THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 7

THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

e PRESIDENT HARDING’S FORMAL CALL SCOPE GF DISCUSSIONS LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS PACIFIC AND FAR EASTERN PROBLEMS By Telegraph—Press Association—Oonyright (Rec. August 12, 7.45 p.m.) Washington, August 11. President Harding’s ronnal call to x the disarmament and Pacific conference has been dispatched to the various Powers. The text of the invitation reads :— Tho President is deeply gratified at tha cordial response to the suggestion that there should be a conference on the subject of limitation of armaments, in connection with which Pacific and Far Eastern questions can also be discussed. Productive labour’s staggering economic burdens are too heavy to be borne unless the present vast public expenditures are greatly reduced. It is idle to anticipate stability or assurance of social justice and' security of psace while wasteful, unproductive dutlays deprive Labour of its just reward and defeat reasonable expectations of progress. The enormous disbursements on and rivalries in armaments manifestly constitute the greater part of the encumbrance on enterprise. The national propensity for this is not only without economic justification, but is a constant menace to the world’s peace rather than an assurance of its preservation. Yet I do- not'expect <t halt in the increasing outlays unless the Powers largely concerned find a satisfactory basis of agreement regarding limitation. The time is. believed to be opportune for the Powers to approach the subject directly at the conference, and while the question of naval armaments may have first place in the discussion, other armaments will not he excluded. It may al=o be found advisable to discuss proposals whereby in the interest of humanity new aoencies of ‘warfare may be controlled. It is the earnest wish nf the United States that through the interchange of views at the. conference it may be possible to find a solution of the Pacific and Far Eastern problems, which are of /unquestioned importance at this time. Such a common understanding respecting matters which have been, and ere. of international concern, may be of service in promoting an enduring friendship among our peoples. It is not the purpose -f tlm United States io attempt io detjne the scope of the discussion on the Pacific and hat Ea«t. but tn leave it to exchanges of opinion before the conf-renee. »> emaciation that th? spirit of friendship will govern the final decision. The President therefore invites Britain fn conference at Washington on November 11. IderJical Notes have been sent to France.. Italy, and Japan.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. THE PACIFIC QUESTION AUSTRALIAN STANDPOINT MR HUGHES ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. London, August 11While I’avliament was sitting, Mr. W M Hughes addressed a hundixM members, at the invitation of Empire Parliamentary Committee at Westminster, on the Pacific He set out the case from the- Austral an point of view, and also discussed the situation as affecting America China, and Japan in. their relation to Australia. He dealt with all points fully.;. p< ? n ro" out with very great regret that the American Government had been unable to arrange to hold a preliminary eonferonee to discuss the Pacific question, because without a settlement of these points disarmament was impossible Ml. Hughes explained the White Austialia policy, tracing its development, and claiming that it was held as a national ideal. He told members that it was impossible for them to understand the Pacific and Eastern question without having a clear conception of the Australian standpoint, motives, and spint actuating the ideal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.