EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1921, Page 5

EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

WORK OF THE PREMIERS. VALUE OF WIRELESS. HOPES OF DISARMING. By Telegraph.—Tress Assn —Copyright. Received August 22, 5,5 p.m. London, August 21. In the course of an interview, Mr. V». M. Hughes said that, generally epea king, he was satisfied with the reeults of the Imperial Conference and his trip generally. It was not easy to satisfy those who preached the gospel of perfection, but he thought congratulations were due to the British Government for having, during the last few years, weathered a great storm that was full of menacing possibilities. Much was expected from the conference, and he ventured to hope that the results would convince the people that the time was well spent. Until closer communications were established these conferences were the only 1 practical and sure way of bidding the apparently impossible chasm dividing parts of the Empire from united action in matters affecting all. Parliament would decide whether Australia should join the two thousand mile radius wireless scheme, or establish a high power system capable of communication direct with London and every other Dominion in any circumstances. “It was absolutely essential,” added Mr. Hughes, “that if the Dominions are going to have an effective voice in foreign policy we should know not when a thing was done, but before it was done, what was intended or what was desired to be done, because in foreign policy you cannot delay action. A thing possible today is impossible to-morrow.” Mr. Hughes reiterated his views already expressed on the constitutional conference proposal, which, he said, would be regarded as positively dangerous. The proposal caused eonsideraole anxiety*, at hny rate in Australia. Leave well alone, that was his advice. Dealing with naval matters, Mr. Hughes said they were contingent on the results of the disarmament discuseion at Washington, and the delegates to the Imperial Conference were most anxious that nothing should be done to prejudice the deliberations there. He was sure the world was very glad to read the words of Mr. Lloyd George that Britain would welcome any suggestion to discuss any proposition concerning disarmament or the limitation of armaments. We could not expect or hope for any more favorable moment than the present. If failure came now, how could we hope for agreement on the limitation of armaments in vears to come. Asked if Canada would appoint an Ambassador to Washington, Mr. Hushes said. “I should say that was a matter mentioned on the first day of the conference, but not ag&m. ’ Aus.KX Cable Assn.

MR. HUGHES’ EFFORTS. THREE MONTHS’ HARD WORK. RESUME OF ACTIVITIES. London, August 21. Mr W. M. Hughes' efforts in England have" ended. For three months he worked at the highest pressure, with onlv one brief interval in Devon and Cornwall. His trip to Wales was nominally private, but provided not a moment of leisure. His visit was not so spectacular as the former ones; only lack of time pre-J vented Mr. Hughes from making another glittering social and popular success. His oratory and influence were in demand beyond human capacity, even had circumstances permitted him to respond. The Conference lasted 50 days with morning and afternoon sittings, frequently lasting after seven in the evening. The week-ends were packed with detailed preparation of memoranda on the most complex problems for submission to the conference and the consideration of arguments to support them Next to Mr. Lloyd George Mr. Hughes was the dominating influence at the Conference. His opinions carried great weight, although he did not always get hia own way. Fc instance, on the naval defence question. Mr. Hughes advocated strongly that if the Dominions asked the right’ to decide foreign policy they should pay their share of the cost of the ’Empire on a per capita basis. The numbers were against him, however. and only a colorless resolution was passed, leaving Australia and New Zealand to make their own arrangements with Britain for the defence of the Pacific.

Mr. Hughes was one of the first to suggest to the Conference the question of disarmament. A quotation from one of his earliest speeches is now made available. It reads: “Let us give the world, weary of war and staggering beneath its crushing burdens, a lead, and invite the United States, Japan and France to meet us. We cannot hope the world will beat its swords into ploughshares. but at any rate it can Stop building more warships.” Mr. Hughes’ determined and clear advocacy of the necessity for improved Imperial’ Communications, his strong apfeal for the renewal of the Angloapanece Treaty and his advice on foreign affairs and reparation? were reflected in the resolutions and approved. Mr. Hughes’ attack on the proposal to hold a Constitutional Conference in 1922 was an exposition of the evila likely to attend interference with the present loose arrangements, and resulted in the idea being dropped Mr. Hughes leaves on Tuesday for France. His tour includes Villers-Bre-tonneux, Bapaume. Pozieres, Mount St. Quentin. Peronne and Churgnes, together with the dedication ceremony of the Australian Divisional monuments in Amiens Cathedral.

Referring to his visit, Mr. Hughes Bays: “I regard it as most successful, if only from the viewpoint of having prevented certain things being done. To have stopped the proposed Constitutional Conference is something of which one might justly be proud.”