FRENCH ATTITUDE

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4577, 1 May 1922, Page 2

FRENCH ATTITUDE

AT THE GENOA CONFERENCE. -CONDEMNED BY GARVIN. AFFECTING FRANCO-BRITISH ENTENTE. (By Electric Cable—Copyright.) Anst. anu N.Z. Caolo Association.; London, April 28. Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in the Observer, says: "It is intolerable that M. Poincare should meddle with the Genoa Conference without belonging to it." If ho had been living in the atmosphere of Genoa for 2-1 hours, Mr Garvin declares M. Poincare would have been incapable of the speech recently made by him. "Not a single country, whether Ally or neutral,," he continues, "approved of the ultimatum in that speech. it ignored the overwhelming weight ot sane opinion throughout the world that the inherent issue of this Conference is, that cither there shall lie the beginning of a new Europe, or whether there shall be an end of the entente between Britain and Franco. It is high time to show that this is the British Empire's irrevocable policy—either M. Poincare's ultimatum must bo stultified, which will mean his political exit or the entente must end or the reparations must bo discussed from top to bottom." REFLECTING LLOYD GEORGE'S VIEWS. London, April 29. Mr Garvin's despatches from Genoa continue to oxprcss whole-hearted irritation at the French attitude. His opinions are important as likely to be reflecting the feelings of Mr Lloyd George, Mr Garvin being admittedly one of the Prime Minister's soundest supporters. POINCARE THE KAISER OF OF PEACE. Mr Garvin, after paying tribute to Mr Lloyd George's work at Genoa, declares Paris a greater danger than Moscow in seeking to kill the spirit of the Cannes resolution, and proceeds: "Paris does not work genuinely for the restoration of Europe, but dreads it. M. Poincare clings to the formula of Allied domination which means French domination, but he will keep neither to the Conference nor keep out. For instance, the Note in answer to the Russia proposals, which was intended to end the maddening procrastination and evasiveness of the Bolsheviks, was thoroughly approved by Italy and others, but was again subjected to the veto of Paris, which instructed M. Barthou to submit a counter-draft. Once more, M. Poincare has treated the French delegation like puppets -to be jerked by wires. He has harassed the Conference like a man in ambush and he does not want Genoa to succeed. He always gives most trouble when it is most likelv to succeed. He is undoubtedly divided between a strong desire to break up the Conference and anxious dread of the consequences. He is the Kaiser of Peace, and may be fatal to Europe."

M. BARTHOU. Genoa, April 28. M. Barthou has returned to Paris to confer with M. Poincare. This action is reported to be due to differences with M. Poincare, who insists that M, Barthou must stick to Ins instructions. ■ M. Barthou demanded to be recalled, to enable him to explain his position to the Chamber of Deputies. It is by no means certain that he was recalled, as M. Poincare would fear to precipitate a Cabinet crisis. M. Barthou denies he is leaving the Conference and expects to be back at Genoa on "Wednesday. Meanwhile, his colleagues will carry on. Mr Lloyd George says he regrets even the temporary absence, of the head of the French delegation.

BRITISH LABOUR. SUPPORTS LLOYD GEORGE. Rome, April 28. Mr Thomas, a Labour member of tho British Parliament, interviewed, said tho British public supported Mr Llovd George's attitude at Genoa, It grows tired of the /French Government's attitude, which, seemingly, is aiming at breaking up the Conference from which tho world awaited the most important results. SIGNOR FACTA. BELIEVES THE CONFERENCE WILL SUCCEED. Rome, April 28. Milan reports stato that Signor Facta, paying a flying visit to Pinerolo, his birthplace, said he still believed the Conference would succeed. "We must not bo astonished at the violent antagonism and conflicts existing. They aro better fought out there than on the battlefields. They arise unexpectedly and eventually result in the clearing of the atmosphere. They must be overcome with resolution and perseverance, and as the Conference has overcome its earlier difficulties so it will these later ones.

ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION London, April 28.

