RECONSTRUCTION IN EUROPE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 7

RECONSTRUCTION IN EUROPE.

GENOA CONFERENCE OPENS. MR LLOYD GEORGE'S GREAT SPEECH. PRANCE OPPOSES DISARMAMENT. (B~ Cable—Press Atsociation—Copymht.C {Australian and X.Z Cable Aseociatioa.) GEXOA, April 10. Signer Facta, Prime Minister of Italy, in opening the conference, said the psychological, political, social, and economic effects of the world war had completely destroyed financial and economic conditions. The fundamental reason for the economic chaos was lack of confidence, which must he restored before normal conditions could be attained. They had not assembled as friends and enemies, as victors and vanquished, but as men of all nations striving for the attainment of a lofty ideal. The Pacific cloud had already disappeared as a result of the Washington Conference. They must work for the peace of Europe in the same sincere spirit as inspired the Washington deliberations. He concluded with an appeal for equity, justice, and solidarity among the nations. Though Mr Lloyd George occasionally seemed to be a tired man, his speech was a great effort, recalling that delivered by him at Paris after his return from Rapallo in 1917. Mr Lloyd George, fighting with the zeal of a Crusader, electrified the Conference, which was held in the Palace of Saint George in a square hall about the size of the chamber of the House of Commons, with limewashed walls and life-sized statues in niches. The newspaper men were crowded in a gallery at the hack of the hall. The delegates sat at tables arranged in the form of a double horseshoe.

Mr Lloyd George's best point was his reference to snarling, which was delivered with much forcefillness. Ine sensation of the session was the encounter between M. Tchitcherin (Russia) and M. Barthou (France). Directly the Russian delegate suggested disarmament, M. Barthou jumped up and declared that France absolutely and categorically refused to discuss disarmament. Mir Lloyd George intervened, but M. Barthou again became angry when Mr Lloyd George said disarmament must ultimately be discussed. M. Tchitcherin reminded M. Barthou that M. Briand discussed disarmament at Washington. M. Barthou retorted that the Cannes agreement was that disarmament should not be discussed at Genoa. Real Peace the First Need.

Mr Lloyd George, in his speech, said:—"This is the greatest gathering of European nations which has ever assembled. The results will be farreaching upon the destiny of the world. We meet on equal terms, provi.led we accept equal conditions. These laid down at Cannes are honourable in themselves, and essential to amy intercourse between nations. We fully accept them ourselves, and they are the only conditions upon which we can consent to deal with others."' After detailing the conditions Mr Lloyd 'George went on as follows:—"Europe, ej&austed with its 'fury and with the loss of blood and treasure, is stagger ing under tho colossal burdens of debt and reparation which the war entailed, and legitimate trade and industry are everywhere disorganised and depressed.'' There was unemployment in the West and pestilence in the East. The first need of Europe was a real peace. Unless peace and goodwill amongst nations were established, all discussions would bo of no avail. "If we act together in the same spirit we shall succeed, not in the spirit of a greedy vigilance, but with a common desire to restore the world to its normal condition of health and vigour. We must licit roll boulders in front of the plough. Let us think more of what we can accomplish than of what we can restrict." Snarling in Europe. Mr Lloyd George concluded: "It is good to study currency, exchange, transport, and credit, but if real peace becomes tho issue of this conference all those will be added unto you. It is true that actual fighting has ceased, bui snarling goes on. Europe is deafened by a canine clamour. It is not dignified. It rattles the nerves of a nerve-ruined continent. We can only make a real contribution towards the restoration of Europe if this Conference can stop the snarling. I regret America is not represented, but if we can set things right, America will come in gladly. If we fail, a sense ot despair will sweep over the world, lr we succeed a ray of confidence will illuminate gloom bringing life to the spirit of mankind." France's "Loyal Co-operation." Following Mr Lloyd George, M. Barthou eaid: "I bring to this vomeii eitce tho loyal co-operation of trance. We are here for action. Wo do not disguise the difficulties of our task, but faith alone will save world. France claims no hegemony. The war Jms cost her too much. She is wholly and resolutely for peace." M. Barthou concluded: -'Genoa will not be a Court of Appeal where existing Treaties are judged and revised." Russia's Special-Plan. M. Tchitcherin (Russia), following M Barthou, said the Russian delegates did not desire to make propaganda, but to collaborate. They accepted the principle of the Cannes resolutions, noting their reciprocity. Russia":? economic proposals might even exceed those of Cannes. Russia was ready to disarm if assured against attack. "We haVe not come hero seeking Bolshevik ends, but loyal participation on a basis of reciprocity. We will introduce our own special plan for the reconstruction of Russia, and finally we will propose the calling of a universal conference, which will offer an even larger basis than the League ot Nations." . Trench and Russian Delegates Clash. M Barthou spoke a second time in rojply to M. Tchitcherin, repeating thnt : Franco would not permit the raising ol tho disarmament question. M. Tchitcherin theu attempted to dißcuss the question of the Ukraine, but Signor Facta declared the incident closed. M. Barthou. speaking with heat, eairt: "The incident cannot closo m ambiguity." Signor Facta, reolied: "There is no ambignitv. AH the delegates presenaccept the Cannes resolution as tne bariis of the Conference.' : . M. Barthou insisted on having tue las* word, and dramatically protested that the Russians had abandoned the Cannes resolutions.

