GENOA CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15747, 11 February 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE.

FRANCE URGES DELAY.

WANTS COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING, ,Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.: (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! PARIS, Feb. 10. Tho Government has issued* a Note, stating that if any Government does not completely accept the Cannes conditions, France cannot bo represented at Genoa. She insists that before the discussion opens, the Allied Governments must agree to the interpretation of the principles of the Cannes resolution. The Note points out that, as tho invitation to Genoa had been issued by tho Allied Powers, there was no question of France accepting or rejecting. Nevertheless, she could abstain from participation if the invitation were accepted under conditions compromising her rights and threatening her interests. Tho Soviet Government, in reply to the Italian Government, makes no allusion to January 6. Therefore, if the Soviet or any other Government did not completely accept the preliminary conditions, France could not send a delegation to Genoa. It was essential that, if tho French Government is to participate, a complete understanding must be reached with the Allied Governments regarding the interpretation of the articles and the Conference programme on any questions which may or may not arise, and on the precise instructions the Allied delegations shall receive to counter efforts of a contrary character.

.Tho Not© emphasises, as essential conditions, a complete agreement on tho fundamental principles before the discussion opens, otherwise Governments wishing to oppose the January conditions would introduce dangerous conditions, which they would endeavor to insinuate through fissures in the programme, if tho latter were, not constructed in a rigorous fashion. Therefore the Allied Governments must agree on every interpretation of principles contained in tlie Cannes resolution, since - these principles constitute tho first article of the Genoa Conference.

It is extremely important that the restriction laid down in January relating to the conditions necessary to the restoration of confidence, without trespassing on existing treaties, should be applied to the whole programme and dominate tho discussions at Genoa. Any interference with these treaties would profoundly disturb Hie peace of Europe. The'Nolo concludes that it would be particularly inadvisable that the Genoa Conference should replace the League of Nations in the. task which the treaties assigned to it, and which tho League alone is in a position to accomplish. It seems scarcely possible that a programme drawn up at Genoa can bo prepared in such a short period, and, unless the Conference is ..to end in disorder and confusion, it should be postponed for at least three months.