Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1921, Page 3

Washington Conference.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

.(From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.)

(Received This Day at 8 n.m.) WASHINGTON, Deo 0. First of Mr Harding's message (tfelaved) —The President in a message to Congress said it is a very gratiDmg privflogc to come to Congress with toe Republic at peace with all nations o the world. It is equally j , I’eport that our country is not o. It * free from every impeding menace ■>< war but there was growing assurances „£ permanency of peace, which we so deeply cherish. For approximately 10 vears we have dwelt amid the menaces ol- war or as participants in wars activities and the inevitable afteimath with its disordered conditions has added to Che difficulties of the Government Our tasks woulr have been 'essclifficut if w,, liad only ourselves to conn del, hut so much of the world wasi inw>K sA that no permanent readjustment can e affected without consideration ol mu inescapable relationship to world affa.iin finance and trade. f • i Air Harding last evening refei ring the industrial situation said the ngnt of labour ‘.o organise was just as wsern tial as the right of capital to organic to labour. However, they must be guided bv regulations, just as corporate ms must answer to the law when the public welfare was concerned. It should x possible to .et up judicial or quasi-judi-cial tribunals for consideration and cotermination of nil disputes winch are a menace‘to Gie puWic" w<? " ar<?- , }f r Har-tinu- added that uncmp.oyment had crown encouragingly less In recommend mg an appropriation to supplv the American Russian Relief Commission with ton million bushels of corn and a million bushels of seed and grain, the President said we do not recognise the Russian Government or tolerate propaganda emanating therefrom, but w e do not forget the traditions of Russian friendship. ■ . Referring briefly to the Wafilungton Cohference the President stated it was easv to believe a world hope centred in this Capital City. A most gratifying world accomplishment was not improbable.

CHINESE DISSATISFIED

(From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.)

(Received This Day at 10.15 a.i«.) WASHINGTON, Denemher 7.

Following the example of the Secretary General, three Chinese chief advisers announced their resignation today. . ,

American opinion in official circles is that the resignations are a blunder of considerable magnitude. Even the Chinese themselves are divided, one view deprecating the action as premature and anolher approving and counselling a more defined attitude of insistence of the Shantung railroad dispute being adjusted first, instead of minor differences now given attention. That sectionals cSsappointed wit'll the Conleience’s achievement and frankly sav the delegations have decided just how far (Lin stern matters should bit: settled, and China lie forced to take what is given her and not to he allowed to change the tariff treaties. Most things in dispute are left to a commission to study and report.

AMERICAN POLICY. -Received This Day at- 12.2-3 p.m.) ~ WASHINGTON, Dec Most of the newspapers to-day discuss the announcement that the 1 acific nml Naval Agteemeuis may he reduced to treaty form, hv a soil-committee in the Senate. The <|Uestion of the nttitilde of that hod\ may assume becomes of paramount importance. Mr Borah, who claims that ho forced the navnl limitation programme on the Administration. indicates ho will support a treaty lia»e<l on the naval agreements »)so a Far Eastern Treaty if it rests on public opinion, hut he will resist if it suggests explicitly or by implication, of force. Mr Borah expresses the opinion that the Angki-.Tnpnnese treaty is none of the United States business. He sees no liann in the leading powers considering a plan permitting ' China to negotiate treaties directly with each nation, claiming special privileges. Any general treaty would naturally include Britain and Japan, whose interests in the Orient, are the greatest of niiy Powers.

Coniine Ping on the Chinese resignations, an Aniercian spokesman said it was an extraordinary tiring that China should think she was unfairly treated. Nothing "as clearer during the whole conference than the completely sympathising attitude towards China, lie was tillable to conceive better atmosphere conditions for the matter in dispute than the present. If China were afraid she would not get her grievance before tli.. CW.ferenco that was not so but the (Question was what might happen afterwa.-ds. Here where there were eight nations sigiiatorists to a certain i treaty, could it he expected that China’s viowpjoint would he accented by them all in an equal degree. China’s greatest opportunity was the place she .. occupied at present, enabling her to negotiate directly with Japan. The fullest opportunity existed to reach <1 result. Hnnilmsi to-day indicated that the Japanese anxiety to effect a settlement of Shnngtung question might ir.duce them to go further in the matCr of concession thair the last- offer of joint control of the railway, which was /the real bone of contention. He assured tliein that Japan’s mind was open on the question China’s spokesman hinted to-day if it did not go: satisfactory terms regarding Shantung P might consider a with- , drajval from the Conference. j t j s o firpinli\ reported the Chinese, and Japanese delegates discussed the question < f restoration to China of public properties in the territory cf Kiaocbow. The discussion was adjourn-