GENOA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18556, 17 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

THE RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY. OBJECT OF THE HAGUE MEETING. ~ . E’nu Association—By Telegraph—Copyriffh t ; GENOA, May 15. The sub-commission adopted a reply to the Russian Note based on the recommendations that the convening Powers represented at Genoa, excepting Russia and Germany, shall meet at The Hague on June 15 for a preliminary exchange _of views and to consider the line of action which the Commission of Experts should adopt towards the Russians. It proposes June 26 as the date when the Commission shall meet the_ Russian experts. If no joint recommendations axe submitted within three months, or if such recommendations are not accepted by the Governments within a month after the date of the recommendations, each Government shall be at liberty to make a separate agreement with the Soviet. The Belgian and French delegations stated that they recommend their Governments to adhere to these decisions. PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION. CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS ONLY. PRIME MINISTER WILL NOT ATTEND. GENOA, May 15. Mr Lloyd George, interviewed, said he agreed that The Hague meeting would be a prolongation of the Genoa Conference, but it would only deal with Russia. Its work would he merely a preliminary exploration of the possibility of an agreement. The Russians would meet the other Powers after June 26 on a footing of absolute equality, but if the Russians refused to participate we would have .nothing more to say. If an agreement with Russia were concluded he hoped to convert the truce into a permanent pact.— Reuter. Mr Lloyd George, addressing the_ AngloAmerican journalists, said the Allied and Russian Commissions would sit at.the same table and discuss proposals, but there naturally would be occasions / when _ each would ait separately. It was not his intention personally to attend. The Hague Conference and the Allied panel would probably be confined to experts only. He had handed the proposals to the American Ambassador, with an invitation to America to participate in The Hague Con■ference. Ho would decide a line of action without laying down nrinciples for the panel, who would explore the whole question. The'current negotiations between t the European States and Russia would not be interrupted, but new agreements would be barred, although there "was no power to prevent individuals making agreements. If the Russians refuse the present proposal matters will be at an end.—A. and N.Z. Cable. M. BARTHOU’S PROTESTS. GENERAL SITUATION-OUTLINED. GENOA, May 15. Later, at the sub commission, M. Barthou protested against two commissions instead of one mixed commission. M. Tchitcherin’s statement was based on an entire misconception. There was no idea of excluding the Russians. They were invited to The Hague on a footing of equality. The object of the Allies’ meeting was first purely preliminary, while the bar against making agreements /applied to other countries than Russia. The sub-commission decided to invite the Russians to attend to-morrow's meeting. M. Baxthou intimated that the French would not attend, .as they had not approved of the original memorandum. M. Jasper intimated a similar attitude on the part of Belgium. Other Genoa reports state that Mr Lloyd George declared that if the Russians agreed to The Hague Conference it would he a prolongation of the Genoa Conference. If they did not, the conference would be finished. Mr Llovd George and Signor Schanzer clearly pointed out that the Russians are free to continue the negotiations already commenced for agreements with Sweden, Japan, and Czecho-Slovakia, but the Allies will not sign or make further agreements. Although M. Baxthou will not attend tomorrow, he has undertaken if Russia accepts The Hague schehie to recommend Paris to adopt the proposal. —A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA’S ATTITUDE. UNLIKELY TO PARTICIPATE. IN SUFFICIENT BASIS FOR NEGOTIATIONS. WASHINGTON, May 15. . “ Unless some phase of the situation now not visible' changes the whole aspect of things, America will not accept the invitation to attend the Hague Conference,” savs a Washington journal. “One leading administration official says that Mr Lloyd George is in a hole, ahd is trying to drag us %vith him. About all Europe wants is our money.” Apart from motives the view is emphasised that any such _ conference must be a failure unless Russia shows adisposition to change her attitude. The recent Soviet Notes to Genoa and the other Moscow pronouncements are not regarded here as affording basis for dealing with the Soviets. Generally speaking, the cables inviting America to participate have been received with no enthusiasm. The officials believe that France played the shrewdest game at Genoa.— Reuter. DISCUSSION IK SENATE. SUPPORT FOR THE HAGUE. RECOGNITION OF SOVIET PROPOSED. WASHINGTON, May 15. (Received May 16, at 9.10 p.m.) Senator Borah introduced a resolution into the Senate suggesting recognition of the Soviet of Russia. Senators Borah and Hitchcock, during a long debate, discussed the failure of the Genoa Conference, for which the former blamed France entirely. Senator Hitchcock said that the United States should go to The Hague. Senator Borah agreed, adding: “If German reparations and Russian recognition are to be there disC irls understood that Senator Borah’s resolution will command strong support in the House and Senate.—A. and N.Z. Cable ’ UPPER SILESIA. GENOA, May 15.; The final convention settling the affairs of Upper Silesia has been signed by the German and Polish plenipotentiaries.— Reuter. RUSSIA MISUNDERSTANDS. EXPLANATIONS TO BE MADE. GENOA, May 15. The Russian Note has been delivered intimating that the Russians are unable to agree to the idea of two separate commissions on Russia. The British delecation says that the Russians have misunderstood the position, and it expects that the difficulty -will be removed by explanations.—Times.

