RUSSIAN ROCK SPLITS THE ALLIES

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1922, Page 5

RUSSIAN ROCK SPLITS THE ALLIES

CONFERENCE EXPECTED TO STOP THIS WEEK. CONFERENCE ONLY PLOUGHING THE SANDS. RUSSIA NOT TO BE BROWBEATEN. Genoa Conference, without any agreement, is cxepected to adjourn shortly. The Russian reply is alleged to be a deadlock, except that a suggestion for committees to inquire into Russia’s position is favouring Britain in preference to a break. France’s Genoa attitude is still bitterly criticised by British commentators. Sydney engineers and other unions are concerting measures to combat wage-cuts. N.Z. Labour organisations want to know if food prices are to be reduced in acordance with wage-cuts. The Australian naval policy provides for reductions in bcfih the Army and Navy. The British Admiralty is sacking over 1800 naval officers. Mr Michael Collins has informed Irish Protestants that t he Free State Government does not wish them to leave, and will leave no stone unturned to protect them. London importers mostly oppose a New Zealand dairy produce pool. King George is visiting French battlefields, and there was a historic scene when Marshalls Foch and Haig explained the struggle to him there. It is reported that the Soviet Government has ransacked practically every Russian church for their gold, silver and other valuables. LONDON, May 12. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states: “The Russian reply has produced something akin to pessimism at the conference. Tt is now felt that the Genoa < conference has outlived its usefulness, and that the effort that is suggested by the British to endeavour t osecure a truce is merely an attempt to prevent the conference from being an entire failure. The Russians have made the suggestion that foreign capitalists have not hesitated to invest capital in Russia. This encourages Russia in the belief that when the (lenoa ('(inference terminates, whatever its result, there are groups of foreign financiers and commercial men only waiting to exploit Russia's resources. This, together with the agreements Russia has made with Germany and with others, fortifies her against the demands of the Allied politicals. If a truce can be accomplished, the Genoa Conference probably will adjourn, and reassemble at L some future date, at a place not yet named. It is understood that France has no objection to a truce, but she may raise the question of sanctions to make it effective.

BRITISH ATTEMPT TO AVOID A DEADLOCK LONDON, May 12. The Australian Press Association's Genoa correspondent states: The British Empire delegation, after an e/amination of the documents considers that while Russia's reply is stupid from the point of view of Russia's interests, of being a propagandist statement instead of one of practical value, the reply yet affords grounds for 1 he (lenoa ('onference to continue to work for the peace of Europe. Undoubtedly, so far as help to Russia is concerned, the document will delay it, and it makes it more difficult. The British delegation is quite prepared io refer the questions of Russian credits, debts, and private property to mixed commissions to study the matter in detail. ’That seems a practical method of carrying on a study of the Russian problem, although entailing a longer delay. Then, it it is thought necessary, the other great question of peace can be gone into satisfactorily. To make a break (»n the Russian documents, it is claimed, woud mean that a of the border States round Russia would be exposed to the danger of war, and European peace might, again be fundamentally disturbed. Russia declares her readiness to enter a peace pact. It is considered that there must be a definite guarantee against Russian propaganda and aggression while the commissions on Russian problems are sitting, and that this must he reciprocal on 1 lie part of all the nations. ’The. British delegation also thinks that while a peace pact cannot be established for a definite period, until frontiers are settled it will propose a truce on the existing de facto frontiers. It is believed there will be a good fortnight's work ahead to bring about such a, result.

A DEBATE ON THE RUSSIAN QUESTION. GENOA, May 13. The First ( ommission had a long and serious debate on Russia. Mr Lloyd George said the Russian answer was a provoking and an unsatisfactory one, which was typical of a diplomacy which always introduced argumentative documents al times when they really were trying to do business. However, in its substrjace there was room io come to some arrangement. Everyone had a difference with public opinion, and it was not right for another statesman to criticise them too severely. To break on the Russian document would he very serious tor Europe and Asia. If they sent the Russian delegates back to a great population in the.grip of famine and pestilence, they would feel that 11k; door of hope was shut on them with a clang. No one could doubt but that fierce, resentment would ensue, which would be a menace not only to

