WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15594, 10 August 1921, Page 3

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.

WILL MR. LLOYD GEORGE ATTEND?

iElec. Tel Copyright— untied Press Assn.i .Australian and N.Z. c'able Ass.V.iation.i

PARIS, Aug. 8.

Ructer’s agency is authorised to state that neither the delegation nor the Embassy made any statement regarding Mr. Lloyd Georges intention in the matter of ghing to America. Moreover, Mr. Lloyd George saw no Americain journalists. . - . ■ •••■ >'V‘ L•• (The Times.) # a* LONDON/' Aug/8/"" The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that Mr. Lloyd George has not informed the journalists that lie is not going to Washington. “I am informed that Mr. Lloyd George intends to accept President Harding’s invitation to visit Washington as the official British representative.” Mr. Lloyd George’s announcement in Paris that he will not attend the Washington Conference, surprised London Government circles, which attribute the decision to the enormous accumulation of work requiring his personal attention during the autumn. It is further suggested that the anticipated development in the Irish situation caused the Premier to chango his mind. Some people are inclined to associate the change of plan with the possibility of a general election in the autumn.

(Received August 10, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9.

Mr. Chamberlain, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said that the American Government had not officially proposed a definite date for the Washington Conference. limited Service.) 'One report that Mr. Lloyd George is not going to Washington seems to have emanated from a conversation between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand. 'The latter asked if Mr. Lloyd George intended to go. Mr. Lloyd George replied “T liavc not yet been officially invited.” He did not know whether the Conference was for Premiers, Foreign Secretaries, or appointed delegates. Mr. Lloyd George added that he was not sure if he would bo able to go. Ihe conversation was unofficial and private, but apparently something leaked out and subsequently garbled or misconstrued.