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delay. Action is imperative. A thing that is possible to-day is impossible tomorrow, and action must be taken. So, if we are going to have a real voice in foreign policy, then we must have improved communication —means whereby you will-be able to communicate quickly with your colleagues overseas, and they with youjand with each other. That is absolutely essential. When we come to that item on the agenda paper, I shall show you in one or two ways how some improvement may be made. But I confess that all|l falls very far short of that ideal condition of things which one would desire. Anglo-Japanese Treaty. Now I leave foreign policy in general and come to the Anglo-Japanese TreatyHere we are dealing with a matter definite and urgent. It is not a thing to be settled in the future, but now. The British Government has only postponed settlement in order that the matter might be dealt with round this table. It is an urgent matter. It must be settled without delay. The attitude of Australia towards it has been quite clearly stated. We have not a clean slate before us. If we had to consider for the first time whether we should have a treaty with Japan the position might be very different. We have not. For many years a treaty has existed between Japan and Britain. Its terms have been modified, but in substance the existing treaty has been in force for a long time. No doubt it cannot be renewed precisely in its present form : it must conform to the requirements of the League of Nations. But the case for renewal is very strong, if not indeed overwhelming. To Australia, as you will quite understand, this treaty with Japan has special significance. In Favour of Renewal. Speaking broadly, we are in favour of its renewal. But there are certain difficulties which must be faced. One of these arises out of the attitude of America towards this treaty. I am sure I state the opinion of Australia when I say the people have a very warm corner in their hearts for America. They see in America to-day what they themselves hope to be in the future. We have a country very similar in extent and resources, and it may be laid down as a sine qua non that any future treaty with Japan, to be satisfactory to Australia, must specifically exclude the possibility of a war with the United States of America. It ought to do this specifically, but if not specifically then by implication so clear and unmistakable that he who runs may read. It is perfectly true that the present treaty does this by implication, but not so plainly as to preclude misinterpretation. In any future treaty we must guard against even the suspicion of hostility or unfriendliness to the United States. I hope you are not forgetting, sir, that there are many who seek to misinterpret the intentions of this country, and to confound them we must put in plain words what are our intentions. That being so, and subject to that condition — which is not a new condition at all, because Japan has accepted the position for many years —Australia is very strongly in favour of the renewal of the treaty. As I have said, the treaty clearly must conform to the provisions of the League of Nations Covenant, and it must have regard to the circumstances of the world to-day ; but I think it ought to be renewed —I am strongly in favour of its being renewed. I think from every point of view that it would be well that the treaty with Japan should be renewed. Should we not be in a better position to exercise greater influence over the Eastern policy as an ally of that great Eastern Power than as her potential enemy % Now, if Japan is excluded from the family of great Western nations —and, mark, to turn our backs on the treaty is certainly to exclude Japan —she will be isolated, her high national pride wounded in its most tender spot. To renew this treaty is to impose on her some of those restraints inseparable from treaties with other civilized nations like ourselves. We will do well for the world's peace, we will do well for China, we will do well for the Commonwealth of British nations to renew this treaty. American Objections. We want peace. The world wants peace. Which policy is most likely to promote, to ensure, the world's peace ? As I see it, the renewal of the treaty with the Japanese Empire. Now let us consider America's objections to the renewal