ARMS CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18515, 28 March 1922, Page 7

ARMS CONFERENCE

GAINS TO AUSTRALASIA- : . SENATOR PEARCE’S VIEWS: f ' (Fu Umitso Puss AuooiatiovJ WELLINGTON. Match 27. Senator G. F. Pearce, who is tai Australia from the conference on the tion of armaments at Washington, at which, he represented Australia on the British Empire Delegation, was a passenger on the • steamer Tahiti, which arrived in Wellington to-day. Senator Pearce, who was over 10 years Minister of Defence hr ■£s,--Oommon wealth Government, including practically the whole period of tly war, now holds the portfolio of Minister of Home and Territories. He expressed the keenest satisfaction at the results achieved by the conference.- He said that it had been a pleasure .to have been associated with. other members of the British Empire delegation, and he referred in appreciative terms to the work of his New Zealand colleague, Sir John Salmond. “The interests of Australia and New Zealand in the Pacifw and the Far Eastern questions are identical, and so there was no difficulty in harmorus--ing our respective views,” said the Aio*. tralian Minister. He proceeded to say that, in his judgment, with the possible exception of China, there were no countries represented at the conference which had mors to gain or lose as a result of its conclusions than Australia and New Zealand. The 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 understand- . ing among the nations having interests in the Pacific would inspire mutual confidence and would assist trade and development. To have been able to assist in removing the misunderstandings, jealousies, and w»-‘ picions which undoubtedly existed among 1 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, were to him a source of intense satisfaction. “I have . found,” : proceeded Senator Pearce, “very cordial' feelings in the United States, and particu-•-larly in Canada, towards this dotnintonnandthe commonwealth, and a keen desire to learn more about us I trust that by improving trade and the means of, communication we shall foster these feelitgs for our mutual benefit.” Senator Pearce expressed confidence in the ratification by the United States Senate erf the Pacific Treaty.