TREATIES WITH RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 19518, 18 May 1922, Page 5

TREATIES WITH RUSSIA

THE CONFERENCE STIPULATION EFFECT LIMITED TO NEW AGREEMENTS ANTICIPATED RUSH FOR CONCESSIONS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, May 16. The Daily Mail’s Genoa correspondent says the sub-commission decided that the pledge required from states represented at T)ie Hague Conference not to conclude arrangements Russia during the life of the conference shall not apply to treaties already negotiating but only forbids new treaties. This follows on Japanese official confirmation that they are negotiating for a separate treaty with Moscow, including as well as economic clauses a political clause regarding the evacuation of Siberia. Italy, Sweden and Czecho-slovakia are also about to conclude economic treaties with Russia.

The correspondent adds that everybody believes immediately the Genoa Conference ends there will be a Klondike gold rush of big commercial interests to secure concessions from the Moscow Government. Mr Lloyd George when asked if there was anything in£*he pledges made by the nations attending The Hague Conference to prevent this, replied: “No power on earth can prevent negotiations with private persons.” AMERICA AND THE CONFERENCE. DOOR OPEN FOR PARTICIPATION. WASHINGTON, May 16. It is officially stated by White House that the American note rejecting The Hague invitation, leaves the door open for United States participation if the conference programme is modified. It is believed the United States will insist that Soviets agree to guarantee life and property, the sanctity of contracts and the rights of free labour. THE NOTE ENDORSED. NEW YORK, May 16. Newspapers generally apjtfkud Mr Hughes’s Note and endorse the Government’s stand that it will not consider recognition of Russia or enter into negotiations regarding the Soviet until the Bolshevists institute fundamental reforms General support is given to the policy expressed further by Mr Hughes that the United States is willing to put its views to the test by joining the Allied Commission to investigate what is wrong with Russia and what are the remedies. The New York Times says Europe will now recognise the correctness of the American theory that the basis for the economic reconstruction of Russia and the resumption of international relations lies only in Soviet gurrantees. «*-•- FRANCE PLEASED AT AMERICAN REPLY. ANOTHER CHECK TO MR LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, May 16. (Received May 17, 8.30 p.m) The Morning Post’s Paris correspondent says the refusal of the United States to participate in The Hague Conference has been received with satisfaction, as it is regarded as a fresh check to Mr Lloyd George. It is possible that France may follow the American lead and also decline to be represented at The Hague, but the precise position of the United States is not yet clear. RUSSIAN INTERROGATIONS. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HAGUE. GENOA, May 16. (Received May 17, 8.30 pjn.) It is understood that the United States’ reply does not indicate Mr Hughes’s final decision. Signor Schanzer is still communicating with Washington, and it is hoped that America may ultimately agree to attend at The Hague. The Russian delegation attended the subcommission. Tchitcherin asked a number of questions regarding The Hague proposals, and why Germany was excluded, to which the reply was given that Germany had made a separate treaty with Russia, and Tchitcherin was reminded of the decision a month ago. Secondly, he asked what Power would preside at The Hague, whereupon it was explained that the Commission would appoint its own chairman and secretariat. He was also informed that the Soviet’s desire for recognition would depend on The Hague report.

A meeting of the convening Powers decided to refer the Lithuanian question and the anti-typhus campaign to the League of Nations. The meeting urgently appealed to the nations to contribute to the League’s campaign against disease. Mr Lloyd George, while regarding the Eastern Galician frontier question as dangerous, thought that with the truce proposed the difficulty would be removed. Therefore it was wiser not to press the question at this stage. He thought Hungary and Bulgaria should be allowed to hand the Conference their statements regarding the treatment of minorities. It was understood that this course would satisfy both countries, and the Conference should hand the statements to the League of Nations. The programme for terminating the Conference was deferred until the Ruraian reply was received. The meeting agreed that although The Hague was nominated as the place of meeting of the next conference, the matter was still open for discussion; that the findings at The Hague must be referred to the various Governments for acceptance; that the respective Governments’ sovereignty must be maintained; that the period of the truce was still a matter for discussion, but must be decided .at Genoa. Tchitcherin started a lengthy controversy with Baron Ishii in regard to Japan’s attitude, to which Baron Ishii effectively replied that Japan was perfectly ready to conclude a pact of non-aggression. Signor Schanzer, replying to Tchitcherin, said the instrument of the truce would be drafted here. Tchitcherin asked for twentyfour hours to consider the reply, which was granted. There is some idea that the final plenary session will be held on Thursday, but it is more likely to be held on Saturday.