New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-06
Angglo-U. S. act
Held Hope of
World Peace
Deprecated i'm War, British
Statesmen Now Find Big
Sentiment i'm Dominions
for Support of America
Premiers End Council
Lloyd George Expected to
Continue ConferenceAims
at Farley in Washington
By Arthur S. Draper
From The Tribune's Enyoped,s Burena
Copriaht 1921 Naur Ynrl. ,r-;L

a
Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inr
LONDON, Aug. 5.--The conference OF
imperial premiers, which has been in
progress here nearly seven weeks, held
It's closing session to-day, with Premier
Lloyd George presiding. With the de-
parture of the dominion premiers
there came to an end the most inn
portart conference in the history of
the British Empire.
Although official reports OF the de.
cisions made at the conference may re-
main unpublished for a considerable
time to come, enough is known to justi-
fy the statement that British imperial
policy has undergone radical change.
Two outstanding features of the con-
ference are:
Recognition by the home govern
ment that the dominions are entitled
to equal rights in all discussions Of
imperial questions.
The decision that the British
world policy must be based on close
cooperation with the United States.
To Americans, and, in fact, to the
world generally, the second decision is
of profound Importance, and years may
elapse before it's full significance is
appreciated.
Closer Relationship With America
When President Harding issued his
invitation to the Washington confer
ence on disarmament and Far Eastern
questions. he released the members of
the London gathering from decidedly
embarrassing situation, and it is quite
possible that if he had not acted when
he did the second decision--to approach
world problems in harmony with the
United States-would not have been
made, or, If it had, it would have meant
much less.
The dominion premiers, notably
MeighenA of Canada and Smuts OF
South Africa, pressed for closer rela.
tionship with America, and they found
plenty Of sympathy in the English gov
ernment, although the latter, OF
course, is compelled to consider its
foreign entanglements in the way OF
treaties and understandings.
The British Imperial Conference has
officially ended, but it would be more
accurate to say it had recessed, to be
resumed in Washington November II
for Premier Lloyd George will &C
there not only as the spokesman Of
England but Of the whole British EN-
pire. And it will be his duty te
strengthen the empires relations with
the American government, even at the
expense of other foreign alliances
notably that between England and
Japan.
Canada's Position Strengthened
Canada is large and independent il
it's sympathies. It's views may be sup
posed to represent fairly accurately
the compromise position between those
of England and America, and perhaps
Lloyd George will speak in Washing
ton in the voice of a Canadian rather
than of Welshman or Englishman.
Certainly the imperial conference
has been remarkable in that some OF
it's members have been extremely
friendly to America. Though states
men during the war deprecated ever
the suggestion that an Anglo-Americar
understanding be attempted, severa
of the dominion statesmen are of the
opinion now that future world peace
depends upon the accomplishment o,
an understanding between the United
States and the entire British Empire
rather than between America ant
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