GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18539, 27 April 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

THE RAPALLO TREATY NEW SITUATION CREATED. FRANCE’S POLICY, A POSITION OF ISOLATION. FRENCH PRESS VIEWS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, April 24. M, Poincare said • that France would only remain at Genoa conditionally upon no concessions being made to Germany or to Russia. Whatever happens at Genoa the Allies must soon examine the new situation which has been created by the Rapallo Treaty, which constituted the most formidable problem since the armistice. France- insisted on the execution of tho Versailles Treaty, which could be obtained only by methodical action and not by precipitate acts. How imprudent French disarmament would be alter the conclusion of the Rapallo Treaty, which might embody a direct menace to Poland and an indirect menace to France. The Allies must retain effective control of Germany’s armaments and aviation. When .Germany completely disarmed France would gladly follow suit. La Victorie says : M. Poincare’s speech means that the victors should apply the treaty to the vanquished only when the latter submits. Can we he real friends? Figaro declares that Prance remained at Genoa in spite of the difficulties, where a rupture was her right and perhaps her duty. Prance has thus -reached the brink of a precipice. M. Poincare is the man for national reparation. The chief obstacle is the bad will of the Allies, who must, however, realise that France will act under an instinct of self-preservation, defend peace, defend alliances, and de- , Paris, says : “Let us not be intimidated in the matter of isolation. The worst isolation is already felt by ns here at Genoa.’’ Le Temps declares that France must defend peace ,defend alliances, and defend treaties even if she has to act alone. May her action be everywhere understood. The newspapers generally acclaim MPoincare’s speech, in which he declared that coercive measures would he taken if Germany does not comply with the Reparations Committee’s programme by May 31, but no paper advocates that France should take action alone. The desire is expressed that if action be found necessary France should be supported by the Allies; hut if that is impossible, France must act alone, and vigorously. Le Journal points out that twice within 24 hours the impossibility of maintaining the Entente has been referred to, thus illustrating the seriousness of the situation. —A. and N.Z, Cable. “ SABRE RATTLING.” AN UNFORTUNATE SPEECH. ENGLISH PRESS CRITICISM. LONDON, April 25. The Daily Chronicle describes M. Poincare’s speech as “sabre rattling.” It was unfortunate both in tenor and occasion. France’s Allies can only repeat what they said when France flourished the sabre at Frankfort—namely, that if -France is going to be a law unto herself regarding Germany she cannot expect our further assistance. If France wants our help to enforce the treaty rights she must proceed solely on the lines of common action. France abandoned these lines -first at Frankfort, and secondly when she made the treacherous Angora Treaty. If she tries a third such departure British willingness to co-operate can scarcely survive R. The Daily Mail says ; “France appears to have entered the conference with the deliberate intention of smashing it or of undermining it. There is every reason to suppose that the second device nearly succeeded, and the first may be accomplished at any moment. The ill-advised Rapallo Agreement gave Poincare a priceless opportunity to attempt to kill the conference and to frighten Great Britain into a new military pact with France ana the Little Entente. We do not believe that Mr Lloyd George is anxious to entangle Great Britain in such an alliance or tout he dare, even if tempted.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE CRISIS EXAGGERATED. ANTI-LLOYD GEORGE PRESS A MASS OF MISREPRESENTATION. S - \ LONDON, Aprft 24. A high official who has returned from Genoa, interviewed by the Australian Press Association, expresses the opinion that the reported crisis has been much exaggerated by the press. After attending many private commission meetings he left Genoa with the highest hopes that valuable and permanent good towards the rehabilitation of Europe will be achieved. He declared emphatically that the reports and comments by the anti-Lloyd George press in London consisted daily of a mass of misrepresentation which was grossly misleading. Mr Lloyd George was battling most strenuously, despite temporary setbacks. > This official said he was convinced that results would eventually he achieved which would rank in importance in Europe’s history with those of the Vienna Conference following the Napoleonic wars. The proudest fact was the planner in which all the European nations except France looked up implicitly to Great Britain, realising that her aims were quite disinterested.