CRISIS AT GENOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 5

CRISIS AT GENOA.

A HOPEFUL NOTE. SUCCESS EXPECTED. OVERCOMING SETBACK. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. Genoa, April 20. “God’s in His heaven, the conference still lives and is going strong.’ This was Mr. Lloyd Georges optimistic opening in a brief address to 500 of the world’s journalists. “There are, he added, “two sets of people who regard the conference from two distinct standpoints. First, those desiring its success; secondly, those desiring its failure.” The conference was working successfully, though it had its difficulties Some of the difficulties, he learned from the Press, were very serious. He sincerely trusted, the RussO'-German mcident was over, and hoped to receive the Russian reply today. He would be very much surprised if the reply were such as not to justify the conference proceeding. Mt. Lloyd George stated tira-t he believed the conference would be a success and terminate in a scheme that would result in the reconstruction of Europe. The Germans had decided to accept the proposition not to participate in further discussion of the Russian question. Mr. Lloyd. George emphasised the gravity of their action in going behind, the backs of their colleagues, but he entirely disbelieved that the action was wilfully designed to wreck the conference, although it might have so resulted. What would have been said if Britain, France and Italy had acted similarly? Unless the conference produced a pact of peace it would prove a failure. Mr. Lloyd George defended the informal conversations which also occurred at the Washington Arms Conference. They were not merely right and fair, but eminently desirable in order to clear up misunderstandings. He hoped, they would always be held at this or any other conference. He looked forward to a considerable portion of the work at Genoa being earned on by the League of Nations. Mr. Llovd George issued a statement that, despite the Paisso-German incidents, he was confident that the conference would succeed in producing a pact of peace. The Germans had agreed not to attend the first commission. M. Tchitcherin and Herr Radowsky, interviewed, declare that the Powers note to Germany was not justified. M. Tchitcherin, when asked by Britain and the other Powers why they were not informed of the Russo-Ger-man negotiations, replied: “Because Russia is not a British colony.” Contrary to Signor Facta’s inaugural declaration that the delegates did not assemble as victors or vanquished, which the whole world, excepting the French Chamber, welcomed, the antagonists of the conference were making every effort to convert it into another Versailles in order to defeat its peaceful purpose. A High Russian authority to-day said that the Germans are strongly divided about the treaty. Some Germans are making serious efforts to escape from it, but it is understood that the. Russians are adamant and w»l never consent to such a course. London, April 20.

The Genoa representative of the Australian Press Association says that the British delegation conferred this morning and afterwards resolved itself into a meeting with the other Allies, which discussed the situation. No German or Russian replies have been received. Informal conversations continued in the afternoon, when the Little Entente and Portugal participated. Mr. Lloyd George will address the Press representatives of the world this evening. Later reports from Genoa declare that the idea is gaining ground that the conference may soon break up. M. Therm is said to-day: “We all want to depart. The Russo-German Treaty has welded the Allies again and created a new bloc.” Some foreign circles in London in close touch with Genoa, interviewed, confirmed the suggestions that the conference would soon end. Paris, April 20. M. Poincare informed the Cabinet that the French Government had taken steps, through diplomatic channels, for the junction of Allied Powers and the Little Entente. Germany would be invited to cancel the Treaty of Rapallo.