EUROPEAN PAST

Evening Star, Issue 17954, 27 April 1922, Page 6

EUROPEAN PAST

LLOYD GEORGE’S PROPOSAL. OZECHO-SIiOVAKIA GOES FURTHER. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. GENOA, April 26. Mr Lloyd George submitted the draft of a pact which is patterned on tho lines of the Pacific Treaty. Tho preamble emphasises the necessity for maintaining European peace by general disarmament. Article 1 pledged tho Powers to abstain from aggression towards each other and to consult‘each other if European peace is threatened. , The Prime Minister of O.eoho-Slovakm (Dr Bencs) has drafted counter-proposals, including the foregoing, and providing m addition that the Powers associate locally and arrange to enforce the maintenance of treaties. The proposals assert that European peace cannot be formally concluded at the Genoa Conference, which is only 1 empowered to submit recommendations to | the participating Governments ; secondly* that tho signature to a general European pact will not precede the conclusion of local pacts; and, finally, that tho 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. —A. and N.Z, Cable. POINCARE’S DECLARATION. FRANCE SUSPICIOUS. HOSTILE PRESS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE. GENOA, April 25. M. Poincare’s speech is regarded as a serious declaration, especially as it was made without consultation with the Allies. All that M. Poincare said about co-opera-tion with the Allies is cordially endorsed by the British Government. The only comment of moment is that the French declaration that they will take action in certain eventualities whether the Allies act or pot is an odd way of showing cooperation. French opinion is anxious over the Russo-German Agreement, and that ia reacting on the Genoa Conference. French opinion is apparently convinced that the agreement is the outcome of the Genoa 1 Conference, and that feeling is being fostered by mis-statements in the French and English Press, which indicate that Britain is negotiating with Russia without consulting France. The ‘ Morning Post’s ’ Genoa correspondent points out that M. Poincare's speech is really a reply to Mr Lloyd George’s threat on Saturday, when ho told M. Barthou that if the crisis were continued lie would tell the British Empire who was responsible. M. Poincare retorted that Franco would resume her liberty of action. Tho ‘Morning Post’ continues: “The truth is that the class interests of Genoa prevent any real agreement and co-opera-tion 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 l N.Z. Cable. RESENTMENT IN GERMANY. INTENSE FEELING AROUSED. BERLIN, April 26. (Received- April 27, at 9.15 a.m.; M. Poincare’s speech, which was delivered at Bar-Le-Duc, has evoked intense bitterness. Tho Press which represents the Right Party, which has observed- a truce since the Genoa Conference, is now rabidly Nationalist and anti-French. Tho ‘ Kreur. Zeit-ung ’ heads a loading article ‘ Poincare’s Declaration of 'War,’ and predicts that French troops will occupy Rhineland on May 31. Germany, it cays, is unable to offer military resistance, but she can practise passive resistance. Tho paper advises tho Government to pay up the sums which are duo for reparations,— A. and N.Z. Cable. POINCARE INTERPRETED. PARIS, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.25 a.m.) Tho ‘Petit Parisien ’ says: “Even assuming the worst, it is evident that M. Poincare docs not intend Franco to act alone when ho declares that Franco alone would have the right to take action. He has too much confidence- in the good sense of the Allies, and more particularly in tho loyalty of Great Britain and of the British Government, to believe that he would have to enforce his strict rights. The French Government, while fully determined to exorcise its rights to the full, does not intend to exceed the limits laid down. The Government’s decision will follow those of the Reparations Commission, which would bo regulated by the acts of the German Government for the period ending May 31.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. HOSTILITY TO LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, April 26. The ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ insists that Mr Lloyd* George’s work is being made harder by some of bis countrymen, who, apparently from motives of personal vendetta, are giving eager currency to every slander invented! at his expense.—A. • and N.Z. Cable. RUSSIA’S POSITION. GENOA, April 25. The meeting of experts produced another hitch. The Russians presented- seven points in answer to the London experts’ report. The meeting adjourned, ns tho Russian views expressed* in elucidating tho points were regarded as inadmissible. Tho experts are now' drafting a report regarding the Russian views.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, April 26. Students of international politics aro questioning whether tide Genoa Conference will become a crisis or whether it will bo proof against tho latest exhibition of Russian tactlessness.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The latest Genoa telegrams slate that Mr Lloyd George and- M. Barthou agree that tho Franco-British viewpoint is not to launch loans in favor of Russia, but to arrange a scheme by which individual companies will provide Russia, with funds on guarantees granted by the Soviet, M. Tchitchcrin addressed a violent protest to Poland, declaring that she hadforfeited all right of participation in the discussion of Russian affairs, because she had joined* the Allies in the protest against tho Rapa Ho Treaty, thus violating Poland’s treaty with Russia.—A. and- N.Z. Cable. EXPERTS CONSIDERING CLAIMS. GENOA, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) The Russian situation is still not dear. Tho Russians asked that the bank balances in tho various countries during tho Tsarist regime .should bo surrendered, but this demand is countered by tho fact that tho Soviet has not restored private property hold under the old regime. The position at present is that the Experts Committee is preparing a voluminous proecs verbal of the meeting at which the Russian claims and offers will* be discussed. These minntds will require to bo signed by those who are engaged on the discussion before work is resumed. Tho proccs verbal deals with questions 1 to 7 of tho London experts’ report.—A. and N.Z. Cable. POLAND ENTERS. ASSERTION AND DENIAL. GENOA, April 26, (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) Tho Russians take the view that if the Germans aro excluded from the first Commission tho Poles should similarly be excluded, because they concluded an agreement with Russia more wide-reach-ing than the Russo-German agreement. In no circumstances wall tho Russians permit any third Power to interfere with their ■ treaties*

