GROUPING OF POWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1922, Page 5

GROUPING OF POWERS.

ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. MAY LEAD TQ CHANGE. LLCYD GEORGE'S WARNING. PRIVATE PROPERTY IN RUSSIA THE RESTORATION ISSUE (i-y ■ a- (-. - :-rcs£ Aseooiaiiuu.— Copyright.) 'Tfc clreii W.Hu a.m.i LONDON, May :', The Australian an'! \e\r Zealand Press lionna Correspondi-tit uiate* thai the plenary session <:' the Congre?? vas dull. The Financial and Transport? Commissions' reports were adopted unnlterr.i. and the Rueaians are now coneidrring the Allic;' niem.'- ,- rEndum. Ccnferenrc i-inics do not regard tlie French afilon in demanding t.he return of private property owned by Froncii nationals in Kussia Rnd r< , jet ting compensation. v? torpedoing the conferenra. When Mr. Lloyd (J-purgn «ignifiyant!; deelarecl that tlie French nmendmpiit might lead to n elinntre in tiie p-oupin? of the Fower?. a death-like s-ilcnce proTailed in the room. There is a belief that the. French used Belgian opposition n= the only pretext at hand to withhold anprovnl after M. Hart.hou had approved, alleging thill they could not desert Belgium. The Russians are likely to take tirm> before answering the meantimp interest <cntres in -what i' tnking plate in Paric. M. Tchitclioriii, addreasinp the plenary cession, said thai the Russian rlelog.ition would rwominend the Soviet to B«:ept thp findings of the various <ov.\mipsion? to thr utmost capacity of it? power. A Paris telegram states that Cabinet decided to support the stand of the Belgians at Oenoa. M. Barthou, interviewed before leaving Genon. enid: "I shaH only return here in full agreement with Cabinet, and Trith the entire approval of my former actions nnd vrith complete confidence in mv future activities/" The "Matin' , expresses the opinion that M. Barthou will supply the neea'n*ary soothing explanation?. Th»> idea of disagreement, -with Belgium is far from everyone's thoughts. The "Journal" say? that M. Barthou came to. Paris to convey Mr. Lloyd George's proposals, and found himself faced hy hi;- necking information concerninp the strange decision? envisaged at Ucnon in matters ''oncerning Russia. M. Poineare displayed considerable surpri.-e at these. lie ha> informed the Belgian Government of his decisions and also expresses a desire to see complete agreement established between France and Belgium.— i-i. and X.Z. Cable.) A COMPROMISE DRAFT. SANGER OF AMENDMENT. LONDON, May 2. Tlir Genua representative of the Aus-i-alian and New Zealand Press Association say? the French attitude on the Russian problem caused a sensation at the political sub-commission, which met this afternoon. The Belgians, ivho were absent from the previous sitting, endeavoured to secure omission from tho draft of the proposal giving the Russians the option of restoring or compensating for private property. They demanded restoration. M. Barrere, acting on behalf of M. Barthou (France), stated that he had been instructed from Paris, after M. Barthou's departure, tliat French approval should not be given until M. Barthou returned. Mr. Lloyd George said such an minounnernent was unexpected, m= M. Barthou. befor? his departure, vrae ignoTaut of it. M. Barrere confirmed this view. The sub-commission adjourned, after which the situation was informally considered. Two suggestion? were made. The first was that a telegram should be sent to the French Government explaining: that the draft, as approved by M. Barihoxi and the other delegations, represented a compromise, and that to introduce amendments now would necessitate de novo reconsideration, and urging that, the French Government confirm it. without further amendment. Thfi second suggestion was the possibility of introduiing some words in the critiefl.l article dealing with private property which v-ouM enable the French delegation to let the document go forward toniffht. When the commission resumed, thn TYfcneh moved m amendment to tlifa article, addins further safeguards in Tejrard to the restoration uf property. Mr. Lloyd Gerrg-e said (lie amendment added weight to the article, which was already over-weighted. That addition might well make the difference between settlement and non-settlenieni . He was profoundly anxious to maintain the co-oueration of France, and would aicept. the arvMidnjenf in spice of the dancer if the French nereed to pass the memorandum. He added that failure f<) Rtrree mialit nipun failure to nrhinve-the pacification of Eantern Europe. v.iUi comsoUjUences unon the regrouping of the Powers v.lii.li i' n-.-n iuipoß'ihlc lo fure«ce. He appnnVd to our old allies and crnnruilf« tn let the draft «n throu«h. "NT. Rnrr»r<- said lie »J< profoundly toiichori by th" ii|/np"!. and 'lis position wps dilfi ult. lie lifd clear instrvf'ona not ;t. BVt)T<"*<> unti' 'ie refoivpil nuth." , "- Itc from Pari«. The Freneli finally perved T" -r-'c\ the documenf to fie Pnviet with the reservation th"t t ,, " Trnii'h did nn; .jivo finPl anorjval pEndJn- in«+rucfione from Paris. Air. Llo.vil Georce tTreti j-wouted the amendment.—iA. and N.Z. Onblc.) \t:e.ge of Dissor.tri'roN. REPORT FROM GENOA. ■ TicelTeil ll.o'i n.m.i LONDON. May 3 The •'Murninp Posi's" Genoa correspondent f.mtr:- tiipt tun ronfrrencJ , is "n th'; of ili.«MiliHirn.--'A. and N.Z.)