BERN IMPUTATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11190, 21 April 1922, Page 5

BERN IMPUTATIONS

THE BRITISH DEFENCE

FIRM STAND BY THE PRIME MINISTER. PROCEEDINGS AT GENOA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 20, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 20. At Genoa, during :he * conversation between Herr Wirth, Dr Rathenau, and Mr Lloyd George, the latter said ho could not allow Dr Rathenau to make imputations against tho British deiega tion by saying they knew of the preparation of the treaty. An argument ensued, but Mr Lloyd George was firm. The Germans left very aepret: - ed to meet aud draft a reply by I'J o’clock oh Wednesday night." GERMAN-RUSSO TREATY LIKELY SERIOUS STUMBLING BLOCK. (Published in the “Times.”) LONDON, April 19. The “Times” special representative at Genoa says the view and attitude of the -neutrals make it uncertain as to hoW ithe voting at the plenary session would go on the R.usso-Ger-man Treaty. The position is full of delectable possibilities but the Germans are anxiously ruffled, insisting that (the only surprise sprung on the British delegation was the actual signing o! the treaty, and adds that the treaty is likely to he a serious stumbling" block in further proceedings. The Conference portion ot the Italian press is urging the Government to circumvent the obstacle by a similar separate treaty, with the Bolsheviks. otherwise Germany will modernise the reconstruction of Russia, and point out that previous RussoGerman agreements had already placed Germany in an especially favourable position. “A DAMNED LIE” MR LLOYD GEORGE ANG St.

hustralian and N.Z. Cabh Association. PARIS, April 19. The “Petit Parisien’s” Genoa cort-es-pondent interviewed Mr Lloyd George regarding the statement that he knew about the Russian agreement before it was signed. Mr Lloyd George replied“lt is a damned lie I” TERRIBLY ANXIOUS AFRAID OF! ALLIES COMING TO A DECISION. LONDON, April 19. The Australian Press Agency at Genoa reports that Herr Wirth and Dr. Rathenau obtained an interview with Mr Lloyd George to-day.. He pointed out that two courses were open to the Germans, either to withdraw the treaty or withdraw from the First Commission. He had no desire to humiliate the Germans, bat if they insisted in the Russian Treaty they could not partake in the First Cbnunission. It transpires that Dr. Rathenau sought to see Mr Lloyd George thrice last week and the latter replied that {he was not quite ready to see him. The Germans assert that they were terribly anxious about what was going on at Mr Lloyd George’s residence it being reported that the Allies were about to oomo to a decision. It is pointed out that the Germans coaid easily have sent a formal protest against the Germans’ exclusion.

NOTABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE MAY BREAK UP. LONDON April 19. The “Daily Mail’s” Genoa correspondent says that a notable development in the crisis is the rally of neutrals to Germany. M. Motto (Switzerland), and M. Bran ting (Sweden), on behalf of themselves and Denmark, Holland Norway, and Spain, formally requested the President of the Conference (Signor Facta) to summon speedily a meeting of the full Commission appointed to conduct the discussions with Russia before Mr Lloyd George suspended it and transferred its functions to a limited body at his villa. These neutrals state that they wish to prevent the Conference collapsing, but the real motive is indignation that a decree expelling Germany from the Russian discussions has been issued without consulting the nerntrals, who had been told that they were on an equal footing with the Allied Powers. A break-up of the Conference is still considered quite likely.

“PALTRY CHEATS”

MUCH LOST, AND NOTHING GAINED. LONDON, April 19. Colonel Repington, the “Daily Telegraph’s” special correspondent at Genoa, says that the Germans have lost much and gained nothing by the deal. They figure as paltry cheats, while their involved excuses are, specious, discordant, and unconvincing. Herr Wirth has not appeared throughout this scurvy trick, and it is impossible to believe such an estimable, straightforward character would not have eeen that the coup meant sacrificing a whole year’s success by a moment’s weak aberration. These things must be paid for. The best chance ot paying Frame and saving Germany, namely, the issue of an international loan, may now fail through want of subscribers. Even Amsterdam will not lend money to the Germans with which to arm their Bolshevik allies. NEUTRALS MEET UNITED STAND DECIDED ON. PARIS, April 19. The neutral delegates at Genoa held a hurried meeting on Tuesday night, and decided to take a united stand regarding Germany’s expulsion from the Russian Committee, their view being that the Powers had no right to punish

Germany. The Danish delegate took the initiative. Several Powers, including other than neutrals, are considering a joint protest against the Powers’ decision. Herr Wirth and Dr. Pa the. nau wish the matter put to a vote of the whole Conference.

