THE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1921, Page 5

THE

CONFERENCE OF POWERS, LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS. SETTLING OTHER PROBLEMS BRITAIN SUPPORTS PROPOSAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 12, 8.15 p.m. * Loudon, July 11. Mr. Lloyd George, in the House ef Commons, announced that Britain had received President Harding’s invitation to the associated Allied Powers to confer on disarmament and Pacific questions. He added that he gladly accepted the proposal. China had already replied favorably. No invitation had vet been received by Japan, but there was good reason to believe it would be in the same sense. Mr. Lloyd George said the world had been looking to the United States for a lead. He heartily wished it success, and no effort would be lacking to make it so on the part of the British Empire.

Turning to the Anglo-Japanese agreement, he eaid the broad lines of the Government’s Far Eastern policy had met with general acceptance at the conference. It was desired to maintain close friendship and co-operation with Japan, and to preserve an open-door policy in China, and to give the Chinese every opportunity for peaceful progress and development. We desired friendly co-operation with the United States, and .upon these principles more than on anything else depended the peace and wellbeing of the world. In the conference jpon Pacific questions China would be treated as an independent Power. In Japan We had an old ally. For twenty Veers the alliance had not only benefited as, but the peace of the Far East. China was an enormous country, with great potentialities, and we would have to bear in mind, not only our own interests, but the interests of China. The v'bjeci of our diecucsiona had been to find some limit to the danger of heavy naval expenditure in the Pacific and. to remove those evils tending to limit the development of our legitimate interests in the Far East. The Japanese treaty will only lapse at the expiration of twelve months after notice of denunciation is given. It is the desire of the British Empire and Japan that the agreement should be brought into complete harmony with the covenant of the League of Nations, and where one is inconsistent with the other the terms of the covenant shall prevail. Notice to this effect has now been given to the League. Mr. Lloyd George said Lord Curzon held, conversations with the American

and Japanese Ambassadors and the Chinese Minister, and informed them of Cabinet’s views. Now President Harding has taken the momentous step of inviting the Powers to a conference on the limitation of armaments, to be held dn Washington in the near future. He also suggested a preliminary meeting on Pacific and Far Eastern questions between the Powers most directly interested. President Harding's aet was one of far-seeing statesmanship (cheers), r—Aub.--N.2L Cable Assn. PREMIERS ENDORSE SCHEME. DRAFTING REPLY TO AMERICA. Received July 12, 1125 p.m. London, July 11. The Premiers’ Conference held, a tpeciel mefting at Downing Street this morning for the purpose of drafting a. reply to President Harding’s memorandum. General Smuts was the only absentee. The conference unanimously endorsed President Harding's proposal. *“Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn. SHEWS GF THE PREMIERS. THEIR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. Received July 13, 1.35 a.m. London, July 11. Mr. W. M. Hughes is immensely pleas, ed at the new disarmament development. His view is summarised in the remark; “We have got all we set out to get.” Mr. A. Meighen said President Harding’s proposal offers a new- hope and promises relief to the distracted world. Nowhere will it be more eagerly welcomed than in Canada, where there has always been an unwavering belief that the ?tsues involved can best be settled by a free conference of the nations concerned. Canada will unquestionably seek every means to ensure success. Mr. W. F. Massey said that in years to come it may happen that the Empire will again be called upon to defend its rights and liberties, and the time is therefore most opportune to secure an under-landing whieb for generations Will •ensure peace and goodwill. A DELICATE.TASK. VAST ISSUES AT STAKE. London, July 11. The Times, in a leader, says that President Harding’s momentous and timelv statement opens a new and, we hope/ a fruitful phase in the problem of the Pacific. No doubt the British Government, with the full concurrence of the Dominions, will gladly and promptly accept the proposal m the same spirit as it is made. The Dominions’ Premiers, who were week-end guests at Chequers Court, were probably aware of the imminence of the message. They had already discussed the expediency* of a Pacific conference, and for this reason the arrival of the message was specially timely, preceding misapprehensions as to America* attitude. These misunderstandings now appeat trivial, in view of President Harding’s opportune action. The task of the proposed conference is both an delicate and dangerous as any conference ever assayed to discharge. The Peace Conference at Paris waa not faced with vaster issues, fraught with greater possibilities for good or evil. The haphazard methods of the Pana Conference should serve as a warning and deterrent to the Pacific Conference which should only be summoned after the most careful examination of the prelim in. Try problems and the utmost *aution in "the preparation of the igendfl. With these precautions it should succeed, to the world’s lasting benefit SUPPORT OF FRANCE. *” Received. July 12. 8.15 p.m. New York. July 11. ’’’he New York Times’ Paris correspondent states that M. Briand will ac<ept President Harding’s disarmament . onference invitation, and will probably pttend personally. —Aua.-NM. Cab.e Aasn. I-