SAN REMO CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 5

SAN REMO CONFERENCE

REVIEW BY MR LLOYD GEORGE

SKY AG /UN CLEAR

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Imperial News Service.)

LONDON, April 29. ( Received April 30, 7.50 p.m. I In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George explained the results of the San Remo Conference. He said that the misunderstandings were serious enough, and they were made more grave by deliberate fomenting by very reckless persons, but the sky was again clear. All the principals were pleased with the outcome, and the Alliance was placed on a tinner basis than ever. The French undoubtedly believed that Britain did not intend to enforce the Treaty, especially in regard to reparation and ilisarmament. The Conference dispelled all suspicions. Misunderstandings also arose from suspicions created by utterances by very powerful persons in France, and the writings of powerful journalists, indicating sr. intention to use delays in the execution of the Treaty tor ulterior motives, and annexation of Rhineland and the coal areas was openly advocated. Britain had to make .it absolutely clear that she would never assent to any such policy. M. Millerand and his associates gave an assurance that the vast majority of Frenchmen were opposed to such a policy equally with Britain. The German Ministers had been invited to confer with British and French Ministers fare to face at Spa. So as to make it certain that the discussions would be quite in accordance with the Supreme Council's policy, the questions discussed would be, first disarmament, then reparation. and then the army of occupation. The retd difficulty in getting the terms of the Treaty carried out was that the German Government did nt command authority, but the greatest difficulty was that we were dealing with a broken-backed [ample whose actions vrrc convulsive. It had command of speech, and that was about all. It was essential to get German gams, aeroplanes, and reparations. It was recognised that Germany could not pay at present, but it was necessary that she should abandon exasperating evasions of her liabilities. The Allies were going to Spa to make a definite proposal. The rime limit of lour months after the signature of the Treaty, conceded to Germany, in which she might submit concrete proposals for the settlement of her liabilities, had already lapsed. The Premier emphasised the fact that the Ruhr dispute was now entirely cleared tip. Tile Germans had been informed that us soon as the troops in the Ruhr Valley were reduced t> the number permitted by the Allied letter August S, the French droops wou!-t be withdrawn. The statement that the French troops would not be withdrawn until Germany was disarmed and certain mh«r clauses of the Treaty enforced, was in nowt.-e accurate. The Germans must -now that ihey were grappling with the problem and carrying sa the terms of the Treaty. ! hat was ah v.v asked a.t present. The .Allies were the most complete accord i n all ■ ipirn-lions. Tim Premier {renounce,; attempts to promote discord due to ;- r.-s in.! m ihgmt.v an.; disappointed p.raid n m as i,'in.iual. Kwm-umg iers-y. he ...fid be agreed re u- part;;■■■,a tm- principles laid down. cal" o', ’i stria .ad Ren giver, u> France. Tim mam ta-c t-v. r ales;-pommia. Including' M-’-m unit '.’.destine, die been given to T' : ;: a::i. ami in r.- mid m i‘,destine with I mil l ee-is m *».- B dlonr's d-vlaratiun in -r'vpeei. i ■ the Je'.\s. The Armenian • I’fonl. ■■ ■• •'■rwheiminidy difficult owing I-*; d-.io.i ’. vis! ar-.-.s which dm Allies 1' ' a-': 1 > Anm-rfi;.. who •' Would ■■i. d re, ,le- il eree ? are ~ i O. an : ; .-g. wl ich would im ! " ", s:military fore*, -a ■■■■■■., ■ i .~!* *i to America to cud ■mb d, :■ 11 r Arm- nia. If ; mb. Id la:: Vhd. ,e, g- in regard to da m un Imu ■ Ieh::." i ren m practically ro- ' ttlli mm I the ..■■■■ •, ~, ~ , I; - j wan ib-.-u . ; u, every wav facilitate t’ ' "".we.Jhe mat: rial- to , !-■ • • . • • .in.ng .-uruhts foodstuffs and T :■ 11. The All.es v , r , '■ - oe.i -.. .;,e t ■ lieeep, latvillOtt US U- - j Eceiion. "Vin .us eaju.-.ng b.is privileges j » I 1!"

