GENOA CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17401, 11 March 1922, Page 11

GENOA CONFERENCE.

AMERICA'S NON-PARTICIPATION.

PEE S3 CRITICISM OP SECRETARY OF STATE. IBr Cable—Press Association—Copyriffht.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 10th. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YOR.R March 9.

The newspapers bitterly attack Mr C. E. Hughes, Secretary of State, for his reply refusing the invitation to the United States to attend tho Genoa Conference.

The "New York Evening Tost" says the real reason for the reply "is not France, and German reparations, but Senators Johnson and Borah and Lenin and Moscow." B

The "Post" insists that without tho reparations question Genoa could be a real economic Conference. Tho "-Globe'' refers to "Our befuddled European policy,'' and adds: "The reply shows that America is unwilling to apply to Europe same of ;the principles she is willing tp agply to the Pacific." The "New York World says that in advancing ns his chief reason for refusing the invitation, that Europe has been doing little or nothing to remedy the ravftg.es of the war and insure the stability of its economic life, "Mr Hughes makes his refusal anything but rational, and nothing so much as offensively impudent."

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE

A WATCHING 1 BREBi". (Received March lOthj 10.10 P-m.) ! WASHINGTON. Match 10. While the United States will not participate officially ill the Genoa Conference, it is likely that Mr Richard Washborn, American Ambassador to Italy, will attend as nn official observer. It is pointed out that the StntG Department's Note was not intended to , preclude American participation in any eifort to adjust the economic and financial conditions of Europe. The tJnited States considered tho exclusion of Gorman reparations from the agenda of the Conference was a bar to its participation. The Government believes that a period of tactful pressure is necessary' before Europe realises there can bo no solution of European problems until certain fundamental questions are faced.