RUSSIA'S CLAIMS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 90, 17 April 1922, Page 5

RUSSIA'S CLAIMS

AT GENOA CONFERENCE. COST OF THE REBELLIONS. INTEBNATIONAL ItXVAUEUES. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.30 a\.m.) GENOA, April 16. The smaller Powers not represented at the Villa Albertis conversations are becoming restive, and are memorialising Signor Facta, the Italian Premier, to summon the first sub-commission to consider details of the informal conversations as far as they have gone. The Russians have counterclaimed for expense incurred in resisting attacks by <»eneral,9 Wrangel, Kolchak, and Denikin, but the Allies point out that the Brest litovsk Peace Treaty, made between Russia and Germany, caused expense, far outweighing the Bolshevik claims, and it is quite unlikely that they will entertain them. The Australian Press Association's Genoa correspondent states that the Economic Commission lengthily discussed the exchange of raw materials. Signor Baldese, an Italian Socialist deputy, submitted a motion that the absence of economic equilibrium caused the rivalry between the nations, and therefore monopoly over raw materials would require rational regulation, hoth in the interests of producing countries and States wishing to procure raw materials; also, that the international consortium should control prices of distribution in regard to wool, cotton, coal, flax, and hemp. A sub-commission approved the motion on fundamental principles, with some Teeerre on the proposition to establish an international consortium.—(A. and N.Z.) RUSSIA'S PRE-WAR DEBT. INSISTENCE ON REPAYMENT. LONDON, April 16. The Australian and New Zealand Prese Association's representative at Genoa reports the continuance of the informal discussions at Mr. Lloyd George's residence, the Villa Albertis. The conversations have considerably cleared the air. It k not intended that I decisions or agreements shall be made, nor merely a general understanding! reached. The Russians gave interesting! accounts of the feelings of their people, j masses of whom were ignorant, yet were j convinced it was a new world, although chaos reigned all round. They now were endeavouring to create a new position out of this*, wreckage, yet jvere confronted with demands for the payment of debts contracted by the old regime. They wefe unable at present; to find the money. The British view in reply was that they must recognise that they did owe the money, which was due to private individuals, whose claims could not be wiped out. It is understood it is not | likely there will be any serious impasse I on the question of these pre-war debts. The war debts stand on a different footing. In the eyes of the -Allies they are debts from Governments, to Governments, and therefore can be negotiated between Governments, and as far as Britain and the others are concerned i they do not want to press the Russians too hard in the difficulties under which they groan. The Allies are prepared to consider the difficulties, but the "signature of Russia most be respected. The question of the restitution of private property is a more difficult problem, and it will be immensely troublesome to devise a practical method, as everything is nationalised in Russia. The Allies must therefore dis-| cover a basis of compensation, but even! here the problem is not insoluble. I The Russians have submitted practi-1 cal proposals for restitution, but these' require examination. It is likely, as so | many points have cropped up on which i the Russian- delegation has not been fully instructed, that the conversations! will be suspended for a few days to enable them to consult Moscow. — (A. and N.Z. Gable.) A HEW "BIG FOUR." CENTRE OF THE CONFERENCE. LONDON, April 16. The Australian and New Zealand Press Association's representative at Genoa states that the centre of gravity has changed from the conference proper to the co-called informal conversations at the Villa Albertis, the residence of Mr. Lloyd George. It recalls what happened , at Paris in 1919 when the Peace Conference resolved itself to the "Big Four." Genoa is seething with rumours, mostly wide of the mark, about what is happening at the Villa Albertis, where the Russian question is being discussed. Naturally those concerned in the discussions are laying down the maximum of their wants." Two chief points round which a strong fighjb is proceeding are recognition of the debts of the old regime and the right of private property. At times/ there were serious phases in the divergences between the delegates. It can be said that no distinct advance has been made. Mr. Lloyd George, with characteristic phraseology, thus describes the position: "We are getting a bridge across the I stream. We have driven in a number of mles, now we have reached the deep- j est'and most dangerous part of the current, where a few piles have already been driven and seem firmly fixed. From various sources the correspondent learns thai; the Russians remain btransigeant on the question of the law courts. There is much propaganda going on. Rakowgky epeak« openly "1 one direction, while his colleagues,- in thrashing out details wHh the AH'^ representatives, apparently speak with a different voice. Various rumours what the Russians will do and will not do are eagerly fastened upon by foreign iournalists. especially the Germans, who lav uniustinable stress on these canards It can | definitely be said that no party to the ■ discissions has at the moment ssid-.j "So far we will go and no further, xne; statement journalists thatj an ultimatum has been handed to tnej Russians is absolutely untrue. | In the discussion at the Villa, France j took little part, weiffht of the, battle fell upon Mr.-Lloyd George and. Sipnor dchan~r fTtaW. hn* M *;rtW I while svVnpathetic toward his allies, felt lie could safely leave negotiations to them. The view taken by Mr. Lloyd GeoT-pe and his eolVamiP* i a H,a * if '."Z cannot pet a general agreement wrth minimum guarantees by their efforts, ft will be useless to leave the subisct to the ferge-r first commission to sort out.! lA. and,N.Z. Cable.) '