ARMED FORCES. AC RET ARMY STORY DISC R c. DITE D. IJVNDGN. April 2Y A ::.-t rah an Fres> Association undertialSOiis 11;;:f oineial Circles discredit reports from l icni-any reft rang io a large secret &rmy. j n ■< art;; !y : a-a.a: t 1 1 ! -- . and chstiaouied over Prussian estates. /lie autnoni :■ trier Pomerania is likely m cause troubD for some rime to come owing to the obstructionist tactics of tlie remains ot Kamnif s followers, but the Allied mis,-;, ins repurr that the work of disarmament ;s proceeding with comparatively little friction. I hi the other hand Germany's export of iinA u:: i r:; uni I io:> > I • liUuui an f i the Baltic Stales raises a difficult problem. It may be necessary to atop the traffic in View of it,- eiteet in .mteriering with efforts tr secure world-wide disarmament. SITUATION IN RUSSIA. THE POLISH OFFENSIVE. SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED. SERIOUS BOLSHEVIK REVERSES.

LONDON. April 29. (Received May l. Lot) a.m., Tin; opening of iim Polish Ukrainian offensive on the Volhyuia Pouolia front explains ih>- recent closing of the Polish frontiers. It is understood that the Bolshevik.- for the six weeks have been attacking heavily. Pilsuiiski declined to attack until the weather improved anil «\i rything was in readiness. The preparations for the offensive were earned »>ut with the greatest secrecy, anti was hnally launched on April 25 with immediate succc.-s. The Poles quickly captured Jiuimir and several important villag:-' on ihe southern end of the front. Decisive successes continued on the following day, when large quantities of booty particularly roiling stock, were captured. It is reported that tiie (ideated Bolshevik-; nundi-red .‘hi divisions. Pdsud.-ki i.-.sUcd a proclamation declaring that the object of the attack was to assist the Ukrainians in driving out the invaders. Trie Bolsheviks’ communique vaguely claims -ueec.-ses on the whole front. Almost simultaneously Wranpel. on the Cnm a front, begun to attack northwards, and heavily defeated the Reds. He made a big haul of prisoners and guns. He claim.- that his success has cleared the road from the Crimea. The Daily T-legraph’s Berlin correspondent states that the anti-Bolshevik movement in the Ukraine is spreading ami beco:ii!ii: ncue organised. The various leaders an l.kek - to come to an agreement •with, Wrangel. ,

JAPANESE IN SIBERIA.

OCCUPATION OF SAGHALIN ISLAND, TERMS ACCEPTED BY SIBERIA. TOKIO, April 29. (Received April .30, 7.30 p.m.) A War Office communique announced that the Japanese occuplied the northern section of Sakhalin Island unopposed. The troops will proceed to Nikolaievsk, whose garrison it is believed has been aunhiialetd. The Siberian Provisional Government accepted the Japanese demands, including the withdrawal of all troops thirty kilometres from districts occupied by Japanese, and the surrender of Russian warships, arms, and arsenals. Russian police are administering the occupied districts.

CULTIVATION OF LAND. MOSCOW, April 23. As a result of the efforts of the League of Agricultural Associations there has been a great increase in the cultivation of land throughout Russia. The average cultivated in Saratoff this year will reach the 1915 level.

THE NEAR EAST. MUSTAPHA KEMAL INTERVIEWED. TIRADE AGAINST BRITAIN. LONDON, April 29. (Received May 1, 1.55 a.m.) The Evening News’ corespondent had an interview with Mustapba Kemal at Angora, who said that England was responsible for the occupation of Constantinople, the destruction of Turkey and the crushing of Islam. The massacres of Armenians were attributed to his troops, which he denied. They were possibly done by brigands, due to England arming the Armenians. He admitted that he had to get rid of some found armed and conspiring. He added: ‘Til punish England. She doesn’t know what she is up against. It is in my power to stir up a revolution in the English colonies. It is no good representing us as rebels and adventurers. We represent the real Turkey to-day. All that is happening is the fault of the Allies.”

TRADE WITH AUSTRIA. LONDON, April 28. Austrian good.-; valued at £IOO,OOO, consisting of furniture, pianos, jewellery, fancy goods, clothing, machinery and tools have arrived in London for sale.