AUSTRALIA'S BACK DOOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14837, 14 February 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S BACK DOOR.

HUGHES' INTERVIEW CONCERN-

ING JAPAN.

(Sydney Sun Special.)

PARIS, Jan. — There is no question about the authenticity and accuracy of the New York World's interview with Mr. Hughes, which created more interest at the Conference than the statement of any other delegate, and, on the whole, is widely approved. ; ■ The World's correspondent pointed out that when Japan seized the Marshalls and the, Carolines Australian apprehensions were aroused, and American comments were sharply, marked. America regarded- the ; islands as stepping-stones in the direction .of Hawaii,. Panama^ and South ... ' , , „,' v . , Japan, showed an excellent spirit, and declared that she. did not intend to re.tain these, islands, < ; but later, when, an attempt was made to get this declaration definitely fixed Japan said that public opinion would render the surrender extremely embarrassing. •The interviewer then quoted Mr. Hughes, who revised and approved., of the quotations as follows: — ; "Restrictions on,, the rights of delegates to make statements wonjd be unfair and impracticable. If I considered that the .Commonwealth "was, not getting- 1 a square deal regarding the islands .% would' not; hesitate to appeal to Allied publip opinion. The Japanese are a^ great and highly intelligent people, but their ways are not our ways, and our ideals fundamentally differ.

, "We would regard with suspicion any Japanese, advance in our. direction, iWe have a very . small /population & compared with Japan. Our interests arid aspirations are not identical. ,-? : "We can each in our own natural sphere safeguard our future; while maintaining relations, of true harmony. '-.;■ '.'The Commonwealth's -interests in the Pacific are, naturallyj much concerned by the future disposition of the former .German possessions in the immediate vicinity of our coasts. .'.:. "Another Power'B possession of these would leave us in, a serious .. position. They lie at our baok door. NewGuinea is nearer to us than is Tasmania. We mipht be laid open. tp. a nocturnal visit.

"I feel that America will recognise our vital interests."

Mr. Hughes, also developed the theme of the Australian necessity -for^ the full protection of the British Fleet. * 'WE WON THEM AND WE cciAfipD thsm.;* In his addre^^o tfce "soldiers at the Y.M.C.A. foundation day celebrations,, Mr. Huches-v.saidJ^ v . ' .: "On behalf <*>k^yoii -who' won this! glorious - victory,.' I p-ut .lorward' a claim to the confe.rerj , ce ( . i for t^e Pacific- Inlands ; — -(cheers)-rwhichi are necessary to Australia's safety- v(Chee**&,), . "I said, we had won them and that - we claimed them. (Cheers.) -Less than that would not satisfy „ us. It would mean passing over $11 we had done for liberty, -for national security, for the peace of . the world. (Cheers.) "We are a small unit but our ideals bear comparison: with . any people's. We have set our faces to'wards the rising sun, and march towards a great destiny. , "What America is to-day, we shall be some day. As she worships her nationhood, so we have .the right to worship and secure ours." (Cheers.) Mr. Hughes was repeatedly cheered as h© , spoke of Australia's national feeling. , "We have the right- to govern ourselves in our own way," he said. .."It might not. be other people's way, but it is ours. In this, peace there must be written in indelible characters those terms for which we went to war—selfgovernment, ..security, and liberty.'' , Mr. Hughes ended with a slashing attack on his Australian critics, aimed, apparently,; at least in pari/, at Mr. Watt, whose depreciatory remarks on Mr. Hyghes's American interview have been widely published here. "I i have . been mtfch criticised," said Mr. Hughes ; by my fellow-citizens in Australia:,; because I put -Australia first, not. subordinating her interests to any. (Cheers,); With, me Australia's interests.' are first. . (Cheers.) .When lie-, turn,, to; Australia;. l shall not be slow In \ telling thojs©. who behind my back attack this' dostrine that they are grievously;, injuring ;'» Australia. "Some seem to clutch only at the ,skirts; of, Empire, and crawl, along^the ground /where* the Empire .walks. v You, not*, they,, have nut Australia in . her proud - ; plaGe> ; to-;day,- ai*^ we. owe yon* attention to Australia's\.needs.' r ' TURN ; UNFAiVOBABLE" TO ANNEXATIONS; - Proceedings. at f the -Conference yesterday afternoon*- took, a'S turn unfavorable to j any 'direct annexations. After"-' M. \ Simon , : the • French Colonial Minister, ; had re-stated the French col-onials-aspirations .; and necessities, and Signor Orlando, had elaborated^ the Ital-' ian ■; desires' for-', an Adriatic - Asia Miribr, President .,, Wilson madei apparently, v a most important- speech; ■•?-. bringing *-, the whole question of annexations under review, • - President Wilson, in the r-most amicable t way, remm-ded\ the Powers of i his 14 pbinta,' and ■ asserted vthat'' he could not- reconcile, annexations. ', with ► those/ . ' Mr. '- Lloyd,;. Georgey: Mr, '. Balfour, \ aiirl M.i.Clemenceau after pwhich. -the' discussion , -became Tgenei-aL Y. ••- . '■*-• An' endeavor is.teow-. being .made* to' find |; ia ;f orgfula'v wniclir will .'apply the system -'of [maHdat'esVtp ' -th© whole;, terji--torialV cha*^,/ though'. . Mr: ;f Hiighes/ General '■- Botha' arid" **jMr. '■*" Massey ;-' are* likfely to .stand **tpgether,- insisting .upon special cases. '. President A- Wilson, . .and t Mr.! Massey confessed to a -similar difficulty. ... Mr. j'MasSey;. said thatihe ttould; not ""hope . 1 or i'aiiy > System -y 6f however mild, to-be understood in*. Ne*w' Zealand). "> ■' <">•• ' :.'■■/■ '■*.-■' President. Wilson retorted, that no r sys•iem •of annexa,tions ' woulcfc be understood in America. 7'lt.is plairf; that President Wilson in-' sists; ,dh 'preventing annexations* and there, is hope of the mandate . being so ariiariged aai to be generally acceptable, tt Ms noteworthy that', the < Dominion. Premiers are attendinc discussions, al-; though; M. Simon withdrew after his statement. „:, .*-•.■* It is understood that the Cabinet yesterday decided to make a concession to President Wilson's view., .though the concession is hot . very substantial..

'The cable news In this Issue accredited ;■'" to the London Times has appeared In that Journal, but only where expressly stated Is such news the Edi- > torial opinion of the Times.]