Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1921, Page 2

Washington Conference.

U’SIII W.U.V AND N.Z. CABr.E ASSOCIATION. JAPANESE VIEWS. TOKIO, Nov. 13. The newspapers published America’s disarmament proposals. The public are greatly surprised at the extent of the proposals, but the fact that conference will have a real disarmament programme to discuss was received with expressions of general relief. The question in Japan is the overcoming of the militarist opposition.

JAPAN’S N'AVY BUILDING. WASHINGTON, Nov. 14. Admiral Kato, in an interview, states: “Up to the present, Japan has had fears which caused her to continue building, but her navy has always been meant for defensive purposes. It has never been the policy or intention of ■lapan to attempt to rival either of the two greatest navies of the world. 1 am now happy to lielieve that whatever fears might have been entertained, can well lie dissipated by free and frank interchanges of views at the present conference. The public pronouncements by the Secretary for State (..Mr Hughes) at the inaugural session have clarified the situation, and meantime any assurances from us are unnecessary. The great distance, which lies between our shores and those of America and the supremacy of the United States in wealth, sitfe and resources, make needless any words we could pledge. With fears on both sides obliterating, an agreement, so far as Japan is concerned, cannot fail to come, and it is with this view that Japan’s delegation will proceed to a detailed examination of the American proposals, which show a. convincing sincerity of purpose.”

JAPAN’S WAITING GAME. WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 The Australian Press Association has excellent grounds for stating that Japan will not raise the question of racial equality at the Conference, unless the attitude of other members of the C’onfereileft towards' what she considers matters of domestic policy, forces her to use it as a last resort.

FRENCH VIEWS. (Received This Day at 9.40 n.m.) PARIS, Nov. 14. M Pertinax, writing in the “Echo do Paris,” says .Mr Hughes’ plan is al veritable thunderbolt. It might he , summed up as an Anglo-American Entente Britain obtained the lion s share. To her is given the strongest navy. Pertinax expresses the opinion that Britain will move certain amendments on Tuesday, demanding a distinction between light cruisers and cruisers, and will also demand concessions in view! of the length of British maritime communications. The consequences for France are not very agreeable, and if the. naval agreement is accomplished it will have the effect of separating Britain from any seriop FdU tentoi with FrftHOjs.

stickler for big navy

LONDON, Nov. 14. Interviewed on the question of disarmament, Admiral Sir C >'P" a *} nn S •-.“America's proposals do not to take note of the conditions of the British Empire. Insufficient alenormous coast lines and also J° r ;”£soS^"SaS^ posaf is not acceptable, without a good deal of discussion.

NAVAL EXPERT’S VIEWS. WASHINGTON, Nov. Id. Hr Hughes’s sensational action m laving all the disarmament cards on the table yesterday is provoking much '.speculation as to whether Tuesday s meeting of the Conference will find him ; ,lso ready with, a cut and dried plan for the settlement of all the 1 acihe sentiment, which is now acclaiming him and his proposals. is ready to believe this, but some soberer '■observers prefer to think it is 10 •' that lie will rest on his laurels before adventuring into the realms of complexities surrounding the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and China. Regarding the former alliance, it-is impossible to avoid a conviction (savs the Press Association), that an immense bodv of American public opinion is antagonistic to the renewal of the Alliance, whereas Japan wants its continuance. while Britain in view of Japan s attitude during the war, supports Japan.

AMERICA’S GREAT LEAD WASHINGTON. Nov. 14

The “Daily News” Washington correspondent. states:—“A refnsa a America’s naval challenge by he one or two nations to which it is addressed will certainly mean war, but its acceptance means the initiation of a non a an undreamed of era of hope. Th Government at London and Tokio mu. *pcnk. but a cautious note must be sounded. To bumcb m the fust bom of the Armament Conference, not- meielv the principles, but a scheme elaboratin'even" one of it. seems questionable statesmanship. V at n wanted was not an American plan fm a - reduction in each individual nar> but a conference plan- T fonr a difficult situation bus been cieated than quite realised. LONDON, Nov. 14.

Vice-Admiral Mark Kerr, interviewed oil disarmament, considers that t i American proposal that the capital ship tonnage lie used as a measurement of the relative naval strength of America. Japan, and Britan, affords a good sound basis for .discussion. Ho amors with the suggested abandonment of all capital ships on the building programmes. k NAVAL EXPERT’S Hhl S. The 1 ondon “Daily C'hroniclo mteiriewed certain naval exhorts regarding Pros blent Harding’s disanmimeiit p.«P °Admiral Sir Percy Scott says ■ ‘Ylie ' '.'l ,„d aerial warfare, the tions of natal -111 i,;.,.. is all building of any more battU 1 insane policy.

AN Snx s 'i« »: It lias been pointed out to the Austrian Press Association tht « * Washington disarmament P> P^>— Sf^i n ndM < '& i» Britain 100.000 people. Many of t, T SO ] l ' < ' <l! j 3? S&T? ’Sft&Z scheme is adopted.

JAPAN’S STIPULATIONS. WASHINGTON, Nov LL The Chinese problem is reported to be more difficult to handle than that of disarmament. Japan is maintaining that the real China should consist ol ail original 18 provinces, but excluding Mongolia and Manchuria. Japan says she il prepared to go far to secure a settlement for the open door question with tlie aliove reservations, and other contingent problems towards guaranteeing the integrity of the China of 18 provinces; but the present indications are that Japan regards Manchuria quite differently to what she does the rest of China. Baron Kyoto has already hinted something to this effect when lie told the Press yesterday that .Japan was prepared to discuss disarmament independently of any other questions, provided, ns. lie said, that. Mr Hughes does not raise questions bearing directly oil the political situation in tin* Far East.

