Washington Coanference.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1921, Page 2

Washington Coanference.

SECOND ARMAMENT CONFERENCE. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS WASHINGTON, Dec. 27. A epochal represental ive at Washington Conference says important (.pinions, known to reflect the views of the administrations were obtained from White House official circles, regarding the proposals to call a second disarmament conference. So far the matter has not advanced beyond an informal stage, but undoubtedly a formal proposal will be made before the present conference adjourns, inasmuch if no sati-fui torv settlement of r.lie question regarding » subsidiary of the naval ,-raft is readied now. it will have to no settled in the future. It is certain the Administration will he disappointed if no future Conference is called whether the naval question is settled or not. >iu !i a conference would probably indud” a greater number of nations than he present Conference represents. W id.- beyond doubt the Administration pictor it to he hold in Amoiica, they do not want United States to he the' only stage on which it lie set. While nothing is being done formally to re-establish friendly relations with Germane, it is recognised the European industrial commercial situation has an intimate relationship with Unittd Suites people. The latter, in the opinion of t lie Administration, cannot cure Europe’s ills, hut it can he helpful though emphasis is laid on European nations having many problems to solve bv themselves before such assistance can be given. In short, an International economic conference is regarded as a matter for initiation in Europe, which could then call America iutu it. It is authoritatively learned there is no intention of abandoning the foreign loans refunding hill.

JAPAN ’ S INTER PRETAT 10 N. NEW YORK, Dec. 25

The I'nitcd Press Association learns (,n high authority that Japan does not consider it necessary that the Four Power Treaty should he construed as placing any obligation on any nation to preserve the territorial integrity of Japan proper. it is made clear that this is Japan’s inti rpretation in answer to opposition to the Treaty in the I'nited States on the ground that it would hind the «g----iiatorios to protect Japan proper as well as respect the integrity of her insular possession*.

ATTITUDE OK FRANCE. WASHINGTON. Dec. 2.'>. An interesting story appears in the •New York World” alleging that American official quarters had a previous conference and arranged with M. Briand that Germany should he asked to comply with the Treaties made at Washington is respect to the rights of the French people. So convinced were the United States authorities on this point that they privately predicted it would cause as great a sensation in C onference as did Mr Hughes's promulgation of the naval reduction scheme. M. Briand changed bis mind almost at the last minute after leading the Americans to believe he would go all the way w ith them in their suggestions regarding land disarmament, and completely reversed his opinion. Such comment as appears in the morning papers dwells on this altered attitude of France as pointed out by Mr Balfour yesterday, specially the French insistence on a navy tar in excess of her needs.