ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17115, 9 April 1921, Page 9

ANGLO- JAPANESE TREATY.

AUSTRALIA AND NAVAL DEFENCE IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY MR HUGHES. : <*, Cabl»-Pre» Association—Copy rig-lit.) ' -VZ. Cablo Aaaoei.t,on.>. MELBOURNE, April 8. In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister, Mr W. M. Hughes m . a speech on the foreign pohcy that should be adopted at the Imperial Con- . fcrence. said there could be no Empire under a republican government. The future peaco of the world depended on some understanding between America. Great Britain, and France. In securing the friendship of Japan they could not make an enemy of America. The Dominions should have a voice m tho Empire's foreign policy. Australia could not accept the Anglo-Japanese Treatv if it involved sacrifices Hie • Treatv would not be worth anything it the BVitisih Navy sank to the level of the fleet of a second-rate Power. Mr Hughes said ihe Commonwealth. Parliament, at tho Imperial Conference, would not be committed to a penny of espendiiuro over the nest naval scheme, which would he brought before Parliament and rejected or accepted for Australia. . . . Thero was no alternative, m t)ho interest of Australia, to participation in, . a scheme of .Imperial naval delence. It .was important that the Japanese Treaty should be renewed in eomo modified form acceptable to Great Britain, America, and Japan. There would be no discussion of constitutional matters at the June con- , ' ference. Tho conference next year would deal with that. ' Tho League of Nations was an unwieldyi clumsy contrivance. Thero was only one way to prevent war, and tlhatwas for tho world to turn its back upon - it. Mr Hughes, elaborating his arguments in connexion with the Anglo-JapaiU'Si l .. Treaty, said the Japanese conceived K they had complaints against ns because of our ''White Australia" policy, but < whatever restrictions were imposed against Japan operated •> against all nations, including Great ' Britain. Because Australia had * passed certain laws, it was not • done s out of disrespect for Japan, Jiut merely because of a difference in .ideals.. He reminded Jajism that efhe" had passed stringent laws in relation to , foreigners. We desired to live at peaco with Japan and return her friendship , and -trndu if possible. . ' , Asked if it was not Australia's bounden duty to use every means at her disposal to' secure a renewal of the - Treaty, he replied: "We cbuld nos, in attempting, to retain our friendship for Japan, make an enemy ' of America." Somehow, matters would t ' 'be smoothed out. He advised members to say nothing in debate tlhat might be misconstrued.