FRENCH COMMENT. /Received This Day at 10.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON. November U. It is significant that two of the best known French journalists, M. I’ertinat and M. hansanne. agree that Mr Hughes proposals sound the death knell of the Anglo-,lapanese alliance. M. Lausanne says the pact »ill be liquidated by readjusting the balance ul sea power and M. I’ertinax asserts Britain, in (return for someavhat more favourable terms on account ol her special position, will surrender every idea of maintaining the alliance. M. I'ertinax asserts that henceforth it may be regarded as a firmly established new vital principle, that the British policy will be checked in ally attempt at bringing about a change in territorial status quo in the Far East. Other comments in this connection revive "the idea of a tri-purtite understanding, and suggest that Japan will not consent to be discriminated against. Her reply to any suggestion of withdrawal from spheres of inllnonce will be counter proposals that all the l’owers should follow suit.

TOMORROW'S POSSIBILITIES. i /Received This Day at 11.30 «.in.) | WASHINGTON. November If. j While accepting Mr Hughes’s proposals in principle, Mr Balfour is ex-' peetod to-morrow to call attention to • several points requiring further discussion and investigation, notiibly the case of submarines of which M r Hughes’s proposals allow ninety thousand tons, whereas at the end of the war Britain possessed much less than this. Mr Balfour will suggest eonside- , jation of a lower figure, and secondly tile question of a naval holiday and nl- — timate replacement policy requires adjustment, otherwise it would he found that shipbuilders and shipbuilding at the end of ten years period would he in such a backward state as to lx 1 incapable. All indications however point to liritains’ most cordial acceptance of the American scheme. Details arc being Worked out by committees in tlje closest cn-operMion,

WHAT WASHINGTON DID .Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 14 Mr Harding in a speech when laying the corner stone of the National Victory memorial said—“ America’s truxted Allies, France and Britain will agree that George Washington served mankind well. If on one side AVasliington was a great personal force that wrenched apart the two chief branches if the English-speaking race, he was on the other side the greatest personal'factor in saving this continent to AngloSaxon domination, and in doing so he contributed very greatly to the making possible of tile wide-flung family of English-speaking nations.”

THE BRITISH ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON. Nov. 14. The Australian Press understands definitely tlmt M!• Balfour’is speech at tomorrow’s meeting of the Coiilerem-e will be most important, accepting Mr Hughes proposals in principle hut suggesting some modifications, COMMENT GENERALLY FAVOURABLE. (Received This Day at 0,10 a. in.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 14. Mr Pearce to-night expressed.himself quite satisfied with the way in which the situation is developing regarding the British attitude. To-dav will be a busy day for the delegations wlio meet, botii separately and together, to formulate details of the conduct of the conference. It is understood the British attitude is mainly favourable, though possibly Britain's special position regarding food supplies may induce some suggestion for a modification of the light cruiser tonnage, with a view to the

protection of trade routes. Mr Hughes’ proposals at present necessitate a reduction of the cruiser ton--nage proportionately with battleship tonnage, leaving Britain no margin for scouting a convoy, which other nations <lo not require in the same . degree. NVitliont provision for protecting the trade routes, Britain would he reduced to starvation in the event of war,.and Australia and Canada, would he financially mined ihrough inability to market, their products. Tt is expected Mr Balfour will make a statement defining the British attitude, at to-morrow's plenary meeting. There is some discussion at presentas to whether the disarmament quesiton will be settled altogether, independently of the Far Eastern matters. Japan lias already expressed her willingness to do so. but it is unlikely this will be accepted. It is more probable tin' agenda will provide for a discussion of Far Eastern problems, through a committee synchronously with the disarmament, proposals. It is expected the Conference will endeavour to reach accord no tlq. Far Eastern problems before signing any agreement concerning armament’. Senators of both parties say a treaty pledging the nations to carry out Mr Hughes proposals would be almost unanimously ratified by the Senate. There would be no direct dissenticiits though seme might qualify tic endorsement. Already sufficient roles arc loimted to secure more than the two thirds majority required. JAPAN’S ATTITI’DE. TOKYO. Nov. I.

Premier Takahashi announced the policies of Japanese Government will not be charged under Ids administration. He indicated the personal of the Washington delegation will not be altered. The Japanese press are generally favourable to Air Hughes’ programme, emphasising it would mean a tremendous financial saving to Japan, but. that the details must be carefully and cautiously worked out. The auti-Goveniment “Kokumin” and one or two other papers insist that Japanese should be permitted to ba\e at. least twelve capital ships. BRITISH VIEWPOINT. LONDON. November 1 I Official circles in London welcome the principle of the American naval proposals. concerning which individual members of Cabinet expressed their delight. It is not likely that Cabinet will discuss the scheme until the expert’s opinions are received. Hitchens, Chairman of the CamiueH Laird Coy., points out that armour plate works are useless for other purposes but lie <loes not regard unemployment from the point of view cl either capital or labour, as a strong argument against disarmament. Il«‘ suggests that if only a naval holidav is proposed, it \\ ill l><‘ dangerous t*> snap the plants, which owners ought Gi h«* enabled to maintain in readiness by means of subsidies. !\fr (‘lynes says Labour could not oppose disarmament because entailed temporary unemployment during the transTtiou from useless to Use!ill \w rk. He was not opposed to lhe prim* pie of the Government temporarily subsidising armament linns during 4 he tian* sition period.