RUSSIAN VIEW. A NEW BLOCKADE. BALTIC VENUE SUGGESTED. GENOA, May 15. (Received May 16, at 8.8 p.m.) M. Bakowhki, interviewed, said that the Russians would protest against a sepa-l rate commission. The embargo on separate agreements was equivalent to a new blockade, but it Would be accepted with the other proposals. The Russians would endeavour to change the venue from The Hague to Riga of Stockholm. —A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMAN JIBES. BERLIN, May 15. (Received May 16, at 8'.5 p.m.) The German public is asking where lies the guarantee that The Hague Conference will be .more successful than the Genoa Conference, which 4»as taken five weeks of confabulation and intrigue to produce the Russo-German Treaty.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE LOGICAL OUTCOME. A WORLD PARLIAMENT. HUNS’ NEW IDEAL. BERLIN, May 15. (Received May 16, at 8.5 p.m.) The Borsen-Courier says that the most important result of the Genoa Conference is the fact of the second conference. The paper suggests as the logical result a peijnanent conference which will eventually be converted into a world parliament. This idea .was first expressed by Herr Ebert at the Leipzig Fair in March, and is becoming a new ideal of- the modern German politician. —A. and N.Z. Cable. % THE PRIME MINISTER. TO RETURN ON FRIDAY. LONDON, May 16. (Received May 16, at 8.5 p.m.) The Daily Express states that Mr Lloyd George will return on Friday _and make a speech regarding the Genoa Conference in the House of Commons at an early date. —A. and N.Z. Cable. UNITED STATES REPLY. SUGGESTIONS LACK DEFINITENESS. THE INESCAPABLE QUESTION. WASHINGTON, > May 15. (Received May 16, at 10.40 p.m.) The State Department has published the reply to the Allied invitation to attend The Hague Conference. The reply declares that the United States Carefully considered the invitation, and is desirous to aid in every practical way the consideration of the economic exigencies of Russia, but is unable to conclude that she can fully participate in The Hague meeting, as this would appear to be a continuance, under a different nomenclature, of the Genoa Conference, and destined to encounter the same difficulties_ if the attitude disclosed in ■ the Russian memorandum of May 11 remains unchanged. The reply points out that the ultimate inescapable question is the restoration of the productivity of Russia, which must be provided from within Russia herself, but the United States has always been ready to join with the Allies for an inquiry by experts into the economic situation of Russia, and the necessary remedies. The United States will most willingly give serious attention to any proposals 'issuing from the Genoa Conference, or any later conference, but regards the present suggestions, in apparent response to the Russian memorandum of May 11, as lacking in definiteness, which make impossible the concurrence of the United States in the proposed plan.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EVERYBODY SATISFIED FRENCH SUMMARY OF GENOA. ' PARIS, May 15. The Petit Journal says: —The agreement reached at Genoa is almost miraculous, since it satisfies everybody. The French Government is satisfied, because it obtains a postponement of the conference without the responsibility of a rupture. Mr Lloyd George is satsified because in a month’s ’ time the conference will begin again at The Hague under the form of a Convention of Allied Experts, and at the same time a Commission of Russian Experts will sit. That is what Mr Lloyd George wished. The Governments who will be represented at The Hague will undertake to abstain from propaganda and from all kind cf aggression. So England gains.— A. and N.Z. Cable.