A CLOSED INCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 5

A CLOSED INCIDENT.

RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY

HUES MAY VOID GLAUSES.

CONTRARY TO TREATIES.

jgR. LLOYD GEORGE'S PLAN.

FORMING A PACT OF EUROPE,

(By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.)

i Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 23. The Allies unanimously sent a note to Germany closing tbe Rusgo-German incident ami the Conference has resumed. Ten Powers met and signed a reply to the Germans. Mr. Lloyd George said that the British Empire was anxious to work closely with its Allies for the eauae oi peace, on which they were determined, but feared that the co-opera-tion of some Allies tended the other way. He was determined to surmount the obstacles in the way of peace. Mr. Barthou stated that France desired peace and welcomed Mr. Lloyd George's words. France meant to work loyally with the Allies on behalf of peace. Mr. Lioyd George said that although the German incident had closed points of the treaty bad yet to be raised on the Russian Commission.

The Allies* reply expresses satisfaction at the withdrawal of the Germans from the Russian Commission, but adds that the German excuses were not justifiable until the Treaty was signed. It was not suggested that the London proposals did not afford a basis of discussion, and the Powers reserved the right to declare void clauses contrary to existing treaties.

The situation has become more serene after the consultation of the ten Powers this morning. M. Bratiano, on behalf of the Little Entente and Poland, •aid that the recent signing of the Ger-man-Russian Treaty emphasised the need for solidarity amongst those who established peace. The Allies' co-opera-tion was essential to the stability of Europe.

Mr. Lloyd George agreed and said that he felt bound in duty to his people to make it quite clear that the British Empire was set on peace. M. Barthou (France) welcomed the statement, and in reply to Germany emphasised that there "was no justification for the German statement that grievous difficulties for Germany were created by the London experts. Their report merely created a basis of discussion in which Germany had the fullest opportunity of participating. The Australian Press Association Genoa correspondent says that the Dominion representatives at a meeting of the Empire delegation took a strong line in regard to the irritating delays caused by. the springing of the recent crisis. Their outspokenness on the subject largely influenced Mr. Lloyd George's declaration that he would let. the world know who was responsible for these matters.

If Conference survives these various shocks it will be entirely due to Mr. I-loyd George's dexterity in handling the troublesome elements. There is good ground for saying thai, Poland, Cecho-Slovakia, and Rumania were prepared to sign similar agreements with Russia if the Conference fniled to evolve a united agreement.

The Genoa .correspondent of the "Echo de Paris" says that Mr. Llpyd George is busy with his nlan for the European pact. He hopes to put on the finishing touches on Wednesday. The chief .obstacle, ip Mr. Lloyd George's opinion, is the absence of "frontiers in Eastern Europe, as the Allies have not ratified the Treaty of Riga and Eastern Galieia is not handed to anyone, while the Soviet claims Bessarabia, which the Powers assigned to Rumania.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

GERMANY'S OED ERROR.

THE TWO-CAMP DOCTRINE.

A SPASM OF FEAR. LONDON, April 23. Mr. J. L. Garvin, editor of the "Observer," who is asting as the paper's special representative at Genoa, says that tbe Germans' signature of the Russian treaty is due to a spasm of suspicion and fear. Genoa is infested with lies, and the Germans heard a quite trroneous statement that the Russians and the Allies had nearly readied an a/reement. They feared their economic interests in Russia might be prejudiced. It was not the Bpjsheviks' fault that /he treaty was not signed at Berlin while they were en route to Genoa. The Russian and *>raiaii peoples are economically necessary- to each other. 1! r Bolsheviks would have been fools nul *v sign. Instead of offering the mailed iist, as at Brest Litovsk. Germany came cap in hand.

The Allies were first stupefied, then astonished, and then consolidated. Mr. Lloyd George had risked the Ententecontinuance and his own political existence in order to restore 3 working concert of Europe, including Russia and Germany, yet the first use the Germans made of their new footing of equality was to invoke the old fatal doctrine of two camps. The Germans had themselves to blame if it were universally felt they would proceed to a political and military alliance. France's first impulse was to smash the conference, and- occupy the Ruhr Valley. Could Mr. Lloyd George or Italy save Germany from herself? Our fate hung upon a hair. Fortunately, the skies have cleared, as the Russian reply is far more reasonable than was expected. The German difficulty has been overcome, apart from "the legacy of friction and lessened trust. Next week must make or break the conference, but it is more likely to last] a fortnight.' j

Mr. Garvin continued: "I am convinced the conference will achieve great memorable results unless France prevents it. Mr. Lloyd George is, as lie Was during the blackest moments of the war, indomitable and formidable. His sinew of dexterity is dragging the conference to success. He believes it will achieve big purposes, and form the basis for subsequent disarmament, on which » new Europe will be based. He believes that continuous work onwards wiJI be earned out toward this end by a strengthened and extended League of

____" t _ A _ th " ™ rld ' s life **•"*! f 2 ,7 °"'_ and that the »>t«™«ive iVthe j .xS European civilisation" p_hT , he f r - rUmours of » c «»«>_ from! Pans which, instead of breaking up the conference from within, will torpedo it from a distance," says Mr. .J. L. Garvin, The pretexts are baseless. There is not one word of truth in the report of a military convention between Germany and Russia. Nothing but French intran-1 sigeance itself could organise by degrees ___ __ so,idarit y leading to another Armageddon. The wrecking of the connivence by torpedo from Paris would mean the ultimate suicide of France, for Britain cannot commit suicide in sympathy. Either there will be the beginning of a new Europe after Genoa or soon there will be no Entente." The Genoa correspondent of the ' Sunday Times" says it is most difficult to deal with the French delegation. What they expect to gain by their niggling tactics is not clear. The RussoGerman Treaty is signed anyway, but even that might have been avoided but for M. Barthou'a attempt to keep the Germans outside the inner workings of the conference. At present the French tactics can only succeed in driving their two betes noire* closer together.— (A. and-N.Z. Cable.) TROUBLE IN WHITE SEA.

FISHING VESSELS SEIZED

(Received 11.30 a.m.i LONDON. April 23. Concurrently with the discussions at Genoa, international naval demonstrations are being staged in the White Sea, where it is reported from Christiania that a- concentration of British, Finnish and Russian warships is proceeding to protect fishing vessels. Russians have issued broadcast a complaint that Britain had taken forceful measures to protect shipping. On the contrary, it is stated in London that the Soviet repeatedly seized British fishing vxjpscls outside tbe statutory limits and refused compensation.—(A. apd N.Z. Cable.)