— A. and N.Z. Cable. A SERIOUS DECLARATION. ODD WAY OF SHOWING COOPERATION. GENOA, April 25. M. Poincare’s speech. is regarded as a serious declaration, especially as it was made without consultation with the Allies. All that M. Poincare said about co-opera-tion with the Allies is cordially endorsed by the British Government. The only comment of moment is that the French declaration that they will take action in certain eventualities whether the Allies act or not is an odd way of showing co-opera-tion. French opinion is anxious over the Bussc-German agreement, and that is reacting on the Genoa Conference. French opinion is apparently convinced that the agreement is the outcome of the Genoa Conference, and that feeling is being fostered by mis-statements, in the French and English press, which indicate that Britain is negotiating with Russia without consulting France.—A. and N.Z. Cable. the critical hour. RUSSIA’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, April 24. The Australian Press Association correspondent at Genoa writes: To-day may prove the conference’s critical hour. The Russians are expected to make an answer before the Experts’ Committee It hinges on the question of her recognition of her debts, with simultaneous de .lure recognition of Russia. The Cannes resolution provides that the recognition of Russia s debts is essential to the recognition of the Soviet; but France insists on a six months probation period. The Rushan delegates object to this, as it places Russia in the category of some native State assuming governmental functions for the first time., A highly-placed authority expressed the belief that the Russians are willing to adojjt a reasonable attitude which, while

meeting the Cannes stipulations, would not inflict an indignity on Russia. This authority added : “If Genoa fails it “will simply place Russia in the position of a nation with which the other nations of Europe will endeavour to do business separately, and with the disadvantages of excessive competition and jealousy which a common argument would prevent.” Another cloud is said to be arising on the horizon in connection with the statement which M. Poincare made in the French Chamber to-day, in which, report has it, he is endeavouring to range the Allies either for or against the integrity of the Versailles Treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. RUSSIA’S CLAIMS. RECOGNITION OF WAR DEBTS REFUSED. ' THE EXPERTS ASTOUNDED. GENOA, April 25. The Russians have presented new claims, refusing to recognise war debts, demanding a moratorium of 30 years for the payment of interest on pre-war debts, refusing to recognise the principle of private proprietorship in property, because the Soviet regime is one of nationalisation, and claiming all Russian property in Europe. The experts are astounded by the claims, and obtained an adjournment ■ for the purpose of consulting the various | Governments. ... ' \ M. Tchitcherin, dealing with the Russian financial claims, states that it is impossible for Russia to yield on the question of private property, .but the Soviet Government is prepared to grant ex-owners long leases or to permit them to participate in mixed companies for the administration of their former properties.— Reuter. MEETING OF EXPERTS. ANOTHER HITCH. GENOA, April 25. The meeting of experts produced another hitch. The Russians presented seven points in answer to the London experts’ report. The meeting adjourned, as the Russian views expressed in elucidating tne points were regarded as inadmissible. The ' experts are now drafting a report regarding the Russian views.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LAND AND WATER. TRANSPORT. , GENOA, April 25. The sub-committee ou land and water transport has completed its work. It endorsed the principles of the Barcelona and Ponterosa Conferences and recommends that the latter be made applicable to all European Powers; also that tho railway experts of 'Europe be summoned to coordinate and improve international traffic and that the League of' Nations be asked to keep an eye on the political side of the conferenced operations. —A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITAIN’S POLICY. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S APPEAL. GENOA, April 25. Mr Lloyd George authorised the transmission of the following appeal to the British public :—“Do not accept the statements which are appearing in The Times and the Daily Majl regarding the conference until I have the opportunity of dealing with them in Parliament. M. Poincare’s speech regarding reparations is a most serious- declaration, and was made without consultation with the Allies. It is not calculated to improve co-operation among the Allies. It has nothing to do with Genoa; but French opinion is being inflamed by mis-statement, alleging that the British’ are pursuing a policy of secret talks. Our policy is this :We have no quarrel with the Russian people; we do not fear a German and Russian menace; but we are determined to prevent Europe from again becoming a shambles. We want to adopt an open and humane policy. The attitude of the delegates towards a settlement makes the work difficult. We cannot continue to bargain.