GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18542, 1 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

SENSE OF DEPRESSION.

DIFFICULTIES WITH SOVIET

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 28. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent says that there is an indefinable sense of depression in Conference circles. This is accentuated by the delay in preparing the Allied Note to the Soviet, coupled with M. Poincare’s attitude regarding the meeting of the Versailles signatories. The active propaganda among, the various delegations raises confused , issues. There are many rumours that the Conference is doomed to failure, but the British delegates stoutly maintain that even without Russian and German co-operation they will carry the Conference to a conclusion. In view of the difficulties with the Soviet, it is noteworthy that the Allies are pressing on the draft of a pact of peace whatever the outcome of the economic situation may be.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HOT AN ULTIMATUM. BASIS OF ASSISTANCE TO RUSSIA. LONDON, April 28. Mr Wickham Steed, the special representative of The Times at Genoa, in a message from Genoa, says that it is no longer accurate to call the Allied document about to be presented to the Bolshevists an ultimatum. It appears now to be almost a draft convention, consisting of a preamble and outlining the assistance the European States are prepared to give the Bolshevists, such as export credits and restoration of railway and maritime communications. Tlie Bolshevists are asked to recognise the public debt, damages suffered by foreigners, and the return of private property to former owners, also a reduction, not a cancellation, of war debts. The crucial question is, will the Bolshevists .accept? Perhaps they are bluffing. At present the chances are against their accepting. Dr Wirth last evening eulogised the Russo-German treaty. He said it was a model agreement for the proletariat of the whole world.

M. Tchitcherin applauded it as the first treaty in history drawn up in an evangelical spirit.—The Times.