Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1921, Page 3

Washington Conference.

BARON KATO’S statement. (From the Special Representative oi the Australian Press Association.) (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) tVASHI NOTON, Dec »• Biirtm Kilto weaving the ™ of an Admiral made a special state ment to the press to-day saying. e *1 uwtion of limitation of anua,m nU h voices issues which will ha.ro a f effect bn the national and internatiimai life of -Japan jind - t .jes of greiit powers , for decides pos sil.iy permanently. . These issues shoe 1,0 brought to a full knowledge and co - sideration of. the Japanese Government before definite action is taken. L? fortunately there is sericis delay m the cabled. Naturally 1 am in consultation with Tokio, but matters capnot ho completed in two short a tune. He was firmly convinced the Conference should he able, to agree on plans for adjustment which would be fair to Oil parties, and incalculably benefit the nations concerned and the whole rcoild. No effort was Iveing spared hr him oi his colleagues .to bring the various questions to the earliest possible conclusion. consistent, with wisdom _ foresight He denied Japan was playing a bargaining game, ho was sure uciie at the Conference thought so “It contrary to fact. ’He regie e such unworthy motives wore hinted at in ttie popular mind with honest denvours the betterment »»f the Peoples of mnnkimv. The fact that the (iimstio.i of the form winch the agreements will take is now '■xcn-is.ng Comtnetltatorß, indicates how Ulticli pr*-m-ess has hi-011 made towards ft finality of"the major problems. Despite apparently. the standstill which the Conference reached much is going on behind doors in committee m informal discussion. It is likely the announcements when made will, come m a rush, the European delegations arc coming to the conclusion that China is not likeIv t<« win complete economic territorial freedom at this Conference. The view taken is that the country is now m a State of violent transition and cannot hope to achieve all its aims, until able to shenv the world that her power to administer her own affairs without detrimont to foreign interests is.undoubted The Chinee delegation is fooling disappointed at the results they have achieved so far, though they profess publicly their satisfaction.

presidential message. 'Received This Day at f).40 a.m.! NEW YORK, December 6. Mr Harding in a message to Congress urged the nrompt passage of the Forein Debt Refunding bill- He safe! the denunciation of commercial ticatic> ordered under the .Tones shipping Act would bring c haos to trade relationship. He urged the early completion of the Tariff Bill. He asked for presidential authority to fix variable tariff duties with the assistance of (. nito<l States Tariff Commissioner. He recommended an American valuation plan for off-set-ting inecpialties of exchange rates. Reforring to the Disarmament Conference he said the progress was most gratliving and a world accomplishment was not improbable at present. He also suggested the creating of an industrial Court with judicial power to deal with labour disputes affecting public- interests. NEW YORK. December 0.

The President’s message says—lndeed xve would be unworthy our best traditions if we were unmindful of the social, moral and political conditions which are not of direct concern to us, but which do anpeal to human sympathies and are of pressing interest to a people not blest with our national good fortune. It is not my purpose to bring you a programme of world restoration. In the main, such a programme must l>e worked out by the nations more directly concerned. They must themselves turn to heroic remedies for the menacing conditions where-, under they an- struggling. Then we can tell them we mean to help and we shall do so unselfishly. because there is compensation in the consciousness of so assisting, because commerce interchanges in trade are possible only when the nations of all the continents are reported to be in stable order and normal relationship. The main contribution of this republic to restored nonma 1i ty in the world must, come through initiative of the Government, but tbe best intentions and most carefully considered purposes would fail utterly if tin- sanction and co-opera-tion of Congress were not cheerfully accorded.

. NAVAL RATIO. JAPAN AGREES. (Received This Day at 1.0 p.m.) NEW YORK. December <5. The United Press Tokio corrqspondent is reliably informed that the Japanese Advisory and Diplomatic council have approved of the five-five-three naval ratio.