PACIFIC TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1921, Page 5

PACIFIC TREATY.

THE EMPIRE AND JAPAN. DEBATE BY THE PREMIERS. CANADA SIDES WITH AMERICA. MR. HUGHES SAYS EMPIRE FIRST. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received June 30, 10.20 p.m. London, June 29. In introducing the Anglo-Japanese Treaty discussion at the Premiere’ Conference to-day Lord Curzon (British Foreign Secretary) spoke at great length but disclosed nothing.

Mr. A. Meighen (Premier of Canada) was the first speaker, and he was followed by Mr. Hughes {Premier of Australia), who had not completed his speech at midday, and is resuming late in the afternoon. Before the midday adjournment Mr. Meighen was compelled to leave to lunch with the Prince of Wales, and Mr. Lloyd George (who was presiding) interrupted Air. Hughes’ reply, remarking that it was advisable that Mr. Meighen should hear him. Mr. Hughes accepted the opportunity thankfully, being also anxious that the Canadian Premier should not miss one word.

Mr. Meighen spoke in a monotone, and was not interrupted throughout his address, but he interjected several times while Mr. Hughes was speaking. Both speeches were followed with the closest attention by all the delegates, and at one stage Mr. Meighen and General Smuts exchanged remarks inatidibly. No official statement has been issued, butMr. Meighen is said to have traversed Lord Curzon’s speech, pointing out weaknesses in the treaty arrangement. While he was not averse to renewal, there were certain conditions and modifications which he insisted should be acceptable to America, whose interests were common with those of Canada. He opposed setting up, if it was possible to avoid it, a second league of nations, which was likely to upset the balance of the o’ther, defeating its purposes.

SPIRIT OF THE LEAGUE. Mr. Meighen said it was not desirable that the nations should group in direct opposition to the spirit that led to the initiation of the League of Nations, if the Anglo-Japanese Treaty was renewed there was no reason why other countries should not enter into a similar ar-, rangement, thus defeating the ideals put before the world after the war. The League of Nations aimed at stopping war by disarmament, and if this was carried into effect there was no n j ed for renewal. Arguments which prevailed formerly did not apply now in a changed world. The Government of the United States might approve of the form of renewal approved of by the conference, but the people would oppose it if it was not satisfactory from their viewpoint. The same might be said of Cnaada. Mr. Hughes said he could not understand the representative of any Dominion not placing the Empire first. He was desirous that the treaty be renewed in terms agreeable to America, but it must first he in terms advantageous and agreeable to the Dominions and the Empire. It was certainly a difficult problem, to face, but it was not insurmountable. The League of Nations’ ideals were in every way desirable, and must appeal strongly to every reasonable man. They could not, however, overlook the fact that the country which initiated, the League was not a member of it, while practically every other country except Bolshevik Russia had joined the League. The Empire, being q member, was endeavoring as far as possible to live up to its yet the world saw the country which suggested the League—but failed to join it—now competing to build the largest navy in the world.

•Mr. Hughes favored putting into the renewal of the treaty a clause providing for its termination the instant all nations disarmed, or even as soon as America and Japan disarmed. What could be fairer? After all, the proposal was only to continue something, not to begin some new aggressive combination England had joined the League of Nations and subscribed to its ideals, and was anxious to live up to them; yet she could not proceed while other countries were rushing into an orgy of expenditure on munitions of war. The position which England agreed to be desirable she was unable to reach unless others co-operated. NO DISARMING. Thei Empire had also appealed to America to stop building ships, but so far there -was no whisper of an agreement. Mr. Austen Chamberlain had said competition in armaments between Britain and America was not merely a tragedy for both countries, but a tragedy for the whole civilised world, and he agreed with him. Mr. Lloyd George also had said that we were ready to discuss with American statesmen any proposal for the limitation of armaments, and can undertake that no such overtures will find a lack of willingness on our part to meet them; yet no response, so far as he knew', had been received. Mr. Hughes said that if America agreed to disarm, and Japan also, Britain would hasten to stand by her obligations, to which she subscribed by joining the League. In the existing circumstances he could see no possible argument against the renewal of the treaty with necessary modifications. He was just as anxious as anyone else that the terms should be acceptable to the United States, as it was vital, in the interests of civilisation, that an understanding should exist between America and the Empire. Every endeavor should be made to ascertain exactly th’e American view and make it clear that the treaty was not aimed against her, because war with America was unthinkable. At the same time he could not understand the viewpoint which made the renewal of the Japanese treaty a matter for American approval, provided the Dominions and the Empire were satisfied.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, June 29

Mr. Hughes’ speech on the AngloJapanese Treaty made a profound impression. The delegates listened intently, and were much stirred w’hen Mr. Hughes said: “You practically declare Canada will not sign unless America approves.”

Mr. Hughes’ smashing rejoinder to Mr. Meighen is regarded as the strongest appeal for Empire unity heard for some time. It was delivered earnestly arid, impressively.- The effect was progressively noticeable, and when Mr. Hughes sat down there was a murmur of approval, It changed the whole tone of the discussion and swung the balance in favor of renewal of the treaty. General Smuts’ and Mr. Massey’s ad-

dresses sided with Mr. Hughes. The Indian delegate has yet to speak. Mr. Lloyd George left the conference smiling. Semi-official circles acknowledge the swaying influence of Mr. Hughes’ outspokenness.