The daily times., 1921-08-08
AGREEMENT
If There is Division of Opinion
There Will Be Attempts to
Compromise, But Unless
Everybody Agrees to the
Propositions the Conference
Will Have Failed.
(By David Lawrence)
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily

Washington, Aug. 6.-Canadian
editorials reaching the Washington
government indicate a misreprehen-
armament conference 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 invita-
tion to Canada.
Those in authority here say there
will be no voting at the disarmament
conference. Decisions will not be
reached that way. Each power repre-
sented will have an opportunity to eX-
press 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 attempts to compromise
propositions in the end, the confer
ence will have failed of its main pur-
pose.
The peace conference at Paris was
had a sovereign right to disagree and
refuse to accept any part of the
treaty but when it was finally signed
it represented the unanimous judg-
ment of all the nations.
The idea of votes at the Novem-
ber conference on disarmament seems
to be an outgrowth of the controversy
over the alleged six votes of the Brit
ish empir ein the league of nations
to one on the part of the United
States. The league of nations re-
cognized the British dominions as Sc
parate nations but the United States
always regarded the various parts
of the British empire as being group
ed in a single vote.
Somewhat the same attitude is to
be adopted here at the disarmament
conference. The Washington govern
ment 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 it's delegation representatives
of the British dominions that of
course is something to be hoped for
in order that the problems affecting
| .anada, New Zealand and Australia in
the Pacific may be better understood
1 but in the end the signature of Great
Britain alone will b sought as the
United States does not maintain
diplomatic relations with. the various
states of the British empire.
| Even if the British delegation
doesn't include representatives of the
British dominions, the conference
will from time to time bear argu-
ments from any of the British states
whose position might be affected
! Thus the Canadian premier was Of
ten given an audiene in the Paris
ipeace parleys and was in frequent
conference with President Wilson
Wilson and the heads of other gov,
ernments when matters vital to Can
ada were being considered. But con
isultations with Canada or Australia
or other British dominions represent
atives will be along the same line as
lconferences with Holland or Belgium
or other countries which have asked
for an opportunity to be present
Iwhen matters affecting them are dis
icussed.
Secretary Hughes emphasizes the
lfact that the powers invited to the
conference are sovereign nations ane
that any Agreements made by then
linus be unanimous. In making tht
lagenda or program for the confer
Ience the same rules will be followed
incidentally the United States pro
lbably will seek opinions from othe
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