A GREAT CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19510, 9 May 1922, Page 5

A GREAT CONFERENCE

ACHIEVEMENTS AT WASHINGTON SIR JOHN SALMOND INTERVIEWED (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 8. “ I am satisfied that over and above the formal results embodied in the treaties, the Conference has, to a very notable degree, promoted the peace and welfare of the world by inducing mutual trust and confidence between three Great Powers, the British Empire, Japan, and the United States.” These are the words of Sir John Salmond, New Zealand’s representative at the Washington Conference. He returned to Wellington by the Manuka to day, and made use of the words quoted when interviewed by a press representative. Sir John left New Zealand in October, and reached Washington just in tune to take part as representative of the Dominion at the impressive ceremony of burying an unknown American soldier at the National Cemetery at Arlington. On the following day the Washington Conference was opened, and Mr Hughes, the American Secretary of State, made his dramatic announcement of the courageous and statesmanlike proposals of the American Government for reduction of the world’s fighting fleets and cessation of naval competi tion. The discussion these proposals and questions relating to the Far East con tinued at Washington for no less than three months, and resulted in the signing of a series of treaties so important and so significant as to make the Washington Conference a notable event in history. It was a dramatic occasion when on the last day of the Conference, at a public sitting, the representatives of the nine states represented at Washington put their hands and seals to these great international documents. The whole British delegation, comprising representatives of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and New Zealand co-operated throughout the Conference with absolute harmony and with no serious difference of opinion. "Mr Balfour, by virtue of his personality, ability, and prestige, exercised a predominant influence, not merely over the British delegation itself, but over the whole Conference,” said Sir John, “and I am glad to see his services to the British Empire, and indeed to the world, have since been recognised with the distinguish ed honours which have been conferred upon him. Throughout the Conference we received from the American Government and people unremitting kindness and courtesy, and the utmost harmony prevailed in all matters between the representatives of the Empire and those of the United States.. The British Empire, Japan, and the United States of America are the powers which dominate the Pacific Ocean, and in whose harmony and co-op-eration the Australasian colonies are so deeply and immediately interested.” While in America Sir John addressed the New York Bar Association and Harvard University. On his arrival in England he had the honour as representative of New Zealand at the Washington Conference, of being received in private audience by the King.