WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14818, 5 December 1921, Page 5

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

—_> MR LLOYD GEORGE'S DEPARTURE. A-FURTHER DELAY. PUSHING BUSINESS TOO FAST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received December A, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, December 3. The Sunday Times says that Mr Lloyd George, in view of the political situation at home and abroad, has decided reluctanLly to postpone his Washington journey indefinitely. This is perhaps not to be regretted excessively, because il is becoming evident that the conference is being pushed too fast, and that "international disarmament is not, so easily practicable as it had seemed to the idealism of American statesmen. Time is required to consider Mr Hughes' proposals in all their bearings, particularly Ihe naval holiday, and it is not unlikely that the present conference will be brought to an early conclusion witli Ihe idea after an interval I hat the work will bo carried on and completed by a similar body in 1922. Nothing is known in official circles in regard to the decision to scrap the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Lord Gurzon has invited the French and Italian Foreign Ministers to meet, him and discuss the Near Eastern problem and agree on a united policy. The French' objection bars the publication of the entire correspondence which Lord Gurzon desires.

BIG REDUCTION IN ARMIES. IF EASTERN PROBLEM SOLVED. Received December 4, 5.5 p.m. TOKIO, December 2. General Yamannshi. the Japanese War Minis'er in an interview, declared that Japan would be agreeable to-a v; rid reduction of armies immediately. Another high Governmental official Mated that the reduction may be as much as half or Japan's present military force, provided an agreement on ihe Far Eastern question was reached by lite Washington Conference.