PERILS OF CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17139, 19 April 1919, Page 10

PERILS OF CONFERENCE.

HALF THE WORLD IN CHAOS MEDLEY OF CENTRAL EUROPE RUSSIA A COMPLEX PROBLEM. deceived 1.40 'A. Md N.Z.—Renter, LONDON, April 18. Mr. Lloyd George, addressing the House of Commons, said as it provided machinery {or rectifying mistakes the League of tions, instead of wasting had saved time. They had to shorten their labours because while trying to build they bad seen in many lands the foundations of society tumbling into dust. No body of men had worked harder or more harmoniously. The journey was not ended. It was full of perils for all lands. The Premier referred to tlio intrinsic difficulties of dealing with the problems of a multitude of nations. He believed the difficulties were surmounted. Thcro were questions never heard of which almost imperilled peace, while they were sitting in Paris. One question never heard of before the war" nearly produced a conflict between two allied States. The Balkans had created an atmosphere of unrest from which the war arose, and one of the features of the present situation was that, owing to the break up of the great empires, Central Europe had been "Balkaniscd" into small States. Care must bo taken lest the causes of future unrest should be created by the settlement now being made, The Russian situation furnished opo of the most complex problems ever dealt with by any body of men. There was no Russia, no organisation controlling Central Russia. There was not oven a do facto Government, for the whole of Russia presented a spectacle of a vast country in chaos, confusion and anarchy. TJje best they could do was to provide security for those dwelling on the most accessible slopes of this volcano, aiftd arrest tho devastating flow of lava so as not to scorch other lands. There was no question of recognition. It was never proposed or discussed, because no Government represented the whole of Russia, and because the Bolshevik Government committed crimes against allied subjects which made it impossible to recognise it even in other circumstances, and because at this moment the Bolsheviks were attacking our friends in Russia. . Regarding the proposal for military intervention, the Premier declared it was a sound fundamental principle of our foreign policy never to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, however badly governed. Notwithstanding the state of British feeling, the difficulties of a military enterprise into Russia were immense Even if a military conquest were 'possible, political and practical difficulties remained. He was horrified at the Bolshevik teachings, but® would rather leave Russia Bolshevik until she saw what Bolshevism was doing, than he would see Britain bankrupted. by costly military intervention. ***** y