TREATIES WITH RUSSIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 399, 17 May 1922, Page 5

TREATIES WITH RUSSIA.

GREAT RUSH EXPECTED.

POWERS NOW NEGOTIATING.;

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received May 17, 12.30-p.m. LONDON, May 16. The Daily Mail’s Genoa correspondent says that the sub-commission has decided that the pledge required from the States represented at The Hague Conference, not to conclude arrangements with Russia, during the life of the conference, shall not apply to treaties already being negotiated, but will only forbid now treaties. This follows on I lie Japanese official confirmation that they are negotiating for a separate treaty with Moscow, including, as well as economic clauses, a political clause regarding the evacuation of Siberia. Italy, Sweden and Czeclio-Slovakia are also about to conclude economic treaties with Russia. The correspondent adds: “Everybody believes that immediately the Genoa Conference ends there will be a. Klondike gold rush of big commercial interests to secure concessions from the Moscow Government,” Mr Lloyd George, when asked if there was anything in the pledges made by the nations attending The Hague Conference to prevent this, replied; “No power on earth can prevent negotiations with private persons.”—United Service, COMMISSIONS EXPLAINED. COMING MEETING AT THE HAGUE. LONDON, May 15. Mr Lloyd George, addressing (he AngloAmerican journalists, said the Allied and Russian commissions would sit at the same table and discuss the proposals,' but there naturally would be occasions when each wotdd sit separately. It was not his intention personally to attend The. Hague, and (he Allied panel would probably be confined to experts only. Ho hud banded (lie proposals to (he American Ambassador, with an invitation to America to participate in the Hague Conference. He would decide on his own line of, action without laying down principles for (he panel, which would explore the whole question. The current negotiations between European .States and Russia would not be interrupted, but: new agreements would be barred, although there was no power to prevent: individuals from making agreements. If (ho Russians refused the present proposals matters would bo at an end. Later, at a silling of the sub-commission, M. Burthon. protested against two commission;: sitting instead of a mixed one, first submit ting the protest to the sub-commis-sion. M. Tchitchei'in’s statement, ho said, was based on an entire misconception. There was no idea of excluding the Russians. They would be invited to The Hague on a fooling of equality. The object; of iho Allies’ meeting was first purely preliminary, while the bar against making agreements applied to countries other limn Russia. The sub-commission lias decided to invite (ho Russians to attend to-iborrow's meeting. M. Barihou, intimated that, the French would not attend as they had not approved of iho original memorandum. M. Gasper intimated that the Belgian altitude was similar’. Other Genoa reports state that. Mr Lloyd George declared that if the Russians agreed to Tlie Hague Conference it would be a prolongation of that at Genoa. If they did not the conference would be finished. Mr Lloyd George and Signor Schanzer clearly pointed out that the Russians arc free to continue the negotiations already commenced for agreements with Sweden, Japan, and Czechoslovakia, but the Allies will not sign or make any further agreements.

Although AL Barihon will not attend tomorrow, he has undertaken that if Russia accepts The Hague scheme, ho will recommend Paris to adopt the proposals. M. Rakowski, on being interviewed, said the Russians would protest against a separate commission. The embargo on separate agreements was equivalent to a new blockade, but it would be accepted with the other proposals. The Russians would endeavour to change the venue from The Hague to Riga or Stockholm.—-A. and N.Z. cable,

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON’, May 15. “Unless some phase of the situation, not now visible, changes the whole aspect of things, America will not accept the invitation to attend The Hague Conference,” says the Washington Journal. One of the leading Administration officials •says:—“Mr Lloyd George is in a hole and is trying to drag us with him. About; all Europe wants is our money.” Apart from motives, the view is emphasised that any such conference must he a failure unless Russia shows a disposition to change. The attitude of recent Soviet Notes at Genoa and other Moscow pronouncements are not regarded here as affording sufficient basis for dealing with the Soviet. Generally speaking, cables inviting America to participate are received with no enthusiasm. Officials believe Franco has played the shrewdest game at Genoa. —A. and N.Z. cable.

THE GERMAN IDEAL, BERLIN, May 15. The German public is asking where lies the guarantee that The Hague Conference will he more successful than that at Genoa, which has taken live weeks of confabulation and intrigue to produce the Russo-Gcr-muu Treaty. The Courier says the most important result of the Genoa Conference is the fact that; the second conference suggests as a logical result a permanent conlerence, which will eventually be converted into a world parliament. This idea, first; expressed by Herr Ebert at Leipzig Fair in March, is becoming the new ideal of the modern German politician.—A. and N.Z. cable.