RECONSTRUCTION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 1 May 1922, Page 5

RECONSTRUCTION

» THE FRENCH ATTITUDE.

- ' **** ■ . i INDISCRETION OF M. POINCAEE.

POLICY OF BRITAIN

8* <ÜBLB—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

LONDON, April 29. Mr. J. L. Garvin's despateii.es from = Genoa continue to express wholejbearted irritation at the French attitude. His opinions are important, as Jikely to be reflecting the feelings of Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Garvin being admittedly one of the Prime Minister's roundest supporters. Mr. Garvin, after paying a tribute to Mr. Lloyd George's •work at Genoa, declares that Paris is -a danger than Moscow in seeking ito kill the spirit of the Cannes resolutions. He proceeds: "Paris does not work genuinely for the restoration of Europe. but dreads it. M. Poincare clings tf> the formula of Allied domination, which means French domination. He will either come to the conference nor .keep ■out. For instance, the note in answer to the Russian proposals, which' was intended to end the maddening procrastination and evasiveness of the Bolsheviks, was thoroughly approved by mtaly and others, but was again sul>jected 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. He does not want Genoa to succeed. Ho always gives mc#t trouble when it is most likely to succeed. He is undoubtedJy divided between a strong desire to break un the conference and an anxious dread of the consequences. He is the Kaiser of peace, and may be fatal to Europe.'* Mr. Garvin, writing in the Observer, says: "It is intolerable that M. Poincare should meddle with the Genoa Con_ ference without belonging to it." If he had been living in. the atmosphere of Genoa for twenty-four hours, Mr. Gar. "vin declares, M. Poincare would have been incapable~of his recent speech. He adds: "Not a single country, whether Allied or neutral, approved -of that ultimatum in that speech. It ignored the overwhelming weight of sane opinion throughout the world. The inherent issue of the conference is that either there shall be the beginning of a new Europe or there shall be the end of the entente between Britain and France. It is high time to .show that this is the British Empire's irrevocable 1 policy. Either M. Poincare's ultimatum must be stultified, which will mean his political exit, or the entente must end, - or reparations must be discussed from top to bottom.'' ROME, April 28. Milan reports state that Signor Facta (Premier oi^ Italy and president of .the Genoa Conference) is paying a flying Visit to Pinerolo, his birthplace. Interviewed, he said he still believed ±he conference would succeed. He ..added: "We must not be astonished at the violent antagonisms and conflicts .arising ; they are better fought out there than on the battlefields. They arise unexpectedly, and eventually result in <_, clearing the atmosphere. They must be overcome with resolution and perseverance. As the conference has overcome earlier difficulties, so it will later ones* GENOA, April 28. M. Barthou (France) has returned to Paris to confer with M. Poincare. This is reported to be due to differences .with M. Poincare, who insists that M. Barthou must stick to his 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 that he is leaving the conference. He expects to be back at Genoa ou Wednesday. Meanwliile iis colleagues will carry on. • Mr. Lloyd George says he regrets even the temporary absence of the head of the French delegation

LONDON, April 28. I The Australian Press Association's • Genoa correspondent states that fhe 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; some «ut directly across Australian interests, while the majority would directly benefit Australian export trade. Sir Joseph Cook did valuable work by securing tie modification of the preamble in the direction of obtaining an- option for overseas countries to accept only portions equitable to their conditions. The Italians have prepared a resolution on iihe question of the distribution of raw materials. I ROME. April 28. j Mr. J. H. Thomas, Labour member of the British Parliament, interviewed, said the British public supported Mr. \ Lloyd George's attitude at Genoa. It grows tired of the French Government's I attitude, which is seemingly aiming; at —^ "breaking up the conference, from which the world awaited most important results