IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14658, 23 May 1921, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

GENERAL SMUTS’ VIEWS WHAT BRITAIN'S ROLE SHOULD BE. ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received May 22, 5.5 p.m. CAPETOWN, May 20. General Smuts has announced that he is taking with him the Ministers of Agriculture and Defence to the Imperial Conference. His influence at the Conference will be directed towards a lasting world’s peace. He says; “The time has come when the Empire must make a most serious effort to extricate ourselves from the troubles of the Continent and foster a policy of peace in Europe.” Referring to the feud between Franco and Germany, General gmuts thought it was time for the British Empire to appear, not as a party, but as a peacemaker. She emerged from the war the most powerful organism on earth, “and we will not be worthy of our past if we backed up any but the highest policy. If we are backed up by America I am sure It is possible, even at this late hour, to secure the world's peace.” Referring to the Japanese Treaty, General Smuts declared that the Paramount consideration was, as far as pos ■ sible, to secure an understanding between the Empire and the Lfnited Stales. That was the essential cardinal principle of our foreign policy. No renewal of the Japanese Treaty should take place unless America could be satisfied that her Interests were not jeopardised.