GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18543, 2 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

THE FRENCH ATTITUDE. NOT THAT OF THE PEOPLE. A PAPER’S WARNING. Preas Association— By T-legTaph — Copyright PARIS, April 30. The paper CEuvre states: “Let M. Poincare be not deceived. Never has the public opinion of France been more in contradiction with the newspapers which are supposed to represent it. The majority of the French people will not have war, at any price or under any pretext. No reasonable Frenchman can fail to perceive that France’s present policy of provocation is inevitably tending towards another butchery. Is it not enough that 1,500,000 French lie de"(td?”—A. and N.Z. Cable. NON-AGGRESSIVE PACT. M. POINCARE’S COUNTER-PLAN. PARIS, April 30. M. Poincare has submitted to the French Cabinet a counter-plan to M. Benes’s Genoa pact of non-aggression. The Cabinet considers that it is absolutely necessary to include a clause concerning the application of sanctions if Germany defaults regarding reparations.—A, and N.Z. Cable. RAW MATERIALS. PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURE. SIR JOSEPH COOK SHOWS FIRMNESS. GENOA, April 30. Before the Raw Materials Commission, Signor Rossi said he wished that the commission had given more consideration to the workers of the manufacturing nations. Mr Shepherd (Australia) interposed that the workers in the primary producing countries had equal claims. Signor Rossi said that export duties should be limited to 10 or 15 per cent. The British delegate replied tljat if a figure was inserted in the recomnfendation it should not be less than 25 per cent. The British prospects were not to restrict the freedom of action of primary pro. duoers.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDt>N, April 30. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent says- The wisdom of Australian direct representation at the Conference found ample justification in the debate which was opened at the plenary session, of the Economic Commission, when article 45 of the London experts’ report came under review. Signor Rossi (Italy) raised the question of the distribution and control of prices of raw materials. The British delegate said he did not believe that it was possible to prevent countries from placing restrictions on the export of raw materials their fiscal requirements demanded it. The German delegate expressed himself as in accord with the Italian viewpoint in principle, but he could not accept the abolition of the right to import and export taxation. The French delegate pointed out that various phases of the question had already been threshed out before the League of Nations Assembly. Sir Joseph Cook strongly opposed any interference with the revenue or with the national necessities in regard to the export of Australian products, declaring emphatically: “We will not give up our, rights over our raw materials.” The discussion waxed warm between those produemg primary materials and the manufacturing The latter jealously maintained the right of import and 'export duties if necessary, while desiring the producing countries of raw materials to have some form of control. Eventually the Little Entente broke away, joining forces with the raw material countries. The debate continues, but it is unlikely that the Italian proposal will be entertained. —A. and N.Z. Cable. VERSAILLES TREATY. GENOA, April 30. The signatories to the Versailles Treaty will meet at San Reno at an early date.— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NOTE TO RUSSIA. REVIEW OF ITS PROVISIONS. DEBT CLAUSES COMPLETED. LONDON, April 30. The Australian Tress Association’s Genoa correspondent states that clause 2 of the Note to Russia provides that any balance standing to the credit of the former Russian' Governments in countries which made advances to her between August, 1914, and November, 1917, shall be transferred to the Government which made the advances, and the Soviet’s liability shall be reduced accordingly. • The remaining eight clauses have not yet been finally settled. Clauses 3 and 4 provide for the Soviet’s recognition of debts contracted by it or its predecessors with foreign nationals. Clause 5 insists on the recognition of private property claims, either by the enjoyment of similar property or compensation by bonds to be approved by a mixed tribunal. Clauses 6 and 7 determine that the %nounts payable by the Soviet shall be satisfied by new 5 per cent, gold bonds with 60 years’ currency, taxation free, also as to how the remission of interest may be dealt with if the Russian economic, conditions so require. Clause 8 deals with the creation of a mixed arbitration tribunal. Clauses 9 and 10 deal with the administration of justice on the lines of the Allied experts’ report, and the conditions under which foreigners shall reside in and trade with Russia on the recommendations of the same report. M.- Tchitcherin’s letter has not yet been submitted, to the sub-commission. It is generally regarded as naving been based on a false assumption that the Peace Pact has not gone beyond the stage of recording the opinions of the various nations. It is recognised that it will take considerable time to draft, owing to the highly controversial subject of the disputed eastern frontiers.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PRIVATE PROPERTY. RUSSIA TO YIELD. LONDON, April 29.. It is understood that M. Lenin intends to yield to Europe’s demands on the question of private property.' The military party, under General Trotsky’s leadership, is dissatisfied with this decision. General Trotsky is summoning his supporters from the provinces to discuss the situation.— Tiroes. PRONOUNCEMENT BY POPE. A WELCOME UTTERANCE. APPROVAL OF CONFERENCE. ROME, April 30. The Osservatore publishes a letter from the Pope to Cardinal Gasparri expressing appreciation of the nations’ efforts at Genoa to bring peace tb- the world. His Holiness says it will mean the salvation of humanity if the Conference succeeds, but that civilisation will be brought to ruin if.it fails.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, April 30. The Pope’s powerful appeal, addressed to Cardinal Gasparri. for the fullest assistance to Russia by the Powers has given lively satisfaction in Conference circles. Mr Lloyd George says, that the letter has given great encouragement to the Christian Powers at Genoa. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

A GREAT ASSET. MR LLOYD GEORGE GRATIFIED. LONDON, April 30. Mr Lloyd George warmlv applauds the terms of the Pope’s letter. He says that the Holy Father speaks with the knowledge of the conditions of Western Europe, and so clear a pronouncement in favour of peace with Russia is a great asset to the Conference. —A. and N.Z. Cable. RUSSIAN BOLSHEVISM. AMERICAN LABOUR’S VIEWS OUTSPOKEN CONDEMNATION. t NEW YORK, April 30. (Received May 1, at i .20 p.m.) Mr Samuel Gompers (President of the American Federation of Labour), after a conference with the Labour leaders at Chicago, issued a statement flaying Bolshevism and stating that in view of the developments at Genoa nothing could constitute a more needless or base betrayal of civilisation than American recognition of Bolshevist tyranny.—A. and N.Z. Cable.