The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-08
DECISIONS OF
CONFERENCE TO
BE UNANIMOUS
PolDers Not So Cast
Votes at Dis1T7
Pariey.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)

NopSSidi 10 Inc ATSuS.)
Washington, Aug. S.-Canadian
editorials reaching the Washington
government indicate a nisappre-
henslon as to the character of the
| disarmament conference as it af-
| fects the British dominions. The
impression seems to exist thai,
there will be votes at the confer
ehce and some writer's wonder why
the United States didn't issue a spe-
clal invitation to CanadS
Those in authority here saw there
Will be no voting at the disarma-
ment conference. Decisions will
not be reached that way. Each
power represented will have an on
portunity to express its views but
nothing will be considered final
until a unanimous agreement has
been reached. If there is division of
opinion, there will be the usual at
tempts to compromise but unless
everybody agree to the positions in
tne end, the conference will have
failed of its main purpose.
The peace conference at Paris
was conducted the same way-eact
power had a sovereign right to dis
agree and refuse to accept any part
OF the treaty but when it was finally
signed 1t represented the unanimous
| judgment of all the nations.
| The idea of votes at the Novem-
| Der conference on disarmament
| seems to be an outgrowth of the
| controversy over the alleged six
votes of the British empire in the
League of Nations to one on the
| part of the United States. The
League of Nations recognized the
BRUSH dom1nions as separate ma
tlons but the United States always
regarded the various parts of the
British empire as being grouped in
a single vote.
| Somewhat the same attitude is to
be adopted here at the disarma-
} ment conference The Washington
| government will not issue special
( invitations to the various nations in
| the British empire but will deal
/ directly with the British govern
ment. If the latter has in its dele
! cation representative of the Brit
| Ish domfnions, 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 will be sought
as the United States does not main
tain diplomatic relations with the
various states of the British en-
pire.
Even if the British delegation
doesn't include Representatives OF
the British dominions, the confer
ence will from time to time hear
arguments from any of the British
states whose position might be af-
fected. Thus the Canadian premier
was often given an audience in the
Paris peace parleys and was in fre-
Quent conference with President
Wilson and the heads of other gov
ernmentS when matters vital to
Canada were being considered. But
consultations with Canada or Aus
tralia or other British dominion
representatives will be along the
same line as conferences with Hol-
land or Belgium or other countries
which have asked for an opportun-
lty to be present when matters af-
fecting them are discussed.
Powers Must Agree.
Secretary Hughes emphasizes the
fact that the powers invited to the
conference are sovereign nations
and that any agreements made by
them must be unanimous. In max
ing the agenda or program for the
conference the same rules will be
followed. Incidentally the United
States probably will seek opinion
from other powers as to the ques-
tions that should be included in the
agenda and will make some sugges-
tions of her own. There is every
expectation that the agenda car
be completed by exchanges ol
cablegrams before the conference
begins on Nov. IL. All the diplo-
matte representatives of the various
powers invited will be discussing
the agenda informally for the mex
several weeks but if the program
lis still incomplete, it can be finished
after the conference actually be
gins. Any power, moreover, viii
be privileged to suggest additions t.
the agenda even after the confer
ence has begun but unless all the
powers agree to include the new
subjects, they must be excluded
I