1921 Imperial Conference facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 1921 Imperial Conference
Host country	United Kingdom
Dates	20 June 1921– 5 August 1921
Cities	London
Participants	Australia Canada India New Zealand Union of South Africa UK
Heads of Government	6
Chair	David Lloyd George (Prime Minister)
Follows	Imperial War Conferences (1917–1918)
Precedes	1923
Key points
Anglo-Japanese Alliance

The 1921 Imperial Conference was an important meeting. It took place in London, England. Leaders from the British Empire met from June 20 to August 5, 1921. The meeting was led by David Lloyd George. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The main goal was to decide on a shared international plan. This was especially important for how the Empire would deal with the United States and Japan. A big topic was whether to renew the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. This was an agreement between Britain and Japan. It was set to end on July 13, 1921.

Some leaders wanted to keep the alliance. These included Billy Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia. Also, Bill Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, agreed. They did not want their countries to get caught in a war. They remembered Japan's help during World War I. They also noted that the United States was not very involved in world affairs then. Hughes said, "The British Empire must have a reliable friend in the Pacific."

However, Arthur Meighen, the Prime Minister of Canada, disagreed. He worried the alliance would harm relations with the United States. Canada relied on the U.S. for its safety. Because of these different views, no decision was made to renew the alliance. So, the agreement with Japan ended.

This conference was special for India. It was the first time India was invited to an Imperial Conference. Even though India was still a colony, it had representatives. However, the main person representing India was a British cabinet minister.

Who Attended the Conference?

The conference was hosted by King-Emperor George V. Many important leaders and their cabinet members attended. These were the Prime Ministers and other officials from different nations within the British Empire.

Nation	Name	Role
United Kingdom	David Lloyd George	Prime Minister (Chairman)
	Austen Chamberlain	Lord Privy Seal
	Arthur Balfour	Lord President of the Council
	George Curzon	Foreign Secretary
	Winston Churchill	Secretary of State for the Colonies
Australia	William Hughes	Prime Minister
Canada	Arthur Meighen	Prime Minister
	Charles Ballantyne	Minister of Naval Service
India	Edwin Samuel Montagu	Secretary of State for India
	Khengarji III	Maharao of Cutch
	V. S. Srinivasa Sastri	Member of the Council of State of India
New Zealand	William Massey	Prime Minister
South Africa	Jan Smuts	Prime Minister
	Sir Thomas Smartt	Minister of Agriculture
	Hendrik Mentz	Minister of Defence

See also

• Imperial Conference