IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 229, 22 June 1921, Page 7

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

OPENING SPEECH OF MR. LLOYD GEORGE

POST-WAR PROBLEMS

ESSENTIALS TO WORLD PEACE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. June 21, midnight.) London, June 20. In opening the Conference Mr. Lloyd George said-. “I bid you all a hearty welcome to Great Britain arid Downing Street. Since tho last meeting some notable gaps have occurred in the British Empire delegation. Sir Robert Borden has laid down the cares of office. By General Botha’s death the Empire sustained a heavy loss. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey are old friends. We three enjoy the unenviable distinction of being the only Prime Ministers who took part in the war. I also extend cordial greetings to the Maharao of Cutch and Mr. Justice Sastri, representatives.of the Indian Empire.

Time of Stress and Trouble. “The Conference falls at a time of great stress in England and trouble in many parts of the world. It is inevitable that the nations which put forth colossal efforts and sustained unparalleled losses in life, limb, and treasure during the war should feel the consequences of over-etrain and exhaustion due to tho condition in which the nations of the world have been left by the war. ' Nover did statesmanship demand more patience and wisdom. Distress amongst the population was much greater after the Napoleonic wars than at present, for despite tho unemployment and labour unrest there is no actual privation amongst the population. The war has produced a condition from which ii will take years to recover. In spite of a good deal that is discouraging, I am con. fidont that the world! is slowly working through its troubles. Gradually the world is passing through the usual experience of first denying the existence of palpable realities, and then settling down to act upon them. A distinctly encouraging feature in ths international situation is tho fact that there is increasing impatience with those who seek to keep the world in a state of turmoil and tension. There is a deepening conviction that the world must have peace if it is ever to recover health.

Menacing Problems Settled.

"Some of the most troublesome and most menacing problems of peace have either been settled or are in a fair way to settlement. Two questions gave great anxiety—one tho disarmament of Germany and the other reparations. Tho disarmament of Germany may bo stated to be settled. The problem of tho German fleet has disappeared. So has the Austrian and German army disappeared as a great and powerful force. It numbered millions; now it numbers little more than a hundred thousand. It had term of thousands of guns; now it has a few hundred. It had an enormous number of machineguns and trench morta.ro. These have gone. The Germans have surrendered 80,000,000 rounds of big ammunition. It is not so much Prussia that is giving us trouble as Bavaria. That difficulty will, I think, be overcome in a very short time, and the problem of disarmament, which was vital, because so long as Germany ihod a big army there was no guarantee of peace, will disappear.

Reparations Difficulty,

"No one knows better than Mr. Hughes the practical difficulties surrounding the problem of reparations. The question is how you are to transfer a payment from) one country and make it in 7 another. As Mr. Hughes knows, that problem has baffled all the financial experts in Paris, and only after two years havo wo hit upon an expedient which seems to havo given satisfaction to all moderate and practical men in European countries. That seems to bo the view of the Dominions. They, have a direct concern in it. Germany has accepted a very practical plan for liquidating her liabilities, France and Italy have accepted it. Public opinion in England has also accepted it. Two remaining difficulties are, firstly, the fixation of the boundaries of Poland, partly of Lithuania, and now of Silesia; and, secondly, making peace with Turkey. The first essential to pence and reconstruction, is that we stand by our treaties.

Interdependence of tho Nations. "Some grow weary of these great responsibilities, and speak as though it were possible to renounce them without injustice to other peoples or detriment to ourselves. I venture to say that such arguments are as short-sighted as they are false. Tho nations and peoples of the world have realised their interdependence in a measure greater than ever before the war. The League of Nations stands as a witness of their realisation of this truth. No progress can be made towards the rehabilitation of Europe or- the permanent peace of tho world except upon the basis of acceptance and enforcement of treaties. There may bo relaxations here and there, following upon tho discovery of new conditions, with the consent o£ all parties. Tho treaties must stand. No signatory should. have the right to override any part of a treaty to which all are parties. The Empire is bound by honour and interest alike to the .treaties which, it has signed. Unless treaty faith is maintained an era of disorganisation, increasing misery, and smouldering war will continue, and civilisation may very easily, be destroyed by a prolongation of that state of things.

Friendship With Japan. "Earl Curzon, on his return, will give a survey of foreign affairs. I will not anticipate his statement, but I should like to refer to the relations of tho Empire with the United States and Japan. There is no quarter of the world where we desire more greatly to maintain peace and fair play for all nations and to avoid competition in armaments than in the Pacific and the Far East. Our alliance with Japan has been a valuable factor in the past. We have found Japan a faithful ally, who rendered us valuable assistance in an hour of serious, critical need. The Empire will not easily forget that Japanese nien-of-war escorted ths transports bringing Australian and New Zealand forces to Europe at the time when German cruisers were stilt in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. We desire to preserve that well-tried friendship, and to apply it to a solution of all questions in the Far East, where Japan lias special Interests, and where we ourselves, like the United States,. desire equal opportunities and an open door.

The Future of China. "Not the least question is tho future ofyChina, which looks to ns, as to the United States, for sympathetic treatment nnd fair play. No greater calamity could overtake the world than a further accentuation of ihe world's divisions upon (he lines of race. Tho Empire has done signal service to humanity by bridging these divisions in the past. The loyalty of tho Kings and Asiatic peoples is proof. To depart from that policy ot to fail in that duty would not only greatly increase tho dangers of International war, it would divide tho British Empire against itself. Our,

foreign policy can never range itself in any sense upon differences of race and civilisation between the East and West. It would bo fatal io tho Empire. We look confidently to tho Government and people of tho United States for sympathy and understanding in this respect.

