DISARMAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

CONFERENCE CALLED. LEADING POWERS INVITED. TO DISCUSS LIMITATION. Bj Telegrauh.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 11, 8.40 p.m. Washington, July 10. It k announced that President Harding has approached Britain, France, Italy and Japan to ascertain whether they are willing to participate in a conference on the subject of the limitation of armaments, to be held in Washington at a time mutually agreed upon. If the proposal is found acceptable formal invitations to such a conference will be issued. The text of the inquiry addressed to the Powers states: “It is manifest that the question of the limitation of armaments has a close relation to the Pacific and. Far Eastern problems, and the President suggests that the Powers specially interested should undertake, in connection with this conference, the consideration of all matters bearing on their solution, with a view to reaching a common understanding in respect to the principles of their policies in the Far East.” China has also been invited to participate in the discussion or Far Eastern problem®.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received July 12, 1.15 a.m. London, July 11. Mr. Lloyd George has communicated with President Harding, and also with Japan and China, regarding the proposed conference. It is confidently anticipated that beneficial results will follow President Harding’s step. A BARRIER TO JVAR. AMERICAN AND JAPANESE VIEWS. New York. July 6. Interviewed by the New York Times, Mr. Penrosp said: “I favor the general principle of disarmament, and when there is a large measure of disarmament on the part of t* ? United States, regardless of any agreement or understanding with other nations, none can picture another war during the present generation, and perhaps Ln the next. No nation d?sires to attack the United States or could do so successfully. Let other nations go ahead if they wish to confer to reduce armamenta. The United States is big enough to settle its own questions. Tokio, July 6. Secretary Kaka, at Japan’s Embassy in Washington, in a statement, said President Harding often had occasion to express his conviction that an AngloJapanese entente should be made the basis of world peace. My impression is that Americans are prepared to fight if challenged, hut otherwise they will be the l&at to take up arms against the Japanese.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ACTION PROPOSED. FEELING IN AMERICA AND JAPAN. New York, July 7The New York World’s Washington I correspondent states that it is understood President Harding, who conversed with Senator Bcrah, has promised shortly to take up the disarmament question with a view of calling a conference. He admitted that he has been feeling out the situation with an aim of initiating necessary steps. Tokio, July 7. Recent meetings of Elder Statesmen produced an impression that the ground is being prepared for formal negotiations between Britain end the United States and Japan on the subject of naval limitation. The newspaper Nichi Nichi Shimbun declared editorially that the negotiations for the abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. now being conducted. are due to the likelihood of naval arrangements between the three nations. New York, July 7. The Japanese Consul-General, M. Kutaski. addressing members of the Japanese Diet, semi-officially visiting America, predicted an Anglo-American-Jap-anese Alliance- Other speakers favored disarmament. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.