The Poles deny the Russian allegation, 1 declaring that what they signed at Elga was merely a protocol which declared the do jure recognition of the Soviet was desirable,, but nothing so far had been done to give effect to it.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PRIVATE PROPERTY DIFFICULTY. GENOA, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) There are grave misgivings whether the question of private property can be overcome. It cuts clean across the Russian policy of nationalisation. If a modus vivondi on this point can be reached the rest of conference’s work will bo fairly easy.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TOHITOHERIN EXPLAINS RUSSIAN • VIEWPOINT. PARIS, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) M. Tchitchcrin, interviewed, said that a general agreement as envisaged at the beginning of the conference was no longer possible. The obstacle was Russia’s fundamental principles regarding the non-ex-istence of private properly. The chief object of' the Genoa Conference was the establishment of an international regime permitting co-opcration with Russia _ end ] other countries. For that recipro- ■ cal abstention from interference in international affairs was indispensable, tin- 1 fortunately the States desired to impose measures which in Russia would be entirely contrary to their legislation. Russia was not disposed to sign with cadi . nation at Genoa an agreement similar to _ the Eapallo Treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ; AN ALLIED ULTIMATUM. GENOA, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) . The Allied Note to ho presented to the Russians to-morrow'is practically an ulti- ■ matum demanding unequivocal replies to ; the four principal Rowers regarding, i firstly, the payment of war either entirely or with a r«lnctimi based on Russia’s capacity to pay; secondly, the payment of pre-war debts with the granting of a necessary and reasonable moratorium; thirdly, an indemnity for all damages caused to foreigners; fourthly, restitution of confiscated property. The Allies are drawing up other points. : An endeavor will he made to force Rus- i eia to reply at the earliest possible mo- i merit in order to close the conference oc- i fore May 10. The Political Committee is the only one which has not finished its work._ All the others have practically terminated ; theirs by enlarging the decisions taken by previous conferences and leaving t the League of Nations to put them into ctlect. —A. and N.Z. Cable. TRANSPORT QUESTIONS. GENOA, April 25. Toe sub-committee on land l and water transport has completed its work. It endorsed the principles of the Barcelona, and Ponterosa Conferences, and recommends that the latter bo made applicable to all European Powers; also that the railway experts of Europe bo summoned to coordinate and improve international traffic, and that the League of Nations be_ asked to keep an eye on the political of the conference’s operations.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA STILL KEEPS OUT. WASHINGTON, April 26 The Government has not changed' its attitude of friendly in the Genoa arrangements, —A. and N.Z. Cable. MR LLOYD GEORGE. GENOA, April 26. (Received April 27, at 10.30 a.m.) The rumors that Mr Lloyd George _is returning to England are untrue. He intends to remain until the political aspect of the conference is settled one way or the. other and a definite basis established.A. and N.Z. Cable. NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION, LONDON, April 26. (Received April 27, at 9.65 a.m.) The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent says that some, of the French and Italian papers publish what purports to he the. text of Mr Lloyd George’s pact of peace; but the document does not come from the British delegation, and docs not represent their views. A rough draft of flic pact has been prepared and submitted 1 to several heads of the delegations, who have approved' of it in principle.—A. and N.Z. Cable.