EUROPE'S PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 5 April 1922, Page 5

EUROPE'S PROBLEMS.

THE GENOA CONGRESS.

DEBATED BY COMMONS. RESTORATION OF RUSSIA. CONDITIONS OF RECOGNITION. (By CaNic !"rv" Association —Copyright.) LONDON. April ::. Prolonged ihriTi:i}.' yreeted .Mr. Lloyd I.Ioorji" in tl'.i' House hi liMirawus to-day nlirn lit , ni!«e t> move the resolution:--••Tliai the !i"ii-<> approves of the resolu(nui -ju- ;'ii sit the i annes Conference u> a hn-U 11ir iiie (Ji'iioii Conference, ;unl -;:| ii'-ri- tlii. , i; ovcri!inpiit in its rnilenvnur- lv give i-lliut t:. tlie decisions thus arrived at." die a>\!j that I'll , resolnVion ,uave ilio l!u;:-r tho opportunity « i' approving uf the objects, purpose ami i.elc.uates of tlie ficiiii!! Cor.terenec or uf disapproving. If the resolution were defeated ii would be p ; |UM alent to v voti' uf no coniidence. ■J he (ionou < onfeiem-c was summoned t" examine the b..\it method of restoring cruer out c! wekcr and of recovering prn-]K-rity nut i>: desolation. Objection io the Cannes rr-oiutions was .liio to i-ertuin liuiiiaiiuKn to the scope of the di?i-u-.-inn<. He did not !>eiie\e that such a conference as v.v.uM meet at CJcDOn i-oulil p;-dp-.-rU consider the reviii«m vi cxU-tiair treaties, even tir-suniing that ii was de-ir.:bh\ The. trouble of Kurope had ljot-ii attributed largely to reparation exacted by t!ic trealic- of l'Jlii. These treaties did lii-i create reparation. The trouble was ciuo. not to the fact thai reparation was exuflpil. l>ui that there was sometiling to repair. OermanyV ultimate capacity ;•> pay must not be judged by her i-apacitv at this moment, when in common with the rest nf Kurope the was endeavouring t>> recover from the waste of war. with: united hands.

It was a mistake, to consider that because the Cannes Conference had not achieved everything it was summoned to consider tlie conference bad failed. If we proceeded upon that assumption Europe would never be restored, if any progress was made at all the conference was justified. He could not understand the Labour party's protest against conferences. They had been brought to life by Labour. "I have been assured." continued Mr. Lloyd Oeorge, "that we are a dying Coalition. Therefore I may have the privilege as a dying . Minister to yive my lar-t words of advice. I do not know ■who will succeed us nor their character. but 1 should say that their complexion ■will be piebald, and. judging by criti-

. i-ms. 1 should s;;y that the new (;<>v"rnraent h;*s had its principles enunciated and propounded by the "Morning Post," the "Daily Herald.'" the •Westminster fiazette." the "Daily Mail" and "Comic Cut?." * V i

Mr. Lloyd fJeorfic wont on to warn the House not lii tin- hands of the delegates to tin- Ucnoa Conference-. The trade of Europe whs of the prcalcst importance, as nul merely directly, but indirectly, the fact Unit international trade hud broken down and had affected this country very specially. One of the fir-t things that would bi> considered at • irnoa would be the question of itift exchanges. ( urrpney had broken from its moorings, and was drifting helplessly. Therefore, one of the first considerations was tv induce nations to balance their budgets.

TEST OF FITNESS. Another important ijucstion was peace in Russia and peace with Russia. Here he approached a subject where legitimate prejudices perhaps clouded peace. I'ntil peace was established neither trade nor employment could be restored over ihe whole of Juiropc. Europe needed what Russia could supply. She was the largest undeveloped country in the ■world. ,She needed capital, but would Jiot get it without internal and external peace. Germany could not pay the full demand for reparation until Russia was restored. Russia must recognise all conditions imposed on and expected of civilised communities. This was the test Jf her fitness for entering the comity of nations. Was Russia prepared to accept these conditions? There were indications of a complete change of attitude. The famine had oecn a gre:U eye-opener to Russia as to her dependability upon her neighbours and the futility of the scheme which the Soviet propounded. If Russia was willing , to accept these conditions then there was n real basis lor peace. This would not involve further recognition of Russia until the Commons approved. There would not be full diplomatic representation of Russia until the Powers were -atisiied that Russia was endeavouring to carry out her undertakings. THE ONE ALTERNATIVE. The alternative suggestion was that nothing should be dune until one day it was reported that the Soviet Government had disappeared and that a Government of si totally different character had been established in Russia. When "as that going to happen? The conduct and methods oi the Bolsheviks had excited just wratli and anger. Pitt had Hie same problem to deal with after the French Revolution, and the circumstances then were no! dissimilar to tho.se of to-,lav. Plft decided that peace with Ihe French Revolutionary Government was desirable. "\Yp arc actuated in going to <;enon hy the motives which actuated Pitt." declared Mr. Lloyd vGcorgc. "The fact that ibrre tire h:rge revolutionary armies in Russia, or the belief that they exist, i< an excuse for the armies of other countries. It is our business apd our duty to sec the establishment ml complete peace throughout Europe ill order to deal with the serious problems of trade and unemployment." Mr. Lloyd George concluded after speaking So minutes. Mr. .[. a. ClyiiPs moved the Labour j party's amendment: "Thai while approv- 1 it , ? an international conference, the House regrets that the scope of discussion a> Genoa should be so circumscribed j that it nm-t full short of :■. settlement t of the political and economic evils which j ►afflict Europe, and i* of opinion lhat the, Government has m.t the confidence of the rotmtrv or is not .ompetent to represent the country." REVISION OF VERSAILLES. Mr. Clynes expressed some sympathy with Mr. Lloyd Georg-e. w ho. he said. lia.J lieen trvinjr. not to uersuade the I Opposition that the Genoa Conference wag! neippsary. but to nprsuade the serried ranks behind him. " Mr. Clynes declared that unlc-s the Genoa Conference pioceedel in revise many features of the Versailles Treaty, which -Mr. Lloyd'

