GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18544, 3 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

INTER-GOVERNMENT WAR DEBTS. FORMULA OF CONCILIATION MORATORIUM FOR RUSSIA. Press Association—By Telegraph—^Copyright. PARIS, May 1. Advices fromo Genoa state that the Judicial Committee adopted a formula of conciliation for inter-governmental war debts. It is understood that Russia, in view of her financial incapacity, will be afforded a moratorium Reuter. ECONOMIC COMMISSION. PREVENTION SEPARATE AGREEMENTS.' , _ GENOA, May 1. At. the meeting of the Economic Commission, Sir P. Lloyd Greairie stated that Britain had advocated the adoption of a general “most favoured nation” clause for Europe for the purpose of preventing the formulation of a series of separate agreements. The Italian, German, and Japanese delegates supported him.—A. and N.Z. Cable. RAW MATERIAL. FISCAL DUTIES ONLY. LONDON, May 1. , (Received May 2, at 5.5 p.m.) The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent reports that the Economic Commission adopted a resolution regarding raw material to the effect that the right cannot be disregarded of States to dispose freely, of their natural resources and reserve to themselves by all appro priate means their production of raw materials where it appears insufficient in quantity for national needs or is menaced by a deficit through an exaggerated foreign demand on the contrary, if the production is notably superior to the needs of the country or origin it is desirable that the exportation should not be subjected to conditions which would create for foreign manufacturers a situation of marked inferiority. Therefore, only duties of a fiscal character should be imposed.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FINANCE AND TRANSPORT. * LONDON, May 1. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states that the plenary conference will meet on Wednesday to receive the financial and transport commission’s report.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM BRITISH DELEGATION ANXIOUS. PRIME MINISTER STILL HOPEFUL. London, May i. The special representative of The Times at Genoa reports that Mr Lloyd George still hopes for acceptance by the Bolshevists of the conditions proposed ; but in the case of refusal the British' .will withdraw and not take any further interest in Russian affairs. • The British delegation is undoubtedly anxious. A section of a special train has arrived in readiness for its departure, ■which suggests a Lloyd 'Georgian gesture to bring pressure on the Boleshvists.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE SOVIET’S TRUCULENCE. PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO. LONDON, May 1. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent learns on good authority that Russia came to the Conference with agreements signed by small States on the lines of that with Germany. The latest of these agreements was signed as recently as counts for the truculent attitude of the Soviet towards the Conference. As most of these agreements were made with warworn countries, the Soviet recognises that they cannot help her greatly without financial help from the nations with capital. —A. and N.Z. Cable. NO GROUNDS FOR PROTEST. . LONDON, May 1. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states that the Italian delegation-has replied to M. Tchitcherin’s letter stating that the meetings which have taken place had as their object the defining of certain points for the benefit of the Russians. Therefore they could not recognise any adequate grounds for protest.—A. and N.Z. .Cable. RUSSO-GERMAN AGREEMENT M. TCHITCHERIN EXPLAINS. NO HOSTILITY TO TRANCE. GENERAL PEACE THE OBJECT. LONDON, May 1. M. Tchitcherin has also written to M. Barthou calling his attention to comment in the French press, and by the Government, regarding the Russo-German agreement, which has been interpreted as being against the interests of France, also that • the agreement was alleged to contain a secret clause of a military aggressive character, while the statements by the Russians and the Germans apparently have not allayed the suspicions concerning the real sense of the Rapallo agreement. Therefore, the Russian delegation,-in the interests of truth and to dispel these rumours, emphatically declares that the agreement does not contain any such clauses. The • Soviet Government is not engaged in any act, 1 direct or indirect, against France, or any other nation. The sole object of the agreement was the liquidation of certain questions pending between two States which had been in a state of war. Both felt the necessity of re-establishing peace, both in the interests of themselves and humanity generally. It was only the first of a series of agreements to complete the general understanding for which the Powers at Genoa were striving. Regarding France’s position, the Russian Government considers that several points of contact exist with France which ensure an agreement. Russia’s policy never varied despite the hostile attitude which France maintained against her for four years. This hostility created a lively resentment in Russian public opinion. They were convinced that a change on the part of France would be beneficial to the economic reconstruction of the world. His letter was dictated bv a desire to dissipate the misunderstandings which might interrupt the Conference. A copy of the letter was also sent to Mr f Lloyd George. M. Barthou says that the only observation he has to make is that France was never hostile to the Russian people, but only to the Government which signed the Brest-Litovak Treaty. Mr Lloyd George is gratified that the letter has been sent. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NOTE TO RUSSIA. DRAFT COMPLETED. ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL. LONDON, May 1. The Australian „ Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states that the draft of the Russian Note has been completed and will probably be delivered to-morrow.