THE GENOA CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18513, 25 March 1922, Page 8

THE GENOA CONFERENCE.

It is plain that some misgiving exists as to the utility of the Genoa Conference, which Mr Lloyd George believes will prove to be “the greatest international conference ever held.” The United States has decided not to he represented, and now M. Poincare has intimated that he will not be present. Moreover, as a result of the decision of the French Premier there is some doubt whether Dr Wirth will be one of the representatives of Germany, for he has declared that he does not intend to take part in the Conference unless both M. Poincare and Mr Lloyd George take part. Mr Lloyd George will he there if he remains Prime Minister, and of that there is little doubt at present. When he asks the House of Commons for an expression of confidence prior to his journey to Genoa it will doubtless be accorded to him, but the Conference will unquestionably lose some of its potential influence through the non-represen-tation of America ahd the absence of the Premier of France. The recent conference at Cannes and its complications brought about the defeat of M. Briand, and it is to be inferred that his successor is not in the mood for taking risks. Probably, however, the reasons for M. Poincare’s decision lie much deeper than this, although the political situation is always an element in such matters. Public opinion in France is interpreted as being solidly against any modification of the rights of the nation under the Treaty of Versailles, and it will be impossible for the Conference to ignore the terms of the Treaty during the consideration of the present position of Europe. It is true that while the expressed object of the Conference is the establishment of European peace on a solid foundation and the discovery of the conditions necessary f6r the reestablishment of confidence, these and other things must bo accomplished “without injury to existing treaties.” On the other hand, with representatives, of Germany and Russia present at Genoa, it will be impossible to exclude very full references to the Treaty. In such an event M. Poincare may feel more secure by absenting himself from the conference, but if such a consideration has influenced his decision it may with certainty be assumed that his political opponents will draw pointed attention to it. The ideal of the Genoa Conference is as ambitious as it is worthy of respect, and the attainment of it may be extremely difficult, but some accomplishment of the kind that is desired by Mr Lloyd George is necessary to enable Europe to recover from the grave effects of the war. France hesitates to take a bold line of policy in the re-establishment of amicable relations with certain other Powers, among them being Russia. America is also tardy in admitting Russia into the circle of her financial associates. Borne of the most sagacious publicists in the world insist, however, that there can be no general financial and economic salvation so long as a policy of exclusion is practised and it most be merely a matter of time until this view is generally accepted. In the meantime the Genoa Conference will prolpbly excite public interest on a plane with the Disarmament Conference. In essence its aims are similar to those of the Washington Conference and its success is not less necessary.