COUNCIL OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 5

COUNCIL OF NATIONS.

QUESTION OF PUBLICITY. ORDER OF SUBJECTS. OPINION DIVIDED. By Talagraph.—Press Ann.—Copyright. Received Nov. 4, 5.5 p.m. New York, Nov. 3. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states various questions are now being asked concerning the Armament Conference, the publicity problem, and the sequence of subjects. It is understood there are likely to be a number of open sessions at the conference, possibly at -frequent intervals, although there necessarily will be numerous secret sessions, both of the conference itself and of members of the delegations outside the conference. The convention itself, however, will determine the exact procedure. Definite statements, orally and written, will be issued concerning the progress of the conference. There is a feeling among some delegates, notably the Japanese, that armament should be discussed first and Far East questions thereafter. Other delegates want the order reversed. The correspondent learns that American officials desire discussions whereby the solution of one question will naturally contribute to the solution of others. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FEELING IN AMERICA. TANGIBLE RESULTS WANTED. ESTEEM FOR THE PRESIDENT. Received Nov. 4, 9.50 p.m. New York. Nov. 4. Colonel Repington, writing in the New York Times, says the American public is interested in the Armament Conference, but it is not at dll excited. There is a certain feeling of pride that Washington should be the trusting place of so many notables and that American® should take the leadership in an assembly of the great Powers in connection with world issues. The choice of the American delegation meets general approval. President Harding has also grown greatly in public esteem, and has proved himself. He possesses courage and a measure of tact. There would be serious disappointment if Mr. Lloyd George was unable to come, but in the contrary event he would be assured of a rousing welcome. The conference, in the public’s estimation, will be considered a failure unless definite and tangible results are achieved, especially regarding naval armaments. Any Power resisting the appeal will be liable to be bitterly attacked, but Americans are so convinced of their own rectitude and righteousness that they hardly weigh their own armament on the same scale as others. There is no attack on Britain, but American naval estimates of 400,000,000 dollars will be submitted to Congress in December, and it is felt that, these figures are out of the picture with I the invitation.

The public, at the same time, wants at least as great a navy as England, while experts lay stress on the implied possibilities of the Anglo-Japanese- alliance, which is highly unpopular in America. The existence of the alliance is a serious bar to healthy and friendly relations between England and America. The general public is too absorbed in local matters to look into the Pacific question; thus there is no marked prejudice nor partisanship, and the general public share the good intentions and disinterestedness of tbeir Government. But this is liable to be changed in the event of any claims being made conflicting with their sense of right and justice, and things may go badly with any power displaying an ambition opposed to the American sense of right and wrong.' Mr. C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) in this characteristic represents the mass of the public, and the main control of the conference will rest with him. GREAT THINGS EXPECTED. SPEECH BY LORD BEATTY. Received Nov. 4, 11.20 p.m. New York, Nov. 4. Lord Beatty, in a speech at Chicago, said: “I am often asked if anything is going to come of the disarmament conference. I answer, of course, that something will come; if nothing else, it will be the beginning of our understanding of each Other’s difficulties and point of view. We believe in Britain that as a result of this meeting great things are going to happen, and that the world will live in. peace and contentment such as it has never experi-enced.”—AUS.-N5. Cable Assn. COMPLETE PUBLICITY PROMISED. Received Nov. 4, 10 p.m. Washington, Nov. 3. The State Department has given strong assurances that there will be ample publicity respecting the Washington Conference. It declared that Mr. Hughes fully realises that the successful conclusion of an effective agreement regarding the limitation of armaments largely hinges on liberal public opinion of the world. The reports that the conference would be ultra secret are emphatically. denied. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY. TO SECURE RESPITE FROM WAR. Received Nov. 4, 9.10 p.m. New York, Nov. 3. Sir Robert Borden (formerly Prime Minister of Canada), in a speecn, said: “Upon two great English-speaking commonwealths to-day rests a solemn responsibility, which may be fulfilled not by a formal alliance, but through complete understanding, mutual goodwill and firm and united purpose to secure for tortured humanity perpetual respite from the blighting course of war.