THE POWERS’ NOTE GERMAN ACCUSATION OF DISLOYALTY. LONDON, April 19. Tbo Australian Prose A"genc3 - at Genoa says that Germany is preparing her reply to tho Powers’ Note. It Understands thao it is conciliatory in tone, and suggests that, owing to the exclusion of Germany from tho earlier conversations, she was entitled to sign the Treaty. Nevertheless, she is willing to continue to participate in the financial Commissions. One German delegate, who was interviewed, alleged that Dr llathenau's principal reason for concluding the agreement was his exclusion from the discussions at Mr Lloyd George’s residence, aud of which he merely received a daily summary. In this action lie considers that the other Powers were disloyal to Germany, especially as protests by M. Motta, Swiss delegate, were brushed aside. HEADY TO SUBMIT TREATY. GENOA, April 19. German circles state thait the German reply to the Allied Notes will declare that the German delegation is *■' ready to submit the Russo-German Treatyi to the Conference, but protests at exclusion from the discussion on the Russian position, pointing out that this “was a matter for decision by the whole Conference, and not the Allies only. BRITAIN AND FRANCE WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE. Reuter’* Telegram. PARIS, April 19. In consequence of the German assertions thati they previously discussed the Russo-Garman Treaty with British officials, Mr Lloyd George has issued a statement to the French press em~*phasising British loyalty to the French atipmhtions concerning the scope of the conference, and declaring that Britain and France will continue to co-operate. The statement asserts that; Britain is opposed to all ascendencies in Europe, believing peace to be the great common interest. REPARATIONS COMMISSION 'TR PIERPONT MORGAN A MEMBER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 20, 8.30 a.m.) GENOA, April 19. M. Do la Croix, president of the Reparations Commission’s Committee which is studying the question of an international loan to enable Germany to pay the reparations, has announced that Mr Pierpont Morgan has accepted membership on the committee, which sits in Paris when Air Morgan .arrives. CURRENCY QUESTIONS FREE EXCHANGE DEALINGS. GENOA, April 19. The Commission work on currency and exchange has been praatically completed. The conclusions generally differ very little from those arrived at at the Brussels Conference two years ago, and will probably recommend the convening of a conference of each country’s central bank of issue in order to carry out the Commisison’s scheme. America would be invited to join through the Federal Bank. Sir , Robert Home stated that abstention by America would wreck the scheme,? but he thought America could nett isolate herself from such a conference of the world’s financiers. The Exchange Sub-committee recommends the maintenance of the gold standard and free exchange dealings. France proposed and Russia seconded that the Bank of Eugland be the convener of the Central Banks Conference. It is likely that this will be agreed to.

LABOUR CONFERENCE ENDS DISARMAMENT DEMANDED. LONDON, April 19. The Labour Conference convened by (the. International Federation of Trade Unions, has concluded at Genoa. It adopted resolutions declaring that tfie claims, of Labour are an indispensable condition in the reconstruction of (the world: favouring international action on the basis of equality to be necessary; demanding disarmament and cancellation of war debts, and the establishment of an international organisation for tho control of raw material. TWO COMPACTS SECRET MILITARY UNDERTAKING. LONDON, April 19. Air O. Edwards, M.P., who has just returned from Germany, said ho was informed in Prussia that Germany had made two compacts with Russia,* the first a commercial one. the second consisting of a secret military undertaking Involving mutual use of German and Russian troops. TO BE DISCUSSED GERMAN-RUSSO AGREEMENTS. INFRINGEMENTS OF VERSAILLES TREATY. i T’eufer'fi Telegram. (Received April 20, 11.55 p.m.) PARIS, April 20. M. Poincaro has given instructions that the Russo-Gorman Treaty he brought before the Reparations Commission as the terms threaten to deprive tho reparations fund of portion of

resources to which it is entitled under the Versailles Treaty. He also requested tho Allies’ Governments to support tho French in bringing the Treaty before the Conference of Ambassadors with a view to ascertaining whether there are any general infringements of the Versailles Treaty. M. Poincaro has instructed M. Barthou to cease to co-operate in Russian affa'irs if the Russians insist on inserting in any agreement with the Allies clauses similar to those included in the treaty made with the Germans.