Germany a Sick Country. Following M. Barthoirs first speech. I IV. Joseph Wirth (Germany), in .11 coil- ! dilatory address, said that Germany, s-ho was abiding lovallv bv tho Cannes resolutions, was one Af Europe's; sick countries, and had conic there to heal her wounds. Thoy would work loyally with the Conference. The world must abandon the spirit of distrust which was nmdering Germany's rccovcrv, botii economically and financially. " The leaders should alwavs have "the final word at the Conference. ""We promise our cc-opcratiou. That is all we can do." WORIIC OF CONFERENCE. POUR COMMISSIONS APPOINTED. GEXOA, April 10. The British and Dominions delegation met this morning, and arrived at a common understanding regarding the business of the Conference. In tho afternoon the Conference appointed four Commissions, to which have been separately allotted the following questions:— (1) The conditions of the Cannes resolution, tho Russian question, peace questions, and the general question of confidence among; the nations. (2) Finance, currencies and exchange. (3) Economic, commercial and tariff matters. (4) Transport. There will be a subsidiary Commission on legal questions. Each country will have a representative on each Commission.

GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

ATTITUDE OP FRENCH DELEGATES. GENOA, April 10. It is understood that Mr Lloyd George was greatly influenced by the preliminary conversation. The French delegates objected to treating with Germany and Russia on the same basis as tho other Powers. Mr Lloyd (Jeorge replied that the Conference was: not summoned in order to issue ultimatums. If Russia and Germany accepted the Cannes resolutions, they ought to go straight ahead with the work of tho Conference, which otherwise would be useless. The Japanese and Italian delegate's strongly supported Mr Lloyd George. It was agreed not to allow Germany to raise the reparations \question Cn the ground that the vanquished cannot appeal to the victors in the presence of neutrals. The general aspects of the reparations question will be discussed as affecting the economic position o* the world. GUARDING THE CONFERENCE. ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. (Received April 12th, a.m.) GENOA, April 11. The city is an armed camp, these surroundings to a conference with peaceful intent being mainly due to the presence of the Russians arid the fear that turbulent elements may demonstrate against the Soviet delegation. A large force of troops has been imported into city, together with a strong contingent of Carabinieri. An especially wide cordpn was drawn round the Palazzo San Giorgio, where the conference met. Small units of infantrymen, were stationed every twenty yards in all the streets converging on the palace, while cavalry patrols tra-| versed the streets, which were decorated with, the Italian colours, crowds thronged the streets, but there was little in tho ceremony for tho spectators, owing to the police precautions. Thirty countries are represented at the conference, and 500 journalists of all nationalities are present.