DISARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18323, 13 August 1921, Page 9

DISARMAMENT

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION FAR EASTERN QUESTIONS. Press Assooisticn —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 11. President Harding’s call points out that while naval armaments will naturally have first place in the discussions, the question of other armaments will not be excluded. It may also be advisable to control new agencies of warfare. The scope of the Far East discussions has not been defined, and will be the subject for exchanges of views before the Conference is held. FORMAL INVITATIONS * DESPATCHED. WASHINGTON, August 11. President Harding’s formal call to the Disarmament Conference has been despatched to the various Powers. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

TEXT OF THE INVITATION. WASHINGTON, August 11. (Received August 12, at 5.5 p.m.J The text of President Harding’s invitation reads as follows: —“The President is deeply gratified at the cordial response to the suggestion that there should be a conference on the subject of the limitation of armaments, in connection with which Jdie Pacific and Far Eastern questions can also be discussed. The staggering economic burdens .of productive labour are too hqavy to he borne unless the present vast 'public expenditures are greatly reduced. It is idle to anticipate stability, an assurance of social justice and security, and peace while the wasteful, non-proauctive outlays deprive labour of its just reward and defeat the reasonable expectations of progress. The enormous disbursements on and the rivalries in armaments manifestly constitute the greater part of the encumbrance on enterprise. The national propensity for this is not only without economic justification, but is a constant menace to the world’s peace rather than an assurance of its preservation, yet I da not expect a halt to the increasing outlays unless the Powers largely concerned find .a satisfactory basis of agreement regarding limitations. The time is believed to be opportune for the Powers to approach the subject directly at a conference, and while the question of naval armaments may have first place in the discussion, other armaments will not be excluded. It may also be found advisable to discuss proposals by which, in the interest of humanity, new agencies of warfare may be controlled. It is the earnest wish of the United States that through an interchange of views at the conference it may be possible to find a solution of the Pacific and Far Eastern problems, which are of unquestioned importance at this time. Such a common understanding respecting matters which have been, and are, of international concern may be of service in promoting an enduring friendship among our peoples. It is not the purppsJ* of the United States to attempt to define. the scope of discussion on the Pacific and Far East, but to leave it to exchanges of opinion before the conference in expectation that a spirit of friendship will govern the final decision. The President, therefore, invites Britain to a conference at Washington on November 11.” Identical notes have been sent to France, Italy, and Japan.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PACIFIC PROBLEMS. AUSTRALIA’S VIEWPOINT. LONDON, August 11. While Parliament was sitting Mr W. M. Hughes addressed 100 members, by invitation of the Empire' Parliamentary Committee of Westminster, on the Pacific question. He set out the case from the Australian viewpoint, and also discussed the situation as affecting America, China, and Japan and their relation to Australia. He dealt with all points fully, expressing very great regret that the American Government had been unable to arrange to hold a preliminary conference to disouss Pacific matters, because, without a settlement of these points, disarmament would be impossible. He explained the White Australia policy, tracing the development of sentiment and emphasising that this strong claim was now held as a national ideal by Australians.—A. and N. Cable.