The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-08-08

Especial Dispatch to- The RetormerJ
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Canadian
editorials reaching the Washington Cow
eminent indicate misapprehenslon as to
the character of the DISARMAMENT confer
ence as it affects the British dominions.
The impression seems to exist that there
will be votes at the conference and some
writer's wonder why the United States
didn't issue a special invitation to Cam
ada.
Those in authority here say there will
be no voting at the conference. Decisions
will not be reached that way. Each
power represented will have an oppor-
tunitv to express its views, but nothing
will be considered final until unanimous
agreement has been reached. III there
is division of opinion. there will be the
usual attempts to compromise, but unless
everybody agrees to the propositions IN
the end the conference will have failed OF
its main object The peace conference at
Paris was conducted the same way
each power had sovereign right to dis
agree and refuse to accept any part oil
the treaty, but when it was finally signed
& it represented the unanimous Judgment of
all the nations.
Dominions Not Regarded Separately.
The idea of votes at the November con-
ference on disarmament seems TO be an
outgrowth of the controversy by the al
legged six votes of the British empire IN
the league of nations to one on the part
| of the United States. The league OF ma
tions recognized the British dominiOns as
separate nations, but the United States
always regarded the various parts OF the
British empire as being grouped in sin
| gle vote.
Somewhat the same attitude is to be
adopted here at the disarmament confer
enee The Washington government will
not issue special invitations to the various
nations in the British empire, but will
deal directly with the British government.
If the latter has in its delegation repre-
sentativeS of the British dOminions that,
! of course is something to be hoped for in
order that the problems affecting Canada.
/ New Zealand and Australia in the Pacific
may be better understood. but in the end
the signature of Great Britain alone viii
/ be sought as the United States does not
maintain diplomatic relations with the
various states of the British empire.
| Even if the British delegation doesn'
include representatives of the British do
miniOns, the conference will from time 20
| time hear arguments from any of the
British states whose position might be
| affected. Thus the Canadian premier was
often given an audience in the Paris
Ipeace parleys and was in frequent con-
| ference with President Wilson and the
heads of other governments when matters
| vital to Canada were being considered.
| But consultations with Canada or Aus
| traia or other British dominion repre-
sentatives will be along the same lines as
conferences with Holland or Belgium or
other countries which have asked for an
| opportunity to be present when matters
! affecting them are discussed.
| May Ask Suggestions for Agenda
Secretary Hughes emphasized the fact
/ that the powers invited to the conference
are sovereign nations and that any agree
ments made by them must be unanimous.
In making the agenda or program for
the conference the same rules will be fol-
lowed Incidentally the United, States
probably will seek opinions from other
powers as to the questions that Should
/ be included in the ageuda and viii make
! some suggestions of her own. ..
| There is every expectation that the
agenda can be completed by exchanges of
| cablegrams before the conference begins
on Nov. IL. All the diplomatic represen-
! tatives of the various powers invited will
be discussing the agenda informally for
| the next several weeks, but if the program
/ is still incomplete it can be finished after
/ the conference actually begins ANY
power. moreover, will be privileged to sug-
/ gest additions to the agenda even after the
/ conference has begun. but unless all the
powers agree to include the new subjects
/ they must be excluded.