ARMAMENT PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 5

ARMAMENT PROBLEM.

HOPES OP SOLUTION. ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY. RESENTED BY AMERICA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrlgtt. Received Oct. 20, 1.20 a.m. Washington, Oct. 19. President Harding has sent a message to George acknowledging with heartfelt thanks the award of the Victoria Cross to the unknown American soldier. He added: “I greatly prize this opportunity to thank you for your good wishes for the success of the conference on the limitation of armaments. I believe with you that ue British and American representatives will cordially co-operate, along with other nations, to bring about cuch an international understandiiy: as will make possible a desirable reduction of the burden of armament, through diminishing the possible causes of war.” Efforts to obtain the abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese alliance will be made at the Washington Conference, the American Government being utterly opposed to a military compact between Britain and Japan. It even considers the alliance a menace. THE BRITISH DELEGATION. MILITARY AND NAVAL EXPERTS. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 18. Mr. Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, stated that he hoped to go to Washington as soon as the Parliamentary and general situation rendered it possible. The Ambassador at Washington would act in his absence, or that of any other delegate. General Smuts has decided to leave the interests of South Africa in the hands of the British representatives. Lord Beatty will be the senior naval expert, Lord Cavan the military expert, Air-Marshal Higgins the air expert, and Sir Maurice Hankey secretary. LORD BRYCE’S VIEWS. JAPAN THE DANGER. London, Oct. 17. Lord Bryce, who recently returned from America, contributes an article to the Times on the Washington Conference, in which he says America believes the prospects are very good. It will be a severe disappointment if the conference fails to reduce armaments. The cloud on the horizon is Japan. American opinion emphasises Japan’s military and naval progress. It is no use telling Americans that the AngloJapanese alliance cannot touch America. Nine out of ten Americans continue to repeat that England is Japan’s exclusive allv, which makes Japan think she is free to embark upon aggressive policies from which otherwise she would shrink. No explanations will remove this opinion from American minds. American* believe that if Britain, with her Dominions, France and America agree to reduce armaments Japan will not venture to stand out. ITALY’S Received Oct. 19, 9.55 p.m. Rome, Oct. 19. It is announced that Torretta and Schanzer have been appointed the principal delegates to the Washington Conference. —Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.