GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 9

GENOA CONFERENCE

EUROPEAN SITUATION/ ON THE EDGE OF A VOLCANO MR LLOYD GEORGE’S WARNING. APPEAL TO AMERICA, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. GENOA, April 27. 1 Mr Lloyd George, in addressing the journalists, took a most serious view of the European situation. He said they were on the edge of a volcano, and unless the Genoa Conference succeeded) probably he and other grey-headed persons present would see a storm break. The clouds on the horizon were growing bigger daily, and Europe might be. again devastated. He appealed to America, which would, willy-nilly, be forced to interest herself in Europe for the maintenance of peace. The Genoa .Conference would fail unless "the peace pact was agreed to. Mr Lloyd George added: “We must show restraint' in the hour of triumph; otherwise Europe will again welter in blood within the lifetime of those whose hair is now grey. That is why I wrought to make Genoa a success. I am alarmed at the storms which are gathering over Europe. They may not break immediately, but they will do so inevitably unless the atmosphere can be cleared. I am amazed at the people who ignore these portentous facts, and concentrate on selfish trivialities. Frankly, I wish America were here, Her very aloofness from these European problems would give her tli© right to speak with authority. Her aid would have been invaluable, as her voice would have been the voice of peace, conciliation, and goodwill, but it is too late. America is not here, and Europe must do its best to solve its problems in its own way.” Mr Lloyd -. George urged the press of both countries to do its utmost to help the conference to a successful issue.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MB LLOYD GEORGE’S SPEECH. THE GERMANS DELIGHTED. LONDON, April 27. The Germans are delighted at Mr Lloyd George’s speech, declaring that it is the best exposition of the European situation yet made.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A MOMENTOUS CONFERENCE MENACE OF EUROPEAN WAR THE ALLIES’ RESPONSIBILITY. LONDON, April 27. The Australian Press Association’s correspondent at Genoa says that Mr Lloyd George’s' speech to the iournalists was most impressive. He said that the conference was the greatest and the most important ever held. Whether it succeeded or failed, it was bound to have a lasting effect upon the future of the Continent, and would affect other continents to a greater degree than any other conference in the history of the world, The question whether carnage shall cease in Europe depended on this conference. Some people were impatient because solutions were not found in a single fortnight. The Washington Conference took three months, and it was worth every hour. The whole of'the frontiers of Eastern Europe, from I the Baltic to the Black Sea, were unsettled. Every one of them involved the possibility of a terrible conflict. “The racial lava of Eastern Europe,” continued Mr Lloyd George, “is boiling with the possibilities of conflicts which would draw in the whole of Europe, and might even involve distant America. - Then you have Russia and Germany in a state of semi-antagonism to the rest of Europe. Anybody who imagines that you can permanently keep down these_ two great peoples, representing two-thirds of the people of (Europe, must either be blind or blinkered. The Russo-German agreement is a revelation to some people. _ I ventured to give a warning a long time ago as to what was inevitable unless there was a good understanding. When a hungry Russia is equipped by an an cry Germany, how long will it be before Europe is devastated if that should represent the policy of any European combination- Eor the moment we belong to a dominant and triumphant group, but these things do not last for ever. If our victory should degenerate into oppression, if it is tine tured or tainted by selfish interests, if the conscience of mankind feels that we have abused' the triumph which God placed in our hands, then vengeance will inevitably follow, just as it followed in the wake of the act by Germany which outraged the world’s moral sense.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. SUPREME COUNCIL TO MEET PARIS, April 27. The Matin says .that M. Poincare has accepted in principle Mr Lloyd George’s proposal that the Supreme Council should meet at the earliest ppssible moment. M. Poincare will probably demand that the meeting shall be held in Paris, and not in Genoa- He is prepared to meet the Allies before M. Millerand’s return if necessary. The Supreme Council will probably meet on May 5. The Germans will be invited to attend.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

GERMAN REPARATIONS. PARIS, April 27. M. Barthou points out tfiat Mr Lloyd George’s programme included the discussion of possible sanctions on May 31 if the Reparations Commission notifies Germany’s default. The view taken in Paris is that acceptance of a discussion, on reparations sanctions prior to the end of May" would be likely seriously to prejudice the Commission’s decisions.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REPARATIONS QUESTIONS. FRANCE’S ATTITUDE. PARIS, April 28. (Received April 28, at 5.5 p.m.) M. Poincare definitely states that--he cannot accept the suggestion that the reparations questions should be examined fundamentally at Genoa 'by an InterAllied Commission, all the more so because the Reparations Commission is dealing with the matter, and it would not bo possible to accuse Germany of violating the Treaty until after May 31. His acceptance would only have the effect of prejudicing the work of the commission, which alone can consider the necessary measures.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NON-AGRESSION’ PACT. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S SCHEME, CUSTOMS AND ECONOMICS. GENOA, April 27. Mr Lloyd George informally conferred with the heads of the delegations. He expects to outline his non-aggression pact scheme at the plenary session of the conference on Monday.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states that the subcommittee which is dealing with Customs has nearly completed its task. It aims at co-ordinating the regulations throughout the world and introducing a common commercial terminology in Customs documents. The Sub-committee on Economics is developing a scheme to abolish double income tax. Satisfactory progress was made in drafting a Note to the Russians. Some papers continue to describe the Note as an ultimatum. It is nothing of the kind, being merely intended as an exhortation to the Soviet to hasten its proceedings.—A. and N.Z. Cable, NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. CONFLICTING OPINIONS. LONDON, April 28.' (Received April 28, at 7.45 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George’s speech .has had a mixed reception from the press. The Westminster Gazette declares: “The Treaty of Versailles cannot- stand enforcement. It might defer the rise of Russia and Germany, but it could not permanently keep them in subjection. That is what Mr Lloyd George fneans when he says if a pact of peace is not arranged Europe wil again be plunged into a welter of blood. That is whv we are compelled to tell France that we must steadfastly oppose her proposed nolicy.” The Morning Post supports the French attitude. It says: “The Treaty of Versailles is a great instrument of human liberty, sanctified bv tho blood of millions of upright men.” The Daily News says: “The way to make an ultimate catastrophe certain is to badger, torment, blackmail, and invade Germany, and insult, ostracise, and bullv Russia.” The Daily Express says; “Mr Lloyd George’s views embody the opinions of all the most sane and far-seeing of his countrymen.” The Daily Telegraph says: “It is a terrible utterance to come from a statesman at the centre of international affairs, who has been feeling the pulse of our common civilisation. Will anyone declare that he is wrong?”—A. and N.Z. Cable. SECRET NEGOTIATIONS. RUSSO-GERMAN MILITARY TREATY. AN EMPHATIC DENIAL. LONDON, April 27. The German Embassy in London has issued an emphatic denial of the rumours that secret negotiations are proceeding with a view to the conclusion of the Russo-German Military Treaty, under which it is alleged Germany would man the Russian warships and train the Red armies.-—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, April 27. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states that the Russians are awaiting the Allies’ Note on the first seven points of the experts’ report. They state that they have not the slightest intention of breaking off the pourparlers, but are firmly determined to maintain their sovereign rights, and they contend that the Soviet alone remains faithful to the essentials of the Cannes agreement. No replv has yet been received from Paris relative to the meeting of the Versailles Treaty signatories. It is expected that the plenary session .next week will deal with the reports of _ the Second, Third, and Fourth Commissions.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SITTING OF FIRST COMMISSION POSTPONED. GENOA, April 26. The sitting of the First Commission was postponed owing to the Allies’ non-agree-ment regarding Russia.—A. and N.Z. CabJe.