HONOLULU CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1925, Page 1

HONOLULU CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATE’S VIEWS. WELLINGTON, August 3. Among tho passengers who arrived liv (lie Maunganui from Sydney to-day ns Professor J, B. Condlilfe, Professor of Economics at Canterbury College, who as a member of the New Zealand group, attended the conference of the Institute of Pacific Delations at Honolulu recently. The organisation, stated Professor Condlilfe to a reporter, was originally in the hands of the Y.M.C.A., and the New Zealand group was selected by the Now Zealand Y.M.O.A. National Committee. On arrival at Honolulu, however, it was found that a change had taken place in the organisation, which had passed completely out of the control of the Y.M.0.A., and rested mainly in the hands of some prominent academic leaders in the United States As a result of the conference a permanent institute was formed. Tho President of this body is Dr Day Lyman Wilbur, president of the Lclnnd Stanford University, and brother to the present Secretary of the United States Navy. Among other prominent members in the American group was Air George Grafton AVilson. Professor of International Law at Harvard University, head of tho Naval Law Collego. and for many years legal advisor to the United Stales Navy. As legal adviser to the United States Government. Professor AVilson actually drafted tho Washington Pact, which is the basis of international relations in the Pacific. The remainder of the American delegation consisted of prominent academicians, journalists and business men. There wore strong delegations also from China and Japan. The discussions at the conference wore held behind closed doors, in order that a chance remark given publicity outside of its proper setting might not do damage to the cause of the Institute. The discussions were really of a preliminary character, mainly designed to facilitate the formation of a permanent body. No resolutions of any kind were passed bv the Institute beyond one of thanks to the people of Hawaii for their generous hospitality. “The Institute,” said Professor Condliffe.” is in no sense of the word a pacifist organisation. It aims to build up in each of the Pacific countries an organisation for study of the real facts of international problems, and to organise periodical conferences in which men of influence and standing from these countries can meet, to discuss ways and means of building up such an international organisation on the basis of the AVashington Treaties as mav prevent the possibility of war. The Institute is assured of ample funds from the United States and Hawaii, and I have been given the task of organising a branch in New Zealand.”