COUNCIL OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1921, Page 5

COUNCIL OF NATIONS.

DELEGATES ASSEMBLING. HOPES FOR SUCCESS. POLICY OF BRITAIN. b» Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 2, 8.10 pjn. New York, Nov. 1. Lord Lee (Britain), Messrs. Srinivasa and Sastri (India), Signors Schazer, Ricci and Albertini (Italy), and Mr. Wellington Koo (China), delegates to the Washington Conference i, arrived by the Olympic. Lord Lee, in a statement, said: “I have not the slightest doubt that the Washington Conference will achieve great results for the cause whereon world peace depends. The world has learned the lesson that militarism, wherever situated and however entrenched, is a menace to civilisation, and must be given notice to quit. My highest and most persistent ambitions have been to contribute something practical to the cause of closer understanding and co-operation between the English speaking peoples and the British delegates come to Washington with the resolve that short of compromising the safety of the Empire, or the sea security on which its very existence depends, a betrayal of our ancient heritage of which they could never be guilty, they will go to almost any length to meet the other great naval Powers in a mutual and proportionate effort to relieve their respective peoples from the intolerable burden of competitive armaments.” Mr. Koo, in a statement, declared: “China’s one wish is that the conference shall succeed. Our first object will be to work for the gathering’s success and afterwards we will point out that only by recognising Chinese rights and liberties in the East can success be achieved.” Signor Schazer, president of the Italian delegation, in a statement, said: “Italy’s presence at Washington is for the purpose, above all of maintaining Italy's prestige as a great Power, which has the right and duty of participating in every question regarding the world s politics. There are questions not on the programme which ere no teas important than those found there. The principal one is the United States’ attitude to the League of Nations. After the vicissitudes Italy suffered at ex-President Wilson’s hands it is natural for Italians to move with caution in the new currents, which might lead the United States into the League. With Mr. Wilson's fall his ix>licies have been entirely abandoned.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A®n. MR. LLOYD GEORGE DELAYED. Received Oct. 2. 7J20 pan. London, Oct. 1. Mr. Lloyd George will not go to Washington on Saturday, but he still hopes to go later.