The Australian Tress Association s Genoa correspondent states that the Economic Commission is holding a plenary session to consider its report to the Conference. Its recommendations are naturally drafted in the interests of European reconstruction, and some cut directly across Australian interests, while the majority' would considerably benefit the Australian export trade. Sir Joseph Cook did valuable work by securing the modifications of the preamble in the direction of obtaining an option tor overseas countries to accept only the portions suitable to their conditions. The Italians prepared a resolution on the question of the distribution ot raw materials.

ALLIED NOTE TO RUSSIA. The same correspondent says discussion on the French and British drafts of their Notes to the Soviet continues. It is understood there is very little difference between the two documents. Both make it clear that the Russians must accept the Cannes resolution as a whole, and not in part. TCHITCHERIN WANTS TO KNOW. Genoa. April 29. M. Tchitcherin has written to Signor Facta requesting a reason for the delav in summoning the first commission" and declaring if it is not convened and no reply received to the Russian letter of April 20 to Mr Lloyd George, accepting the conditions, he will be compelled to withdraw his offer. ALLIED OFFER TO RUSSIA.

London. April 28. Mr H. W. Steed, in a message from Genoa, savs it is no longer accurate to call the Allied doctflnent about to bo presented to the Bolsheviks an ultimatum. It appears now to be almost a draft convention, consisting of a preamble and outlining the assistance European states are prepared to give the Bolshevists, such as export faculties, credits and the restoration ot railways* and maritime communications. The Bolshevists are asked to recognise Russia's public debt, to compensate for damages suffered by foreigners and the return of private properties to its'former owners, also the reduction, not the cancellation, of war debts. "The crucial question is: Will the Bolshevists accept? Eer-i haps they are bluffing, but at present the chances are against their accepting- . i • "Herr Wirth, last evening, eulogised the Russo-Gorman Treaty and said it was a model areement for the proletariat of the whole world." ■ ■M. Tchitcherin applauded it as the first treaty in history drawn up in the evangelical spirit. The Allies' Note is not yet , completed, but the .preamble was issued this evening. Tt states the Allies have given profound consideration to the condition of Russia, and that they sincerely desire the establishment of friendly relations amongst European nations, amongst whom Russia might take her place. They recognise Rus-

sia's resources have been drained during the past eight years, and that misery, famine and privation would continue to constitute a plague spot of increasing menace to the European system. The Powers are anxious to avert such a fate falling upon Russia, but her reconstruction is impossible without the assistance of western capital. When nationals of other countreis aro guaranteed safety in doing business, they will hasten to her assistance. Her- economic resources are paralysed, but not destroyed, and industrial Europe Can furnish her requirements as soon as guarantees are forthcoming and her debts recognised. Several countries arc prepared to form a consortium providing an initial capital of twenty millions, while others are prepared to finance their nationals in Russia. The British Government would make use of the Trade Facilities and Export Credit Acts. France is unable to provide financial help, but is prepared to join in the consortium, also to supply seed and agricultural and other machinery, with trained workers. Italy will take up 20 per cent of the consortium capital, and assist in agricultural organisation. Japan will grant a credit of eight million yen to the Russian Trading Company, and Belgium will contribute : two hundred and fifty million francs to assist export trade, and will also subscribe 20 per cent of the consortium capital and help private mining and other enterprises. Only two articles of the Note are completed, and it is not likely to lie handed to the Russians before the end of the week. The first article deals with propaganda. It has been decided that the Soviet must refrain from propaganda, both socially and territorially, and must clearly understand there .'must be no agitation against do facto frontiers established under existing treaties. * The second article deals with, the method of writing down debts. If was suggested that the writing down should be done either by an International Court of Justice under the League, of Nations, or by the American Supreme Court. The question, was referred to the legal experts committee. London. April 29. The Australian Press correspondent at Genoa states that Signor BrattanO' was responsible." for securing the -references to frontiers in article one. Mr Llovd George, while expressing himself as in full accord with the Rumanians' claim to Bessarabia, thought such disturbing questions as frontiers should be excluded from the text of the Note and dealt with in a pact, against aggression. Neutral countries abstained from voting on the point, but the Little Entente is extremely nervous as a result of the Russo-Germati agreement. There has been much discussion over the article in the Note dealing with private, properties and efforts are being made to devise a formula which, while not hurting the sensitiveness of the Bolsheviks, will give the Allies the guarantees they require.