THE LIVING AGE NUMBER 4025 AUGUST 27, 1921 A WEEK OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE PROSPECTS Journal de Genève's Paris correspondt, whose view of European affairs is Sually worth attention, expresses what probably a widely held opinion in riticizing the proposal that Lloyd George and Briand attend the Washington Conference. He says: "Their "xaggerated egocentrism, and perhaps their ignorance of great world-problems, make them believe that President Harding's invitation can be utilized to settle purely European issues. M. Briand is quoted as having used these typical words, which, if not reported precisely as uttered, presumably express his real ideas: ""The Americans are having all the fun this year. After their Dempsey-Carpentier match, they are to have a Lloyd George-Briand match, with President Harding for umpire. I shall try to avenge Carpentier."' This correspondent surmises that our statesmen in Washington recognize that the failure of the Conference to settle the problems of the Pacific and of disarmament would immediately render both difficulties more acute than ever; and that they are willing perhaps to widen the circle of subjects under discussion, in order to attenuate this peril'; but he does not believe that the people at Washington will permit themselves to be diverted from the real issue - the Pacific. JAPAN AND THE CONFERENCE WHEN President Harding's invitation was received, Japanese newspapers were beginning to exhibit signs of resentment at London's delay in concluding a new Anglo-Japanese alliance. Nichi-Nichi advocated a naval compact between Japan and Great Britain, frankly directed against America. Otherwise, this paper argued, the British Dominions would soon drift into coöperation with the United States against Japan, thus weakening the ties which bind them to the mother-country. Kokumin felt that the alliance would have to be dropped for the present, and argued in favor of a triple alliance, including the United States. In general, the press regarded the prospect of the termination of its agreement with Great Britain with disfavor approaching alarm. Consequently, President Harding's invitation to the Washington Conference was received with expressions of relief. Osaka Mainichi, a daily which has perhaps the widest circulation of all Japanese newspapers, points out that the calling of the Conference probCopyright 1921, by The Living Age Co. THE LIVING AGE NUMBER 4025 AUGUST 27, 1921 A WEEK OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE PROSPECTS Journal de Genève's Paris correspondent, whose view of European affairs is usually worth attention, expresses what is probably a widely held opinion in criticizing the proposal that Lloyd George and Briand attend the Washington Conference. He says: "Their exaggerated egocentrism, and perhaps their ignorance of great world-problems, make them believe that President Harding's invitation can be utilized to settle purely European issues. M. Briand is quoted as having used these typical words, which, if not reported precisely as uttered, presumably express his real ideas: "The Americans are having all the fun this year. After their Dempsey-Carpentier match, they are to have a Lloyd George-Briand match, with President Harding for umpire. I shall try to avenge Carpentier. This correspondent surmises that our statesmen in Washington recognize that the failure of the Conference to settle the problems of the Pacific and of disarmament would immediately render both difficulties more acute than ever; and that they are willing perhaps to widen the circle of subjects under discussion, in order to attenuate this peril'; but he does not believe that the people at Washington will permit themselves to be diverted from the real issue the Pacific. JAPAN AND THE CONFERENCE WHEN President Harding's invitation was received, Japanese newspapers were beginning to exhibit signs of resentment at London's delay in concluding a new Anglo-Japanese alliance. Nichi-Nichi advocated a naval compact between Japan and Great Britain, frankly directed against America. Otherwise, this paper argued, the British Dominions would soon drift into coöperation with the United States against Japan, thus weakening the ties which bind them to the mother-country. Kokumin felt that the alliance would have to be dropped for the present, and argued in favor of a triple alliance, including the United States. In general, the press regarded the prospect of the termination of its agreement with Great Britain with disfavor approaching alarm. Consequently, President Harding's invitation to the Washington Conference was received with expressions of relief. Osaka Mainichi, a daily which has perhaps the widest circulation of all Japanese newspapers, points out that the calling of the Conference probCopyright 1921, by The Living Age Co. |