New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-12

..asssIH question to-day, the Prime
Minlster declared, 81 was waiting, as I
expected replies to a conversation that
had taken place between Lord Curzon
and representatives of the GOVERN
ments of the United States and China
as result of discussions in the i'm
perial Cabinet.
Il am very glad to be able to inform
the House that the views of the gov
eminent OF the United States, which
reached ME last night, are extremely
satisfactory. The Chinese government
also replied favorably. We have not as
yet had formal reply from the gov
reason to hope it will be in the same
sense.
Tells of Cabinet Discussion
Now that these views have been
received am very glad to be at liberty
the course which the discussion of the
imperial Cabinet took. l do this with
particular satisfaction, because it will
show how very valuable a step forward
we have been able to take by common
consent in the sphere of foreign
affairs.
"The broad lines of the imperial pol
icy In the Pacific and the Far East
was the very first subject to which
>,
regard to the Anglo-Japanese agree
ment, the future of China and the
bearing of both these questions on the
relations of the British Empire with
the United States. We were guided in
our deliberations by three main con-
alterations.
"In Japan we have an old and proved
ally. The agreement, now OF twenty
years standing between us, has been
of very great benefit, not only to our
selves and her, but to the peace of the
Far East. In China we have a very
numerous people of great potentialities
whose interests we desire to assist and
advance
This statement of the Prime Minister
elected cheers from the House.
"In the United States we see to-day,
as we have always seen, the people clos
est to our own aims and ideals" the
Prime Minister continued, land with
whom it is for us not only desire and
an interest, but q deeply rooted in
stinct to consult shd cooperate"
Reference ~. s. cheered
There was renewed cheering from
the House at this point Mr.. Lloyd
George went on:
"These were the main considerations
in our minds and upon them we were
unanimous. The object Of our discus
sions was to find method of combin-
ing all these three factors in a policy
that would remove the danger of a
heavy naval expenditure in the Pacific,
with all the evils that such eXpendi-
ture would entail, and that would
insure the development of all legiti-
mate national interests in the Far
East.
"We had first to ascertain our exact
position in regard to the Anglo-Japa-
nese agreement. There had been much
doubt as to whether the notification to
the League of Nations last July con-
stituted denunciation of the agreement
in the sense of Clause VI. If it did
it would be necessary to decide on
some interim measures regarding the
agreement, pending fuller discussion
with the Pacific powers, and negotia
tons with this object in view were,
in point Of fact, already in progress
"If, on the other hand, it did not,
the agreement would remain in force
until it was denounced either by Japan
or ourselves and would not be exactly
determined until twelve months from
the date on which notice of denuncia-
ton was given.
"a broader discussion of the Far
then turned showed a general agree
ment on the main lines of the course,
which the imperial Cabinet desires to
pursue. have already explained that
the first principle of our policy was
friendly cooperation with the United
Z States. We are all convinced that
upon this, more than any single factor.
depends the peace and well-being of
the world.
Peace of East Involved
I'VE also desire, as l have stated, to
maintain our close friendship and CO.
operation with Japan. The greatest
merit of that most valuable friendship
is that it harmonizes the influences
and activities CT the two greatest
Asiatic powers and tkas constitutes
an essential safeguard to the well-be-
ing of the British Empire and the
peace of the East.
"We also aim at preserving the open
door in China and at giving the
Chinese. people every opportunity for
peaceful progress and development.
I'm addition to those considerations
we desire to safeguard our own vital
interests in the Pacific and preclude
any competitions in naval ornaments
between the Pacific powers.
"All the representatives of the en-
pire agreed that our standpoint on
these questions should be commune
Gated with complete frankness to the
United States, Japan and China with
the object of securing an exchange of
views which might lead to more formal
discussions and conference. Lord
Curzon accordingly held conversations
last week with the American and Jap
anese ambassadors and the Chinese
Minister, in which he communicated to
them the views of the Imperial Cabinet
and asked in turn for the views of
their respective governments. He ex-
pressed at these conversations the very
strong hope that this exchange of
views might, if their government
shared our desire in that respect, pave
the way to conferences on the prob
lens Of the Pacific and the Far East"
Harding's Action "Momentous"
The Prime Minister then made his
reference to President Harding's in
vitation- which he spoke of as
"naomentous." declaring the British
Empire would spare no effort to make
the proposed conference successful
Let me add only one word" said
the Premier, ''as to the part played in
these events by the gathering of the
Imperial conference. | venture co say
the action taken by that conference
would not have been taken in so
prompt, effective and unanimous a
fashion but for the intimate personal
consultations between the Premiers of
the empire and the representatives of
India which this gathering enabled us
to ENJOY. We have taken counsel to-
NO J.