The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1921. THE PACIFIC AND DISARMAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1921. THE PACIFIC AND DISARMAMENT.

While there is a general disposition to regard the Washington Conference on the subject of armaments as being a move in the right direction, a tendency is apparent to make matters concerning the Pacific the first consideration. It must be admitted that these two problems are so dovetailed that they are practically inseparable, although they present separate distinct issues. The fear is that the Japanese factor may have the effect of overshadowing the larger principle of reducing armaments, more particularly naval programmes, and jeopardising an agreement being arrived

at, and that would be a great blow l to those who are now suffering so severely from the burdens arising out of the oppressive cost of armaments in times of peace. The three Powers ehiefly concerned are Britain (including the Dominions), Japan and America. All profess a sincere desire for the limitation of armaments, which America considers is a matter of too much importance to admit of delay, while Japan appears to be willing to take part in the conference only ,on condition that the sovereign rights of the participants are not affected. Britain is quite ready to discuss the question without any reservations, but Mr. Hughes (Australia) insists that the Pacific problem must first be solved at a conference on which both Australia and New Zealand shall be represented. Here may be discerned all the elements for a deadlock, and unless a compromise is affected the outlook is anything but promising. Mr. Hughes is so obsessed with the Pacific problem that, he regards it as a matter of life and death for the Commonwealth.” Australia, he said, when recently speaking as the guest of the American Luncheon Club, “can never forget that out of the Pacific will come whatever our success or failure in the future has in store for her.” . . “For America and Australia the Pacific holds vital interests. ’ ’ The fact is Mr. Hughes so mistrusts Japan that he has convinced himself that she will not rest until Australia has fallen a victim to Japanese conquest. No other meaning than this can be attached to* the remarks made by Mr. Hughes in the Federal House of Representatives before leaving Australia for London. He said: “Although remote from the great centres o£ population of the western .world, we are much nearer than any other Western people to the bulk of the world’s population. We are very near to the overcrowded East. We cannot afford to be indifferent to what these great Eastern nations are doing. >v'e must take steps to see that our own acts and views are not misrepresented, but placed fairly before them. . . . Australia’s existence depends on adequate naval defence.”

Reading between the lines, there can be no doubt, as to Mr. Hughes’ meaning. He fears the designs of the Eastern nations, and considers that safety can only be attained by a large naval force in the Pacific. He claims that the great objective of the Washington Conference is to get America, Japan and Britain to disarm, but contends that course is impossible until the disturbing factors iu the Pacific are removed. At the same time he must well know that no power on earth can remove these factors in such a way as to preclude aggression on the part of the Eastern nations if at any time, in spite of all agreements to the contrary, they decide on a campaign of conquest. Disarmament is the greatest of all preventive measures, assisted by a policy of mutual forbearance, conciliation and amity. More is to be gained by cultivation of mutual trust than by engendering suspicion. By all means let there be an understanding between Britain, France, America and Japan as to the maintenance of peace, and that can best be attained by the proposed conference at Washington. The trouble is that the Dominions have not been invited to participate in that gathering. This should be remedied. Possibly it has arisen through Mr. Hughes exhibiting an inclination to speak and act for the Empire, and that America fights shy of such intensive methods. It is not too late for Britain to bring pressure to bear on the American authorities with a view to extending an invitation to the Dominions, though it is hardly likely that, with the exception of Australia, there would be any acceptance of the proposal.