New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-30
Northcliffe's
View Is British
Seek Disar1a1in,g!
He Believes His People Feel
With Americans That Cost
of Armies and Navies
Has Become Iratolerable
Makes No Predictions
Regards Lloyd George as Too
Sharp a Bargainer for
Farley Harding Planned
From The T,lbue's Washington Bureau

| ISM public feels that the Forthcoming
| Washington conference must not fail.
To that end British public opinion will
insist, so far as British representatives
are concerned, that no diplomatic trivi-
alities nor parliamentary technique be
permitted to obstruct a new arrange
ment between the powers to safeguard
| the worlds peace, now made possible
| through President Harding's happy in
! itiation.
Moreover, Britain desires not only
an enduring settlement of pending
questions in the Pacific and the Far
East, accompanied by appropriate lin
itations of ornaments, but she hopes
that the deliberations and results of
the conference will bind more closely
in mutual trust the two great English
! speaking peoples, hope now long
entertained by the liberals of both
countries"
So spoke Lord Northcliffe, British
publicist, in an exclusive interview to-
day. in which he discussed informally
the attitude with which British public
opinion is approaching the conference
OF the powers arranged by President
Harding.
Offers No Prediction
Il shall not undertake to make pre-
dictions," said Lord Northcliffe. "To
anticipate what is going TO happen at
an international conference is always
doubtful effort, you know. So much
depends upon the atmosphere of the
conference as it takes shape from the
influence of public opinion, in this in
stance world opinion.
This much | can say, however" he
continued "The British people are
tired of war. They want no mere of it.
they are weary of war taxes They
are demanding relief.
ASIDE from the pure idealism that
finds limitless play in project so COM
mendable and appealing as that which
your President has initiated, war
WEAKNESS and tax burdens are prac-
teal plum pudding reasons why the
British people desire the conference to
succeed, reasons that will bring Eng
land and the British dominions to
Washington with readiness to do ali
possible to realize hopes that unhap-
PLY have man. times been needlessly
disappointed.
$50 far as may speak my interpreted
ton of the attitude I find here in
America toward the conference. l am
convinced that your people and your
officials look toward the conference in
much the same way chat the British
people approach it.
Arms Rivalry Ruinous
cat the bottom of your American
sentiment is a recognition that COM
petitions in armament are ruinous,
Your people want to clear away those
actual points of difference between ma
lions that have, perhaps, justified arm
aments. They want to rule out the
political fctions and the international
bugbears that drain national treasures
against contingency that never APP
pears. They want to tear away the
ingenious fabric of diplomatic conven-
tionalities that SO often has set up i'm
posing artificial barriers to frank ex-
change, mutual concession and agree
ment between the powers. They want
to get at the essential human element
in international relations, just as VIC
of the age have learned to put that
above all else in our domestic con-
Germs.
Perhaps I am presumptuous in my
attempt to read the thoughts of Amer
lea. Perhaps l am inadvertently ex-
pressing. Britain's hopes born of her
own desires. At any rate that is my
honest reading of American public
opinion, and may say, it is equally
and identically the thought of the over
whelming masses of Great Britain"
will the British representatives to
the conference hold to this human
view of it's problem, or will they sur
render to that species of intrigue and
barter that marked, the Paris confer
ence?'' he was asked.
Sharp Bargaining Needless
The bare trace Of frown crossed
the, countenance of Lord Northcliffe.
perhaps in recollection of the Paris
conference and its sequel.
The British representative. Yes.
that is important" b~ said intentlv,
ot course, you know that l do not
bel1eve Lloyd George or Lord Curzon
nave the exact qualities required to
represent Great Britain as she should
be represented here. Lloyd Georga
has specialized too highly in parlia-
mentary and diplomatic tactics. This
w'tl be no occasion for sharp bargain
ing. Lord Curzon might not feel quite
at nome at table where the dominant
en- OFT is Tor common sense and simple
justice. His prejudices are too we'll
rooted. He still lives in another dav.
witch, with your people and mine. is
now rapidly passing.
mere has been suggestion in Eng
land that Lord Bryce and Lord Grey
would make admirable British repre-
sentatlves to the conference. Both
men are we'll and favorably known in
TINS country, and neither is schooled
IN that diplomacy which engenders sus-
picion among peoples who care more
Tor happy results than for skillful
maneuvers."
TrTSf Ctfuof;or,
DO you expect that the Irish nepo-
tlatlons VIII proceed to a satisfactory
agreement in advance of the Washing
ton conference?" Lord Northcliffe was
asked. was
THAT, too, is an Important prelim-
mary" he replied. because it is Ger
tain TO exert good deal of influence
on the atmosphere of the conference.
III IS most difficult task to remedy a
condition developed through seven CEN
turles OF misunderstanding in a mere
seven days. Much progress has been
made, however, and there is every rea-
son to expect that the Irish question
VIII be out Of the way in fashion that
VIII gain the approval of America be-
lore the Washington conference meets.
:, hlng George has the confidence Of
tne people of both England and Ire
iiand. they regard him as an intensely
human man, altogether free of the arts
OF political finesse. England is count
ing heavily on the good Offices of the
hing IN the Irish matter"
What bearing will Brit;sh-Japanesa
relations have on the Washington con-
ference {" Lord Northcliffe was asked.