Iroorcp |.:n«w v ,i- tlm c-ni:«P ~f all r.ur..p ( .v trouble, it would fail a=, completely as iho pn-vioiis coiiferentc;: had. failed. The Government was clearly enlmbliny. and Mr. L'ovd tksorjro was attempting to turn the -o-eallej economic conference fcito a gateway to a general election. While Mr. ' Lloyd Coorge mislit sPeura a majority, he would not secure the sprit. of confidence of the House awl country which realised that British workers R n,l not Germany were now paving for reparation.

If Germany were compelled to produce at the present rate it would entail a serious displacement uf Briiis!\ labour, and eventually would give. Germany a triumphant position in ail tlie worlds markets, if communism had failed, in Kusf-ia. had capitalism succeeded better in Britain, which had 1.750.00(1 unemployed liviiifr .on d )li-s and 7.000,000 euiployed on wages U-low the subsisteni-c level? I'anitalism had iiroduced slums and a </:; nation. Our whole policy toward Russia must be ihautred. " Mr. l.loyd Ceorjre had ceased id lie Primp Minister and bad become a partyprisoner. The Labour party could not support the Uovernmei'l, which at home and abroad hail faile,] u> use its ein.rmotif majority for the national benefit. AW APPOSITE EMTRANCE. Nir Uonald MucLcan (Independent Liberall, in the abseme .>f Mr. H. H. As({iiitb. due to ill-health, criticised the strunjrest Government of modern times seeking a vote of confidence when it had never done so before 11 prei'-ediiifj ConThe real i■ausn of the postponeiuent of tlie Ueuoa Confi'.rcnee and the General Election was — hrir tieorgtf Youuger. chairma'Oi of the irtiionist party organisation, appositely entered tlie Chamber in this pu.uit, and tlie House was convulsed. Mr. Bonar Law thought it waf difficult tn understand why the Government had tabled its motion. It was more Jiflicult to know why anyone, objected to passing it. The House had knovru the Uovernmcut's views since the I'a-lines Conference. .Mr. Lloyd George probaibly understood electioneering as well as anyone in the House, therefore it vas most foolish to suggest tiiat he was iroir.g to Cmua to make political capitil.

It would have been advantageous to have postponed the conference if there had been any possibility of securing the attendance of the United States. Mr. Bonar Law thought that the ruling out of the reparation question formed a great handicap. Famine-stricken Russia could in no wise help Europe's trade for years, but Mr. Lloyd Iraorg , ?. believing that it was possible to do something to hasten Europe's restoration had shewn the greatest courage in proposing the conference. He was glad that Mr. Lloyd (ioorge had removed all fears that Russia would be recognised without adequate guarantees, or that Quixotic schemes of lending money to other nations would be adopted. A LONG-X£aM SWNIDLE.' Lord Robert Cecil I ludejiendent) said he. could not support fcne resolution Oecaupe the machinery of the League of Nations was not employed, und tiie conference was not to deal with disarmament and revision of the Versailles xieaty. Mr. Stephen Walsh (Labour , ) said that if the reparation question was not included an the agenda the conference would be rendered null and void. The

Government was not asking v.or a vote to justify it going , to Genoa., hut for continuance of .1 long-term swindle. (LaugUter.)

Mr. Austen Chamberlain vpunl up the debate. He pointed out that the Labour party wanted the conference, but aiso wanted the reparation question to be placed upon the agenda. It did not see or appreciate that if the reparation question were included there would be no conference.

The Labour party's amendment was defeated, and the Government's resolution was carried by '-HZ votes to> St 4.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) ARREST OF STJSPECTSi. Advices from Genoa say that the most elaborate precautions are being' t liken ior the prevention of possible disturbances or acts of hostility against the delegates to the forthcoming ijonference. The "nolice are keeping surveillance over i,he taverns, and already 100 suspected persons have been arrested. T he police have been greatly reinforced. Great satisfaction is felt because t tic Socialists. Faneieti, and seamen hare promised not to make a disturbance unless provoked. A hundred bilingual commissioners am! innumerable plai:i-clotl;e = men arc concentrated at Genoa. Thn Russian Soviet delegates will be accommodated at the Hotel Imperial. They will be protected by 200 men stationed in the vicinity. Strict precautions are being taken against unauthorised persons entering the Royal Palace. — (U.S.) Mr. Cecil Harmsworth, Under-Secre-tnry fot. Foreign Affairs, answering questions in the House of Commons, said that the cost of .the British delegation t" the <Jenoa Conference would not be heavy. Tlipv would be the guests of Italy.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.) SOVIET GIRL SECRETARIES. The Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Mail" states that the Russian Soviet ddPcntes to the Genoa Conference, on their arrival in Berlin, quickly motored to their holds, the names of -which are secret. Travellers on the same train from Riga comment on Russian girl secretaries who were dressed in latest fashions. They wore silk stockings, of many colours, and powder puffs were prominent.— (United Service.)