DISARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18350, 14 September 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. FOREIGN INVITATIONS. POSITION OF HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. Frees Association —By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, September 12. (Received Sept. 13, at 5.5 p.m.) It is learned at Washington that' the State Department has received favourable replies from two Powers to the United States’s inquiry whether Holland and Belgium should be invited to participate in the Washington Conference. _ If all the Powers are agreeable invitations will be issued.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WASHINGTON, - September 12. (Received Sept. 13, at 8.5 p.m.) 1 It is understood that China will not participate in the disarmament discussion. She will only be called in with Holland and Belgium if the latter are finally invited, whenever they need to be consulted on Far Eastern problems. It is pointed out that Belgium baa important railway interests in the Far East, .entitling her to a place in the discussions. Japan and France have both consented to the invitation to Belgium and .Holland. —A. and N.Z. Cable. PACIFIC PROBLEMS. AUSTRALASIA’S EXCLUSION. MELBOURNE, September 13. (Received Sept. 13, at 9.25 p.m.) Lord Northoline, speaking at a civic reception, said it was unthinkable that Australia and New Zealand should not be represented at the Pacific Conference, which would be the'most vital ever held, and would decide whether it was possible to exclude Orientals from white countries. Lord Northciiffe added that he intended tc alter his plans to enable him to confei with Mr Hughes with the object of taking joint action to protect Australian interests.