THE HAGUE MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 19519, 19 May 1922, Page 5

THE HAGUE MEETING

CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS ACCEPTED BY THE RUSSIANS THE PACT OF PEACE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) GENOA, May 17. The Russians have accepted the proposed conference of experts. The Russians strongly protested against the meeting being held at The Hague, and suggested Riga, Stockholm, Rome or Lon J don. They also protested against the exclusion of the Germans from the proposed mixed commission. M. Tchitcherin informed the Conference that the Russians welcomed the proposed non-aggression pact. Mr Lloyd George said he desired the pact to extend even to Asiatics. M. Tchitcherin replied that bo far as Russia was concerned, the pact Qpuid be made to apply to all the Russian frontier®. EXCLUSION OF GERMANY., ACCEPTED WITHOUT PROTEST. PARIS, May 17. The ‘Tetit Parisien’s” Genoa correspondent says Dr Rathenau has abandoned the idea of protesting against Germany’s exclusion f/om The Hague Conference. He even advised M. Tchitcherin to accept the Powers’ proposals. Rathenau considers Germany’s best course is to profit by her Russian agreement during the four months that other nations engaged themselves not to negotiate separately. Germany may later attempt to conclude an agreement with Russia on the lines of a general agreement which may possibly be concluded st The Hague.

THE RUSSIANS’ LAST PLEA. SCOPE OF THE TRUCE. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S REPLY. GENOA, May 17. (Received May 18, 10.10 p.m.) M. Tchitcherin, in his statement before the sub-commission, said that the appointment of two commissions at The Hague seemed to the Russian delegation unfortunate, because it would perpetuate the Genoa situation. Nevertheless the Russians accepted the proposal to meet, at The Hague, but protested against Germany’s exclusion, as the question of credits did not come within the Rapallo agreement. He would have much preferred to meet at Stockholm or Riga, but was ready to go to London or Rome. He welcomed the truce, which should apply to all the Allies and the Soviet republics. He wished its scope broadened to include raiding bands, such as Wrangel’a and begged that such raiders be removed to distant countries. Mr Lloyd George interjected: What countries? Not ours. M. Tchitcherin said he reserved the right to suggest amendments later. He was anxious that the sub-commission should recommend control of zones on frontiers to prevent “incidents.” There was a certain amount of discussion as to whether the truce would bind Far Eastern republics. Baron Ishii wished to be clear on this point. Mr Lloyd George said he wished the pact to apply’ to Asiatic as well as European frontiers. Speaking to M. Tchitoherin’s statement, Mr Lloyd George declared to deal with German admission, but when it came to dealing with the commisslon’B report the Germans would have an equal chance of participation. Neither Rome nor London was agreeable to the British delegation. It was desirable that the work of the commission should not be prejudiced by what had happened at Genoa. The discussions at The Hague had an international aspect and should not be coloured by what happened at Genoa, where so wide a divergence occurred as to make agreement impossible. The plan was now to see if the experts could find a solution of the problems presented by the rival systems. Undoubtedly the difficulty had been the gulf between these systems. He believed the existence of Russian peasant land ownership would bring about some approximation of the rival system,-. It was unfortunate that the first of May occurred in the middle of the Conference. He believed that the May Day demonstration at Moscow had a repercussion on Genoa. There would certainly be two commissions sitting at The Hague. He begged M. Tchitcherin to look upon the organsiation as a practical thing, and not make differences over its form. He thought that too much was made of Wrangel’s bands, which were a greater trouble to the countries harbouring them than to Russia. The latter gained enormously by the fact that all countries were bound by the truce, thus giving a chance of things calming down both in Russia and elsewhere. Nothing amused him more than the way statesmen compared the inoffensivemeßS of their own statesmen with the wickedness of others. M. Tchitcherin wanted them to believe that the Russian leaders possessed all the Christian virtues, while other countries were always plotting and scheming. He hoped that when the truce was signed all would keep it.

DURATION OF THE TRUCE. FINAL PLENARY SESSION TO-DAY. GENOA, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.15 pan.) The sub-commission adopted the propost 1 that the next Conference should meet The Hague. The Dutch representatives undertook to afford the Soviet all facilities. It was desided that the truce should remain in force for four months after The Hague meeting. The final plenary session will be held on Friday morning, after which the Empire delegates will return to London. AMERICA AND THE HAGUE. ANXIETY TO PARTICIPATE. REPLY INTENDED FOR RUSSIAN’S BENEFIT. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) WASHINGTON, May 17. A White House official said, to-day that although on the surface it might seem, as if the United States entirely refused to cooperate with European Powers the truth Is the American. Government was not only ready but anxious to participate in a conference on Russian affairs. It. is understood definitely that President Harding is ready to send a representative to The Hague or anywhere else to discuss the Russian question and that if the Powers will modify their proposals and. remove features objectionable to this country American co-operation can be assured. President Harding felt the door is open for American help and wants that clearly understood. Both Mr Harding and Mr Hughes believe much can bo accomplished if the Russian question is treated as an economic matter and if the Russians will respect private rights and property and thug afford a basis for economic dealings with other nations. The American reply is intended as a piece of moral suasion, it being hoped the Powers will be able to persuade the Russians that the giving of American help will be seriously considered in Washington just as soon as an economic baas can be achieved which will warrant the United Stases in extending its hand. This accounts for the speed with which the American reply was despatched. The Powers at (yenoa were expected to use the American Note a® a medium for further negotiations with Use Ruadana.

A HANDICAP AT GENOA. CONFUSION WITH DOMESTIC POLITICS LORD GREY ON THE CONFERENCE. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.15 p.m.) Viscount Grey in a letter to the National Liberal Federation, said the Genoa Conference provided an example of what should be avoided to secure the end desired. A close understanding with Frarce and the cooperation of the United States were desirable. The supporters of the Prime Minister acclaimed the Genoa Conference as being to his political credit, and thus created the impression that it was in someway connected with domestic politics. The chances of success were thus impaired. France was filled with distrust, and the goodwill of the United St ates was the only sound foundation for economic and financial reconstruction. The Coalition Government was a source of instability and danger when continued long after the war. GERMAN TRADE WITH RUSSIA.. AN INDUSTRIAL COMBINE. BERLIN, May 17. Thirty-five firms belonging to Germany’s great industrial companies are combining with the object of doing business on the largest scale with Russia.