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY. ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERATION - NECESSARY. LONDON, April 25. ' The special representative of The Times at the Gertoa Conference says that the present situation has confirmed the axiom that the only basis of European solidarity is a firm reciprocal Anglo-French agreement flanked by a similar Anglo-Belgian agreement. The latter exists already, but it is necessary ,for the maintenance of peace in South-eastern Europe that the Little Entente should accept tile responsibility for this, with express Anglo-French sanction. Military and naval sanctions are not contemplated, but political, moral, and economic support. The correspondent adds that the policy of the Little Entente i 8 non-aggressive and conservative. —A. and N.Z. Cable. FRANCE’S THREAT. LONDON, April 25. The Genoa correspondent of the Central News states that the French delegation declares that they will press for a 48 hours’ ultimatum to Russia, otherwise they will leave the conference. In the event of France withdrawing the other Allies will continue the discussion. —A. and N.Z. Cable. RUSSIA’S TACTLESSNESS. A DANGEROUS SITUATION. LONDON, April 26. / (Received April 26, at 5.5 p.m.) /Students of international politics are questioning whether the Genoa Conference will become a crisis or whether it will be proof against the latest exhibition of Russian tactlessness. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S DETRACTORS. The Daily Chronicle insists that Mr Lloyd George’s work is he,in? made harder by some of his countrymen who, apparently from motives of personal vendetta, are giving eager currency to every slander invented at his expense. ANGLO-FRENCH FRICTION. The Morning Post’s Genoa correspondent points out that M. Poincare’s speech is really a reply, to Mr Lloyd George’s threat on Saturday when he told M. Barthou that if the crisis were continued he would 'tell the British Empire who was responsible. M. Poincare retorted that France would resume her liberty of action. The Morning Post continues: “The truth is that the class interests of Genoa prevent any real agreement and co-operation except between Germany and Russia If the conference lasts into next month there may well be general resumption of liberty of action.” FINANCIAL HELP TO RUSSIA. The latest Genoa telegrams state that Mr Llovd George and M. Barthou agree that the Franco-British viewpoint is not to launch loans in favour of Russia but to arrange a scheme bv which individual companies will provide Russia with funds on guarantees granted bv the Soviets. RUSSIA AND POLAND. M Tchitcherin addressed a, violent protest to Poland, declaring that she had forfeited all right of narticipation in the discussion of Russian affairs because she had ioined the Allies in Hie protest against the Rapallo Treaty, thus violating Poland's treaty with Russia. —A. and N.Z. Cable. I ' THE HOUSEWIFE PLEASED. Naturally, the housewife is concerned when shifting becomes imperative. She winders how she will get on; how her furniture will bo affected too. Well, by eraloying us she can have an easy mind. She won’t be put to any undue trouble, nor will her furniture be mishandled. Our men are experts, and their work invariably pleases so quick, careful, tradesmanlike. —The New Zealand Express Co. (Ltd.).—Advt. “ Marshall’s ” Pure Malt Vinegar is the best All Grocers.—Advt

EUROPEAN PEACE. GENERAL DISARMAMENT NECESSARY. DRAFT OF PACT SUBMITTED. GENOA. April 26. (Received April 26, at 7.45 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George submitted the draft of a pact which is, patterned on the lines of the Pacific Treaty. Tne preamble emphasises the necessity for maintaining European peace by general disarmament. Article 1 pledged the Powers to abstain from aggression towards each other and to consult each other if European peace is threatened. The Premier of Czecho-Slovakia has drafted counter-proposals including the foregoing and providing in addition that the Powers associate locally and arrange to enforce the maintenance of treaties. The proposals assert that European peace cannot be formally concluded at the Genoa Conference, which is only empowered to submit recommendations to the participating Governments; secondly, that the signature to a general European pact will not precede the conclusion of local pacts; and finally that the Little Entente declares that the conclusion of an agreement between them and France is conditional on the previous conclusion of the FrancoBrilish Convention previously discussed.— A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA’S ATTITUDE. FRIENDLY NON-PARTICIPATION. WASHINGTON, April 26. (Received April 26, at 9.15 p.m.) The V Government has not changed its attitude of friendly non-narticipation in the Genoa arrangements.—A. and N.Z. Cable.