WILL HOT PARTICIPATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16679, 10 March 1922, Page 5

WILL HOT PARTICIPATE.

AMERICA AND THE CONFERENCE, B.y Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, March 8. The State Department lias announced that the United States will not be represented at the Genoa Conic ren-eo. 11 is understood the view of the Department is that the conference is solely a European concern though tho United States holds a deep sympathy for the efforts to restore Europe economically. The underlying objection is said to be found in the opinion here that large military foi-ces constitute the greatest cause of Europe/s present plight, and .a reduction of these forces is the first requisite to rehabilitation.

CLASHED TO BE POLITICAL,

WASHINGTON, March 0. Mr ('. Hughes. Secretary of State, to-night delivered to the Italian Ambassador ft Note in reply to Italy's invitation to the United States to attend the Genoa Conference. The note said the question of American participation in the proposed conference had received the most earnest attention o~ the United States Government, which took the deepest interest in any conference which promised effective mea-

sures to promote the economic chabilitation of Europe, but the Government found it impossible to escape the conclusion that the conference was not merely economic but rather wa-s a conference of a political character in which the* United States could not help or fully participate.