Russia, but to the peace of the world. He was certain the Russians felt a need of credits, and the new conditions on which they could be obtained. He begged the people to regard the position from a practical standpoint and not to make the most of the clash of principles as between the two antagonistic systems. He therefore, proposed that they should, in reply to the Russians accept the suggested mixed commission or commissions which would deal with the three questions of private property debts and credits. It was essential that these commissions should be ; mixed. Another meeting of the London Allied Experts would be a waste of time. One thing, however, was essen--I.i/d. A commission could not work in an atmosphere of menace and semi-hostility while armies were threatening frontiers, and propaganda rife. He thus proposed a truce on the basis of the de facto existing frontiers, with a cessation of propaganda on everyone’s part. Finally he proposed that A SHARP NOTE should be sent in reply to the'Russians’ Note, which needed an answer. M. Barthou said that, acting on his instructions from Paris, he was unable to discuss the reply to the document sent to Russia, which was one that they had not joined in sending. Speaking on Mr Lloyd George’s proposals he said that with regard to the suggested commissions the conference had already been discussing for five weeks the question which these commissions were to investigate, without its making progress. The Russian reply had disowned the Allies’ Cannes condition. The French delegation had done what it could to reach a decision. He did not think a commission could achieve any result. It simply meant starting the Genoa Conference over again in another form! ILe reserved the right to consider whether a commission, if not appointed by the ('onference might not later be appointed by the respective Governments, always provided that the Russians were not represented on these commissions, which should be confined to the Allies and neutrals, and perhaps America. France he said could not accept Russian representation. Ile saw a grave menace in the proposed truce, inasmuch as that propaganda would continue. Signor Schanzer (Italy) said that he was not prepared to take the responsibility of saying the Powers should abandon efforts at peace. After only five weeks’ work, they should not refuse Mr Lloyd George’s practical proposals. The danger of a rupture was very great. The gravest of all was a parting on the Russian Note by disunion on what was after all, a matter of procedure. In regard to the goal they wished to attain, it would lie a terrible disillusionment if the conference broke on a flimsy issue like this. He appealed to M. Barthou to reconsider his view. The commission adjourned for a few hours to sec whether better counsels would prevail. END OF THE CONFERENCE IN A FEW DAYS. CHRONICLER’S WRATH OVER POINCARE (Received May 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. Ain Garvin, the London “Observer's'' Genoa, correspont says: “The final decision was expected some days ago. but it was postponed, by shuffling, for a few days more. The conference will be over next week! It may finished soon in quiet agreement, on Thursday in an open sitting, with utterances which will resound through Europe. M. Barthou returned from Paris with a double ultimatum from M. Poincare, framed to shatter the conference. M. Poincare practically issued orders to the conference of 30 nations in general and Mr Lloyd George in particular. At first M. Barthou was instrij-ted to support Belgium unconditionally on a pedantic and useless property clause. This clause was one framed regardless o+i the practical interests of British commerce and British employment, which few of our neighbours understand and fewer still consider. The reason is that Brussels in this matter, was a willing mouthpiece of Paris itself. ’The second ultimatum was worse. His Majesty, the French. Premier, would not meet Lloyd George and the other signatories to the Treaty of Versailles to discuss, before May 31, wl’jit will happen thereafter, in the expected case of A GERMAN DEFAULT. “Never in the record of modern ententes and alliances has the Premier of any one country been treated with more peremptory disregard by the Premier of another. Mr Lloyd George —to secure the attendance of the French delegation at Genoa, and to keep it there —made concession after concession and consented to the exclusion of forbidden subjects from the formal proceedings, though a revision both of disarmament and of reparations were bound to be vital matters for debate at all the private meetings. By this eu.mula--1 ive persistence in a course of dictation Premier Poincare, of his own initiative, lias killed the Entente. Mr Lloyd George spoke to M. Barthou and to other French .representatives, but it is an egregious and futile falsehood to say that he threatened that Britain would not only dissolve the Entente, but. would seek an anti-French connection ■with the other Powers. What Mr Lloyd George said was that Al. Poincare showed not the remotest knowledge of the British nation, and acted regardless of the honour and strength of Britain, or of those, interests in commerce the livelihood and existence of which concern its masses and classes alike. Mr Lloyd George did say that henceforth Britain would be with any Power for peace and with no Power that was against it. SYDNEY LABOUR UNITED AGAINST WAGE-CUTS (Received May 14, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY May 14. The general meeting of the engineers here yesterday Carrie I a. motion in favour of resisting any reduction in their wages, or any increase in their hours, vind also undertaking.to act in conjunction with all the other unions in their endeavour to combat any lowering of the workers’ standard of living. All the Sydney union leaders will meet on Monday to discuss new wage cuts.