The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1921. THE DOMINION & PACIFIC AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 253, 20 July 1921, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1921. THE DOMINION & PACIFIC AFFAIRS

There are some rather serious difficulties to be overcome in providing for the satisfactory representation of the various countries of the Empire at the impending Washington conference on Pacific affairs and the limitation of naval armaments. Not much weight can bo attached to the opinion of the Montreal Star, mentioned in one of yesterday’s cablegrams, that a preliminary conference of British Imperial delegates will prejudice the prospects of a good understanding at the international gathering. It is in every way natural and desirable. and can offend no one in America or anywhere else, that the standnodnt of the Empire on the questions to bo submitted to the international conference should_ be determined as clearly as possible beforehand. Clearly, however, anart from anything of this kind that may 7 be accomplished at a preliminary 7 conference, it is very desirable that the Dominions—at all events the Pacific Dominions—should be represented at the "Washington conference. The Dominions are not necessarily 7 precluded from taking an effectual part in i<s deliberations by the fact that President Harding has refrained from inviting them separately 7 to send representatives. The course taken bv the American President is consistent with his Government’s refusal to recognise the international status of the Dominions and thdir r.'ght to individual voting nower in the League of Nations. There is no parallel, however, between membership and voting power in the League of Nations, and the conditions in which" the Washington conference will meet. Ma. Massey has said that the difficulty may bo overcome in one of two ways. Representatives of the Dominions may bo included in the British delegation, or the latter may stipulate that any decision reached by the conference must be submitted for approval to the Dominions concerned. The first of these alternatives seems, in the interests of all parties, the better of the two, provided the necessary arrangements can be made. It can only expedite an understanding that representatives of the Dominions should be present to express an authoritative oninion upon questions in which their countries are vitally concerned, and since the conference can only reach results by agreement, ij, 7 > question of voting power need arise. From the pcxnt of view of the Empire, no embarrassments are likely 7 ' to be occasioned by tbh British representatives apnearing at the conference as a single united delegation. It is true that on at least one of the questions with which the conference will deal—Asiatic, emigration—the views of the Mothey Country and those of the Dominions are to an extent divergent, but it may be taken for wanted that in an international discussion Britain will unreservedly 7 support the Dominions in their defence of rights to control immigration which they regard hs vital.. As information stands, it seems unlikelv that <rther Mr. Massey or Mr. W. M. Hughes will be able to be in Washington on November 11, the date provisionally 7 suggested for the conference, but so far as this country is concerned the question of representation ought not to be settled until all’the possibilities have been examined very carefully. As it bears on the interests and welfare of the British Pacific Dominions, the Washington conference is of an importance comparable with that of the Peace Conference which terminated the war with Germany. It would be begging the whole question to take up an attitude like that of the leader of the Country Party in the Federal House of Representatives (Dr. Earle Page), who said the other day that “there is no necessity for Mr. Hughes to visit "Washington to announce that Australia is in favour of disarmament.” As a matter of fact neither Australia nor New Zealand is “in favour of disarmament,” or of the limitation of armaments, except on conditions that will give them reasonable security,"and, though the prospects of (Agreement are now favourable, it is anything but a simple matter to bring the several Powers concerned into agreement in regard to these conditions. If it is to achieve results the Washington conference must deal boldly 7 and in no routine fashion with the facts of the existing situation. Indeed, it seems certain that whether the conference succeeds or fails, it will decisively affect future international relationships in the Pacific. This view of thte matter has been freely stated in America. The Chicago Journal, for instance, observed recently that such a conference as is now projected would provide an illuminating test of Japan’s real motives.

If Japan has no warlike intentions (it added) she will accept n proposal to check building, and leave the three navies in their present relative position. If she rejects that proposal, it means that she is planning war, presumably against the United States, since most of her disputes seem to bo with ns. The position is not likely to be stated as bluntly at tho Washington conference, but the Chicago newspaper probably is not far wrong in its indication of the critical issues raised.

It is undoubtedly desirable that Now Zealand should be represented at. the conference when it meets — whether separately or by a member of the Empire delegation docs not greatly matter —and it will be agreed almost unanimously that no one would better represent the Dominion than its Primo Minister. Besides being better placed than anyone else to speak with authority for ,his country, Mr. Massey is in direct and intimate touch with the nroblems to bo laid before the Washington conference. It seems hardly possible, however, that the Prime Minister can attend the conference unless _ the date now suggested for its opening, is altojed. As matters stand, he is duo to return to the Dominion in Oe tuber, to take up the delayed work of the Parliamentary session. Anar!, from his normally onerous dittoes, he is to undertake the exacting task of supervising the revision of the Customs tariff. It is unlikely that anv other Minister could take over this task at short- notice, so that if '.t were decided tb-'it Mr. Massey should attend tho Washington conference In November, the

revision of the tariff presumably would have to bo again postponed, possibly to be taken in hand at an early 7 session next year. With an election falling due next year, however, such a postponement is hardly likely to be considered. Unless it is decided finally 7 to hold the Washington conference a.t a somewhat earlier date than is now proposed, the Prime Minister presumably will be unable to attend. In that case the Dominion would find a competent representative an its High Commissioner. Sir James Allen has long taken a keen interest in the problems and policy questions with which the conference will deal, and has had opportunities only 7 second to those of Mr. Massey of making himself familiar with late developments in international relationships. No doubt Sir James Allen will be again called upon to represent- New Zealand on the assembly of the League, of Nations, but ’since that body is to meet this year in September, he might still be, free to attend the Washington conference.