ULTIMATUM

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1922, Page 5

ULTIMATUM

READY FOR RUSSIA. ALLIES' FOUR DEMANDS PAYMENT OF STATE DEBTS. RESTITUTION OF PROPERTY. RUSSIAN POINT OF VIEW. NO GENERAL AGREEMENT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 2G. Tlip Allies' Note to be presented to the Russians to-morrow is practically an ultimatum, demanding unequivocal replies on four principal points: Firstly, payment of war debts either entirely or with a reduction based on the Russians' capacity to pay; secondly, payment of prewar debts with, if necessary, a reasonable moratorium; thirdly, indemnity for all damages caused to foreigners; fourthly, restitution of the confiscated! property. Tbe Allies are drawing up three other points, and an endeavour will be made to force Russia to reply at the earliest possible moment in order to close the conference before May 10. The political committee is the only one which had not finished its work, all the others have practically terminated their s by enlarging the decisions taken at previous conferences and leaving to the League of Nations the duty of putting them into effect. M. Tchitcherin, interviewed, said that a general agreement, as envisaged at the beginning of the conference, was no longer possible. The obstacle is Russia's fundamental principle of the non-exis-tence of private property. The chief object of the Genoa Congress was the establishment of an international regime permitting the co-operation of Russia and other countries. For that object, reciprocal absention of interference with internal affairs was indispensable. Unfortunately the European States desired to impose measures which in I Russia would be entirely contrary to their legislation. Russia was not dis-

posed to sign with each of the nations at Genoa an agreement similar to the Rapallo Treaty. Some French and Italian papers publish what purports to be the text of Mr. Lloyd George's pact of peace: The document does not come from the British delegation and does not represent their views. A rough draft of the pact has been prepared and submitted to several heads of the delegations, who approved of it in principle. The Rusaian situation is still indefinite. The Russians asked that the bank balances 'of the various countries during theCzarist regime should be surrendered, but this demand is countered by the fact that the Soviet has not restored private property held under the old regime. The position at present is that an expert committee is engaged in preparing a voluminous proces verbal of the meeting at which the Russians claim that the offers were discussed. These minutes require to be signed by those engaged in the discussion before the work is resumed. The proces deals with questions one to seven of the London experts' report. Rumours that Mr. Lloyd George is returning to England are untrue. He intends to remain until the political aspect of the conference has been settied one way or the other, and a definite basis established. The Russians take the view that if the Germans be excluded from the First Commission. Poles eliould be similarly excluded because they concluded an agreement with Russia more far-reaching than the Russo-German pact. In no circumstances will Russia nermit any third Power to interfere with their treaties. The Poles deny the Russian allegation, declaring that what they signed at Riga was merely a protocol wherein they declared de jure recognition of the Soviet was desirable, but nothing so far had been done to give effect to this. There are grave misgivings whether the question of private property ran be overcome. Tt cuts clean across the Russian policy of nationalisation. If a modus vivendi on the point can be reached the rest of the conference's work will be fairly easy.—(A. and N.Z.) TO CHECK AGGRESSION. GENERAL DESIRE FOR PACT. I Received 11 a.m.) LOXDOX, April '20. ; The Australian Press Association'? Cenoa correspondent says that as all the signatories of the Versailles Treaty except Japan have gathered at Genoa, it is the view of most of the Allies thai; the opportunity should be availed of to discuss the "measures indicated by M. Foincare at Bar le Puc, and a meeting will probably be held next week. Informal conversations have begun on the pact against aggression, ilr. Lloyd George had lengthy conversations with M. Barthou and other delegates with a view to; collecting various opinions. Thus far there i» a general desire for the pact, but the Russian °and German opinions have not yet boon obtained. — (A. and N.Z.) FRENCH PRESIDENT'S VIEW. RECOGNITION OF (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, April 26. M. Millerand, President of France, ■n an important declaration at Phillipville. North Africa, said that F.-ance would not allow her right to be queaioned. She did not aim at dominufcioi!, but thought her reconstruction ought to proceed from her enemies. France was ready to resume relations with Rus«a whcii the Soviet recognised the former regime's debt* and restored the dnmage dono to personal property and guaranteed private rights. The Allies should • render harmless all clauses of the Russo, Hoi-man treaty clashing with the VereaiEcs Treaty.—(A. and X.Z. Gable.)

LLOYD GEORGE'S PACT. VIEWS OF LITTLE ENTENTE. LOCAL TREATIES FIRST. GENOA, April 26. Mr. D. Lloyd George submitted a draft pact which was patterned on the lines of the Pacific Treaty. The preamble emphasises the necessity of maintaining European peace and of general disarmament. The article first pledges the Powers to abstain from aggression on each other, and secondly, to consult I each other if European peace is threatened. The Premier of Czechoslovakia. Dr. Bones, drafted counter-proposals including the foregoing and providing, in addition, that other Powers could associate locally to arrange and enforce the maintenance of the treaties. The Little Entente asserts that European not bo formally concluded at the Genoa Conference, which is only empowered to submit recommendations to the Governments represented. Secondly, the signature of a general European pact will not precede the conclusion of local pacts. Finally, the Little Entente declares that the conclusion of an agreement between them and France is conditional on the previous conclusion of the Franco-British convention previously discussed. The latest telegram from Genoa states that Mr. Lloyd George and M. Barthou agree that tlie French and British viewpoint is not to launch loans in favour of Russia, but to arrange a scheme by which individual companies may provide Russia with funds on guarantees granted by the Soviets. M. Tchitcherin, chief of the Russian delegation, addressed a violent protest against Poland, declaring that she had forfeited all right of participation in the discussion on Russian affairs because she had joined the Allies' protest ajrainst the Rapallo Treaty, thus violating Poland's treaty with Russia. Students of international polities are questioning whether Genoa will becomo "crisis-proof." The latest exhibition of Russian tactlessness, following the" speech of M. Poincare. failed lo break the faith of the optimists. The "Daily Chronicle" insists that. Mr. Lloyd George's work is being made harder by some of his countrymen, who apparently from motives of personal vendetta, are giving , eager currency to every slander invented at his expense. The "Horning Post's" Genoa correspondent points out that M. Poineare's speech was really a reply to Mr. Lloyd George's threat on Saturday, when he told M. Barthou that if the crisis continued he would tell the British Empire who was responsible. M. Poincare retorts that France can resume hor liberty of action. The "Post" adds: "The truth is that class interests at Genoa prevent any real agreement and co-operation except between Germany and Russia. If the conference lasts into next month there may well be a general resumption of liberty of action.' , ' —(A. and N.Z.)