AMERICA AND GENOA CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16680, 11 March 1922, Page 12

AMERICA AND GENOA CONFERENCE.

BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australiau and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, March 9. The Press bitterly attacks Mr Hughes's reply to the Genoa invitation. The “ Evening Post ” says the real reason for the reply is not France and German reparation but Senators Johnson and Borah and Lenin of Moscow. The “Evening Post” insists that without reparations Genoa could bo a real economic conference. The “ Globe ” refers to ” our befuddled European policy,” and adds: “ The reply shows America is unwilling to apply to Europe some of the principles she is willing to apply to the Pacific.” The “ World ” says that, in advancing as the chief reason for refusal the statement that Europe had been doing little or nothing to remedy war’s ravages and insuring the stability of its economic life, Mr Hughes makes the refusal anything but rational and nothing so much as offensively impudent-. MODIFIED ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, March 10. While the United States will not •participate officially in the Genoa Conference it is likely Mr Richard Washborn, American Ambassador to Italy,' will attend as an unofficial observer. It was pointed out tho State Department's Note was not intended to preclude American participation in any effort to adjust the economic and financial conditions of Europe but the United States considered that the exclusion of German reparations from the agenda of the conference -was a bar to its participation. The Administration believes that a period of tactful pressure is necessary before Europe realises there can be no solution of European problems until certain fundamental questions are faced.