THE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 5

THE PREMIERS.

FOREIGN POLICY DISCUSSED.

SPEECHES NOT REPORTED. STATE BANQUET ARRANGED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 29, 12.10 a.m. London, June 27. The Premiere’ Conference was continued to-day. After the Prime Ministers had spoken on foreign policy, Mr. Lloyd George replied to the various questions raised. The Anglo-Japanese treaty will be discussed on Tuesday. No definite decision was reached because principles only were discussable. The principles involve recognition of the right of the Dominions to consultation regarding foreign obligations, concerning which the Dominions may be. implicated. No resolution was carried in accordance with an understanding that resolutions are unnecessary where there is general concurrence. Their Majesties have invited the Prime Ministers and their womenfolk to a State banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday to meet the Kii' o and Queen of Belgium. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.

' MR. HUGHES AND AMERICA. FOREIGN POLICY CRITICISED. CONFERENCE DELAYS. London, June 27. Mr. Hughes has approved of Mr. Lloyd G- urge’s statement that friendly co-operation with the United States is a cardinal principle, dictated by what seems the proper nature of things, by instinct quite as much as by reason and commonsense. Beyond this, however, he considers the interests of the Empire paramount and not affected by outside consideration. There was some frank criticism at the conference on Monday, though not unfriendly in nature. Some delegates expressed themselves as disappointed at the explanation of foreign policy, contending that no essentially new facts had been disclosed. There were none so secret that they could not have been cabled or communicated by letter. Mr. Hughes ana Mr. Massey are already fretting at the conference delays and voiced their disappointment at the lack of progress on the resumption of the meetings on Monday. The time is limited to Mr. Meighens determination to return to "Canada before August, and General Smuts’ anxiety to hasten home. The fear is expressed that so much of the conference will be wasted over preliminaries that the detailed discussion of essentials will be eramped and Pacific, defence, which is considered of first importance by the Australasian delegatee, may be put in the background unless Mr. Hughes’ persistence restores jt to light. The discussion thus far has shown that Mr. Hughes and Mr. Meighen are opponents. Mr. Hughes challenged Mr. Meighen on the Washington Ambassador question early, and now strongly criticises his marked bias towards the United States.