PACIFIC PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 265, 3 August 1921, Page 5

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

SEPARATE CONFERENCE NOT TO BE HELD ONE DELEGATE FOR THE EMPIRE SURPRISE FOR DOMINION PREMIERS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, August 1. After waiting for almost a fortnight the Primo Ministers learned definitely this afternoon that no separate Pacific conference would be held, and that the Far East and disarmament questions will ba discussed together. This announcement was made by Mr. Lloyd George at No. 10 Downing Street, immediately the delegates assembled. The Imperial Conference from the first assumed that tho way for disarmament would be cleared by discussing the problems relating to the Far East, which are the main cause of competition in warship building. The first announcements indicated that there would be two conferences, one relating to the Pacific and the ’other to disarmament, both to be held at Washington. Then the idea gained currency that there were to be three, at one of which the Prime Ministers of the Dominions touching the Pacific would give their views. Thia misapprehension, which was cherished by some London papers, was quickly dissipated. Interest meanwhile swung to the constitution of the Pacific conference. which the highest political authorities were convinced was certain, the locality and the date being the only debatable questions. For over a week dispatches were exchanged, hourly between the Far East, America, and London, the phases changing constantly until even tho most interested became befogged. Japan’s official view was that a Pacific conference was certain, perhaps in London, and likely at Washington, at which Mr. Hughes, Mr. Massey, and Mr. Meighen would be afforded an opportunity of . stating their case. The week-end developments indicated that those gentlemen might attend and speak, but not vote.

When the delegatee met to-day it was presumed that details only required arrangement for tho Pacific discussion, but all the Prime Ministers repudiated any knowledge, of special arrangements authorising them to attend, especially in view of Friday’s meeting, at which indications were given that only one representative of 'the Empire would be summoned. They were quite unprepared for the dramatic announcement that the Pacific conference would not be held at all. The position is now that the Empire view will be put by one delegate. The Imperial Conference favours Mr. Lloyd George as delegate, as he heard the whole discussion on Foreign Affaire, also that on the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, and the Naval defence and Far Easterns debates, so gaining the most inside knowledge of the Dominion’s point of view.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMPIRE NAVAL DEFENCE AUSTRALASIA PREPARED TO BEAR HER FULL SHARE OF COST. London, August 1. During tho discussions on Naval Defence. especially in the Pacific, the Australasian delegates made it as clear as possible that there was no desire to save money compared with what Australasia was doing before, and they wore prepared to share tho full responsibility for their proportion of the costs. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. / ACCEPTANCE BnTALY ANNOUNCED Rome, August 1. Signor Bonomi, Premier, announced in the Senate Italy’s acceptance of the Washington conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RIGHTS~OFIaPAN UNDESIRABILITY OF BRINGING UP SETTLED QUESTIONS. (Rec. August 2, 8.5 p.m.) Tokio, August 1. Viscount Shibusawa, in a speech, urged Japan to insist on her rights at the Pacific conference, within limits not violating international morality, as a wrong done any other country would result in complications. Count Okuma, addressing the same audience, reaffirmed the undesirability of bringing up settled questions, and said a discussion of Yap and Shantung should not be tolerated. Baron Sakatini, Chinese financial advisor. advocated that Japan should enter the conference in real earnest, and if tho conference came to a definite understanding regarding China and Siberia, it would go a long way towards guaranteeing peace. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.