Desire to Avoid Growth of Armaments. "Tho friendly co-operation of tho United States is for us a cardinal principle dictated by instinct, quite as much as by reason and common sense. We desire to work with the great Republic in all parts of the world. Like tho United States we want stability and peace on the basis of liberty and justice. We desire to avoid the growth of armaments, whether in the Pacific or elsewhere, end wo rejoice that American opinion should be showing earnestness in that direction at the present time. We are ready to discuss with American statesmen any proposal for- the limitation of armaments. We will undertake that such overtures will not find a lack of willingness ou our part to meet them. Tn tho moantime, we cannot forget that the life of tho United Kingdom, os also that of Australia and New Zealand, indeed of the whole Empire, has been builtup on sea power. That sea power is necessarily the basis of the whole Empire’s existence. Therefore, we look to the measures which security requires us to aim at. We cannot possibly bo content with less.

Suggestions of Conference Welcomed. "The British Government has been under suspicion in some quarters of harbouring designs against this conference. We are said to be dissatisfied with the present state of the Empire and to wish to alter its organisation in some revolutionary way. We are not at all dissatisfied. Another change which has taken place since the war is the decision of the Canadian Government to have a Minister in Washington. We co-operated willingly and shall welcome a Canadian colleague in Washington as soon as the appointment is made. We welcome any suggestion you have for the association of yourselves more closely with the conduct of foreign relations. There was a time when Downing Street controlled tho Empire. To-day it is in tho charge of Downing Street. We want to know your standpoint. We want to fell you ours.

Status of the Dominions. **fn recognition of their services and. achievements in tho war, the Dominions have been accepted fully into tho comity of nations by the wholo world. They have achieved full national status and now stand beside the United Kingdom as equal partners in tTie deguities and responsibilities of the British Commonwealth. India’s achievements were also very great. Its theatre in Europe was remote, yet India stood by her allegiance heart and soul from the first call to arms, and some of her soldiers are still serving far from their homes and families in the common cause. India's loyalty in tho great crisis is eloquent of thi Empire’s success in bridging thb East and West. India has also proved her right to the now status in our council. I welcome her representatives to the great Council of tho Empire. War has revealed to the world that tho Empire is not an abstraction, but a living force.

Unity of Empire Saved Civilisation. "This opportune revelation of the reality of the Empire has altered the history of the world. Those who know how narrow the margin was between victory and defeat can proclaim without hesitation that without those two million men from outside tho United Kingdom Prussianism would probably have triumphed in the West before tho American troops arrived. Earl Curzon, who is now discussing with 11. Briand the execution of the victorious treaty, would bo discussing how best to carry out tho humiliating terms dictated by the triumphant War Lords of Germany. The reign of unbridled force .would have been supreme and unregulated. The unity of tho British Empire saved Franco, Britain, and civilisation from that catastrophe. Victory has its cares as well as defeat, but they are ephemeral and soon surmounted. Defeat would have reversed the engines of progress and democacy would havo been driven back centuries.

Ideals of the Empire. "The British Empire is the saving fact in a distracted world. It is the most hopeful experiment in human organisation that the world has yet seen. The Empire is based not on force, but on good will and common understanding. Liberty is its binding principle. In this room wo stand for tho long political development of the British Isles, with all its splendours and pains, the crucible from which th® framework of the whole great structure has emerged. In all the marvellous achievement of our peoples which this gathering reflects, I am most deeply impressed by the blending of the East and West. Our duty .here is to present the ideals of this great association of peoples in willing loyalty to one Sovereign to take counsel together regarding the progress and welfare of all, and to keep our strength, both moral and material, a united power for justice, liberty, and peace." At the conclusion of the address Mr.

Meighen congratulated Mr. Lloyd George Other Dominion representatives endorsed Mr. Meighen's remarks, expressing tho greatest appreciation of the address. At Tuesday's sitting each Premier will speak, giving his detailed views on all the ouestions most concerning his Dominion. The actual discussion of matters on the agenda paper will not be taken up until all th® Premiers have spoken.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ARRIVAL OF DELEGATES London, June 20. Great interest was taken in tho opening of the Imperial Conference at noon today. Downing Street was barricaded against the Sinn Fein menace, but it failed to block the photographers and

reporters. The delegates wore not anxious to be snapped, General Smuts being the only one to offer facilities. The Marahao of Cutch was tho first to arrive, wearing a turban and accompanied by Prince Ranjitsinghi. He dashed into No. 10 without showing his face. Prince Ranjitsinghi smiled amiably. Both were received by Mr. Lloyd Georgo, who looked well after his holiday. Mr. Massey’s entourage was th® most impressive of all, with a uniformed chauffeur and a soldier-like commissionaire in attendance.

Mr. Hughes arrived on tho stroke of noon, looking very serious. Tho last to come was Mr. Arthur Meighen, the youngest Prime Minister. Immodiately following was a huge laundry wagon, which drew up at No. 10, greatly amusing the crowd, who suggested that it had brought the dirty linen to bo washed. Mr. Winston Churchill, with bent shoulders, walked through the barrier as tho Conference commenced. Mr. Haldane. also stooping greatly, exchanged a few words nt the entrance as Mr. Lloyd

George made the formal introductions. Tho Ministers present included Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Mr. E. 8. Montague, and Mr. A. J. Balfour. The Conference adjourned after sitting for eighty minutes. It will resume at 11 o’clock on Tuesday. It is considered likely thnt the Anglo-Japanese Treaty be the first business.—Special to Press Assn. ANGLO-JAPANESE* alliance PROPOSED EXTENSION FOR THREE MONTHS. Honolulu, June 20. A dispatch from Tokio to the "Nippon Ji.il" states that Britain has sent a Note to the Japanese Foreign Office proposing an extension of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance for three months from July I.— Auaz-N.Z. Cable Assn.