GENOA CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15800, 15 April 1922, Page 8

GENOA CONFERENCE.

conditions of renewal of Russian trade. EEPEESF X TAUOX OF MINOR STATES. INTERESTING RUMORS DEXTER. Wi,sf jv) C-vp vrt g a i-:-Cii!i€d Hrfss ass*-' Australian a»« N Z catmi Associauon. GENOA., April 12. The sub-commissions decirTcd in view of llie jealousies of minor, States that anv Stale may .submit a memorandum on’ the London experts, report. and J * n >A member may int roi'liioe to the sittings. | foe advisory purposes, a representatnes u [ unrepres'entoil States. Tlie jealousies, nre principal! v amongst ex enemy minors, J who complain that they are not repi'6mide.l on the political, economic, amt| finali: ial sill, commissions. Hie creilen- t lials eoinmission commenced its uotk on, Wednesday. Opposition to the toisrtat.s niav’ develop on this committee, .it ; Lein f pointed out that there arc main [ delegates hearing names not their own.* while others are Subjects uf, othu , S'aies, insiancing Uadotvski, Lzni ol l'kraii'ie, who is a Rumanian. ! The Rusians may possibly oppose he London experts’ report especially e nassa-es demanding radical amendments n, Ole Rolslicvik judicial system as an, indispensable preliminary to tjie lenewa of diplomatic and commercial relations. I 't Le Russians point out that it the uport forms the basis of the sub-eom-missions’ work it is tantamount to dictation to Russia. The report demands, inter alia, the reform of the Russian local system, separation of judicial, Horn executive authority, the abolition ol insliee by Soviet decree and of “revolutioiiary methods." The Russians jwrI'milariy- denoiuue a clause that, foreigners cannot he arrested and, condemned lor crimes in Russia 'Without the consent of a counsel, also the provision that contracts may be concluded according to any foreign law which the Russian courts must cntoice. During the Economic Commissions discussion on the experts’ report, it was suggested that a convention of all banks issuing paper money be called, owing to the impossibility ol re-construction until ill- 1 issue of paper money is abolished. L(L\ T l>OX, April 12.

The Daily Mail's Genoa' correspondent states that the Conference is already haunted hv the unwelcome spectre which cannot he’ driven away, namely reparations. which, with disarmament, is supposed to be a forbidden topic. Germany's refusal to comply with the Allied demands to put her house in order has exasperated France and Belgium, .who are (irmly resolved on definite military action at the end of May, if the Germans continue their passive , resistance. It will not he surprising if a. meeting ot tDe Supreme Council be called at, Genoa to deal with the critical situation.

LONDON, April 13. The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent states that '.Mr Lloyd George intends at the earliest possible moment to propose a pact that no nation shall attack another, thus abolishing the possibility of fighting over a term of years. Acceptance of the proposal will make the Genoa Conference one of the most memorable gatherings in the world's history.

The Allied experts' report relating to the re-opening of trade with Russia, which is being considered at Genoa, stipulates: (i) The Soviet must accept all previous Russian Governments' liabilities to the Allies; also liabilities for losses suffered by foreigners owing to the Soviet’s predecessors' neglect, the amount above to be determined b;g a Russian Debt Commission, \vhi< h will establish mixed arbitral ion tribunals.

(2) All Russian pre-war debts to foreign Rowers to be regarded as completely discharged by the payment of the sums named in a schedule to be agreed upon. (3) The Russian Debt Commission will issue bonds to all arbitral awardees and bidders of existing Russian bonds and persons entitled to' interest, and re-pay-ment of capital. Provision is also made for the good administration of justve in Russia for foreigners, freedom, of entry anil egress to and from Russia, freedom of foreigners to use postal, telegraph,, and wireless communications, freedom of foreigners to re start their commercial and industrial undertakings. The Soviet must facilitate the acquisition abroad of materials necessary for restoration of industry and transport, and undertake to refrain from imposing taxation on foreigners on a scale calculated to give a reasonable return for invested capital. GENOA, April 13. The first Commission does not meet until Saturday, at the request, of the Russians, who have not completed a study of the experts’ report. The Russians have submitted voluminous documents dealing with currency, another cm the cost of armies. The chairman reminded them that while they were entitled to refer to the effort of the armies on the Budgets, they must not deal with disarmament. Rakowskv presented highly optimistic views to the financial position, which created a surprise, in face of reports of the Soviet’s fanatic circulation of paper money. lie, declared (hat Russia; since 1920, had reduced her army front five millions to a million. Rakowskv is credited with suggesting that the gold concentrated in some countries during the war should be distributed uniformly amongst all countries.

Rumors are current that Germany intraising the reparations question. A competent authority declares that the statement is entirely without foundation, likewise a statement, that Mr Lloyd George at tomorrow’s meeting of the first sub-committee contemplates moving for a military holiday. The British view is to allow the committee to follow along the Cannes lines, an,d if the proposition that tlie nations should guarantee not to attack each other for a given period is agreed to, it will be unnecessary to specify a military holiday. M. Barthou, addressing the AngloAmerican journalists, disclaimed any desiio to block the Conference. lie had no love for Germany, but no.malice, if the Germans were present at the Conference with a whole-souled desire to advance the economic reconstruction of Europe. He admitted he disliked Tchitcherin’s initial speech, but, since meeting him on the sub-committee, Ire had conceived a better, impression. France had no desire to work adversely t i her Allies. The relations between England and France may be likened to a husband and wife, who suspected each other's fidelity. He desired to impress upon England and America that France would do her utmost to help the Conference to achieve success.

GENOA, April 14. Australia will bo represented on the sub-committees as advisers to the British delegates whenever matters' concerning them crop up. One leading Genoa mercantile paper states that Italy, on the economic commission, may raise the question regarding the monopoly of the ran material and renewing the efforts

tvhich Stiftoni made at the first meeting of the League of Nations to have the question reviewed. it is, therefore, necessary that overseas producers should have their interests closely watched, especially as tliev possess no direct representation on the sub-committees. Several of the sub-i'nmmillee will sit lln ouohoni Easter.