GENOA CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19517, 17 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE

A MONTH’S ADJOURNMENT NEXT MEETING AT THE HAGUE RUSSIA INVITED ON EQUAL TERMS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (The Times) o LONDON, 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 delegation says the Russians have misunderstood the position and expects the difficulty will be removed by explanations. The sub-commission adopted a reply io the Russian note based on the recommendation that the convening Powers represented at Genoa excepting Russia and Germany meet at The Hague on June 15 for a preliminary exchange of views and to consider the fine of action which the commission of exports should adopt towards the Russians. It proposes June 26 as the date when the Allied Commission should meet the Russian experts. If no joint recommendatios are 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 will be at liberty to make a separate agreement with the Soviet. The Belgian and French delegations stated that they recommended their Governments io adhere to these decisions. Mr Lloyd George, addressing British and American journalists, said the Allied and Russian commissions would sit at the same tabic and discuss the proposals, but there naturally would be occasions when each would sit 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 Conference. Then he would decide his line of action without laying down principles for the panel, who would explore the whole question. Current negotiations between 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 refused the present proposal matters would be at an end.

Later, at the sub-commission, M. Barthou protested against- two commissions instead of a mixed commission, first submitting the protest to the sub-commission. Tchitcherin’s statement was based on an entire misconception. There was no idea ; of excluding the Russians. They were invited to The Hqgue on a footing of equality. The object of the Allies’ meeting was first purely preliminary, while the bar against the making of agreements applied to other countries than Russia. The sub-commission decided to invite the Russians to attend to-morrow’s meeting. M. Barthou intimated that the French would not attend as they had not approved of the original memorandum. Mr Jasper intimated that Belgium’s attitude was similar. Other Genoa reports state that Mr Lloyd George declared that if the Russians agreed to The Hague Conference it would be a prolongation of the Genoa Conference. If they did not the Conference would be finished.

Mr Lloyd George and Signor Schamser clearly pointed out that the Russians were free to continue negotiations already commenced for agreements with Sweden, Japan and Czecho-Slovakia, but the Allies would not sign or make further agreements. Although M. Barthou will not attend to-morrow, he has undertaken, if Russia accepts the Hague scheme to recommend Paris to adopt the proposal STATEMENT BY MR LLOYD GEORGE. ‘ WORK AT THE HAGUE. (Reuter’s telegram.) 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 be 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 they would have nothing more to say. If the agreement with Russia were concluded he hoped to convert the truce into a permanent pact PREMIER RETURNING ON FRIDAY EARLY STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT LONDON, May 16. (Received May 16, 8.5 pm.) 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 SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT. EVERYBODY PLEASED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). 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 postponement of the Conference without the responsibility of a rupture. Mr Lloyd George is satisfied 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 represented at The Hague will undertake to abstain from propaganda and all kinds of aggression—so England gains.

GERMAN PRESS COMMENT BERLIN, May 15. (Received May 16, 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 has taken five weeks of confabulation and intrigue to produce the Russo-German treaty. The Boersen Courier says the most important result of the Genoa Conference is the fact that a second conference suggests as the logical result a permanent conference which will eventually be converted into the world’s parliament. This idea, first expressed by Ebert at the Leipzig Fair in March, is becoming a new ideal of the modem German politician. AMERICA UNLIKELY TO BE PRESENT. WASHINGTON, May 15. Unless some phase of the situation, not now visible, changes the whole aspect of things America will not accept the invitation to attend The Hague Conference, says a Washington journal. One leading administration official says: “Mr Lloyd George is in a hole and is trying to drag us in with him. About all Europe wants is our mbney.” Apart from motives the view is emphasised that any such conference must be a failure unless Russia shows a disposition to change her attitude The recent Soviet notes to Genoa and other Moscow pronouncements are not regarded here as affording a sufficient basis for dealing with Soviets generally speaking. Cables inviting America to participate are received with no enthusiasm. Officials believe that France played the shrewdest game at Genoa.