no difficulty in harmonising qur respective views. He added that, in his judgment, with the possible exception of China, there were no countries represented at the Conference who had more to gain or lose as a result of its conclusions than Australia and New Zealand. Hie substitution of a policy of peace and amity in the Pacific for the race in naval armaments would mean a great relief for the British Dominions in naval and military expenditure. The creation of a better understanding, among the nations having interests in the Pacific would inspire mutual confidence and assist trade and development among all. To have been able to assist in removing the misunderstandings, jealousies, and suspicions which undoubtedly existed among the nations having interests in these regions, and to have contributed in, some small way to a better understanding among the Eng-lish-speaking nations ( was to him a/ source of intense satisfaction.

CORIDLAL FEELING IN U.S.A. “I have found,” proceeded the Senator, “a very cordial feeling in the United States, and particularly in Canada, towards this Dominion and tho Commonwealth, and' a keen desire to learn more about us; and I trust that, by improving trade and the means of communication wo shall foster these feelings for our mutual benefit.”

Senator Pearce expressed great gratification at the ratifying of the FfeurPower Pacific Treaty, and confidence in the ratification by the United States Senate of , all. the treaties agreed to at the Conference. Hie* treaty , already ratified, he stated, 13 the most important so far ag Australia and New Zealand are concerned; but I suppose that the treaty for the limitation of naval armaments is the most important from the world point of view. Another treaty arrived at was that for the. maintenance of the status quo as regards fortifications and land armaments in the Pacific. He bad no doujbt that the ratification of these other treaties was assured. Tho opposition ' had concentrated on the Four-Power Treaty. He did not doubt that there would be a certain amount of opposition .also to the other two; but the opposing Senators had a greater chance of donating the Four-Power Pacific Treaty than that on naval limitation and the treaty in regard to fortifications in the Pacific. As to the direct effect of the Naval Armaments Limitation Treaty on New Zealand and Australian armaments, he would naturally prefer to reserve that matter for his report to his Government. THE CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS. The other matters considered by the Washington Conference, stated Senator Pearce, were dealt with by way of resolutions, not by way of treaty. There were, for instance, the resolutions with rqgard to. the regulation of the use of submarines in warfare, the resolutions in relation to China and tho Far East, and so on. The constitutional position in the United States was that treaties were not effective until ratified by the Senate. But the resolutions arrived at were binding in honour and good faith without ratification ; the people (being in each ease behind the signatures of the Governments which agreed to the resolutions. Such a notion as Britain Oir France, for example, would never dream of violating such an agreement. It would be considered a very dishonourable thing to do. Suoh resolutions went up make up international taw in regard to war. International law on war matters was laid down by resolution at the (Hague Convention, and one of the charges brought against Germany was that she was a party to the Hague Convention, and yet brake the rules she had. agreed to there. Senator Pearce continues his journey to Australia -by the Tahiti to-day.