EUROPEAN NATIONS ON EDGE OF VOLCANO

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7972, 29 April 1922, Page 3

EUROPEAN NATIONS ON EDGE OF VOLCANO

nuTINF.NI MAY BE AGAIN c° NTli devastated

. fSK’SKSss* Rec April 28, 9 “■ Genoa, April 2/, m, Iloyd George, addressing r nr-nalists, took a most serview of the European situaloU rt He said they were on the nf a volcano and unless ■ft siiceeded probably be and G ,he?erev headed persons pres«„ld see the storm break. Thectoutlsoit the honzan were T“ e r . hieecr dady. Europe be again devastated. He iled America, who would a Sy be forced to interest herselfin Europe for the mamf n nee of peace. The Denoa reference would fail unless the - oeace pact was agreed to. FARLY MEETING Oh SUPREME COUNCIL Paris, April 27. The Matin says M. Ppincaire ha accepted in principle Mr llovd George’s proposal that the Supreme Council meet at {he earliest possible moment. M. Pomaire will probably demand tha a meeting he held .in Pans, not ■ fonoa. He is P re R ar ??,f° me ? the Allies before M. Mdlerand s return, if necessary. IMPRESSIVE SPEECH BY MR “ LLOYD GEORGE Rec April 28,9-20 a - m - London. April 27 The Australian Press Association’s correspondent at Genoa says Mr Lloyd Georges speech to the Journalists was most impressive, He said: The Con fernce was thegreatest and most Lportant ever held. Whether it succeeds or fails'it Was bound to have a* great lasting effect upon the future of the Continent and would affect other Continents to a greater degree than any other cconference in the history of the world. Thequestion as to whether carnage shall cease in Europe depends on this conference Some people .were impatient because solutions were not found in a single fortnight. The Washington Conference took three months and it was worth every hour spent. The whole frontiers of Eastern Europe, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, were unsettled and every one of them involves the possibility of terrible conflict. The racial lava of Eastern Europe was boiling with the possibilities of conflicts which would draw in the whole of Europe and may even involve distant America. Then you have Russia and Germany in a state semi antagonistic to the rest of Europe. Anybody who imagines you can permanently keep down these two great peoples, representing two thirds of the people of Europe, must either be blind or blinkered as to its possibility. The insanity of the-Russo-German agreement is a revelation to some people. . I ven hired to give a warning a long time ago asjo what was inevit able unless there was a good understanding. When hungry Russia is equipped by angry Germany' how long will it be before Earope is devastated, if that should represent the policy of‘.any European combination ? For the moment we belong to the dominant and triumphant group, but these things do not last for ever, If our victory degenerates Into oppression, if it is tinctured and tainted by selfish interests, if the conscience of mankind feels we have abused the triumph God placed in our hands, then vengeance will inevitably follow, just as it followed in the wake of dhe act by Germany, which outraged the worlds moral sense.’’ SPEECH GETS MIXED RECEPTION Rec April 29, morning London, April 28 Mr Lloyd George’s speech has bad a mixed reception from the press Ihe Westminster Gazette , declares > “ The Treaty of Ver sallies cannot stand enforcemenu It might defer the rise of Russia and Germany, but could notpermanenily keep (hern in subjection. That is what Mr Lloyd George means when he says if a pact of peace is not . gauged Europe will again be Plunged in a welter of blord. , a ** s vy hy we are compelled to tell France we must steadfastly oppose her proposed policy.” The Morning Post supports the Hench attitude. It says: “ The ueaty of Versailles is a great 'nstrument cf human liberty sanctified by the blood of Elions of upright men. ” The Daily News says The Way to make ultimate catastrophe jjtain is to badger, torment, blackmail, and invade Gernnny, Russ‘° 1 » ostrac * se ' anc * bully The Daily Express says: “ Mr Ttoyd George’s views embody . ®'opinions of all the most sane ttnd far-seeing of his country men. ”

The Daily Telegraph says : “ It s a terrible utterance to come ro }h a statesman at the centre ‘international affairs, who has Deen feeling the pulse of O-ir 9omtnon civilisation. Will anv--one declare he is wrong ? ” RUMOURS THAT CONFERENCE MAY FAIL Rec April 29, 8,45 a.m London, April 28 . ‘j 1 ® Australian Press Associa- * boas Genoa correspondent says mere is an [indefinable sense of depression in conference circles, a ccentuated by the delay in pre Paring the Allied note to the Soviet, coupled with M. PoinWres attitude regarding the at Versailles, while the signatories’ active propaganda ••tnong the various delegations u,Ses confused issues. There

are many rumours that the conference is doomed to failure. The British delegates stoutly maintain that even without Russian and German co operation they will carry the conference to a conclusion. In view of the difficulties with the Soviet it is noteworthy that the Allies are pressing on the draft of the pact for peace whatever the outcome of the economic situation may be.