GENOA CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16701, 5 April 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE.

MR LLOYD GEORGE'S MOTION.

PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, Br Telegraph—Tress Association—Copyris-ht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 3. Mr Lloyd George moved the Genoa, resolution amid prolonged cheering. He said it gave the House an opportunity of approving the objects, purpose and delegates of the Genoa. Conference or of disapproving them. The Genoa. Confereence was summoned to examine methods of restoring order out of the welter and recovering prosperity out. of desolation. The objection to the Cannes resolution was due to certain limitations to the scope of the discussions. He did not believe such a conference as would meet at Genoa could properly consider a revision of existing treaties even assuming it were desirable. LAVAGES OF WAT?. Continuing his speech. Mr Lloyd George said the trouble in Europe had been attributed largely to the reparations exacted by the treaties of 1919. These treaties did not create the reparations and the trouble was due not to the fact that they were exacting reparations but that there was something to repair. The Germans’ ultimate capacity to pay must not be judged by their capacity this moment when, in common with the rest of Europe, she was endeavouring to recover from the waste of war., It was 1 a mistake to suppose a conference failed because it bad not achieved everything it. had been summoned to consider. Tf they proceeded upon that assumption Europe would never be restored. If any progress was made at all the Conference was justified. THE DYING GOVERNMENT. He could not understand the Labour Party’s protest against conferences as they bad been brought to life by that Party. He bad been assured the Government was a dying coalition, therefore lie might have the privilege, as a. dying Minister, to give a lastword of advice. He did not know who would succeed them nor. what their would he. but he should say their corajtlexion would by piebald and. judging by the criticisms. be should say the new Government had its principles enunciated and propounded by the “ Morning Post, ‘‘ Daily Herald." “ Westminster Gazette. “ Daily Mail ” and’ “ Comic C uts." He warned them not to tie Lis hands for the conference. IMPORTANCE OF TRADE. The trade of Europe was of the greatest importance, as the fact that international trade had broken down affected Britain very specially, not merely directly, but indirectly also. One of the first things the Genoa Conference would have to consider would be the question of restoring the exchanges. Currency bad broken from its moorings and was drifting helplessly. Therefore one of the first considerations was to induce nations to balance budgets. Another important question was peace in Russia and peace with Russia. He approached a subject where perhaps legitimate prejudices clouded the hope of peace. Until peace was established they could not restore trade or employment over the whole ot Europe. Europe needed what Russia could supply. She was the largest undeveloped country in the world and needed capital, but she would not get it without internal and external peace. Germany could not pay in full the demanded reparations until Russia was restored. CONDITIONS FOR RUSSIA. Russia must recognise that all the conditions imposed and expected of civilised communities were the test of fitness for entering the comity of nations. Was Russia, he asked, prepared to accept these conditions? There were indications of a complete change in her attitude. The famine had been a great eye-opener as to her dependability upon her neighbours and as to the futility of the scheme which the Soviet had propounded. If Russia were willing to accept these conditions, then there was a real basis for peace. This would, not involve further recognition of Russia until the House of Commons had approved of recognition. There would not be full diplomatic representation to Russia until the Powers were satisfied Russia was endeavouring to carry out her undertakings. THE ALTERNATIVE. The alternative suggestion was that thev should do nothing until one day it was reported that the Soviet Government had disappeared and that a Government of a totally different character had been established in Russia. When was that going to happen? The conduct. and methods of the Bolsheviks had excited just wrath and anger. Pitt had the same problem to deal with alter the French Revolution, when the circumstances were not dissimilar 1o those of to-day. Pitt decided that peace with the French Revolutionary Government was desirable. We were actuated, in going to Genoa, by motives which actuated Pitt. RUSSIA’S ARMIES. The fact that there were large revolutionary armies in Russia, or that there was a' belief that they existed, v/as an excuse for armies in other countries. It was our business and our duty to see the establishment of complete peace throughout Europe in order to deal with the serious problems of trade and unemployment. The Prime Minister concluded, after speaking for eighty-five minutes. LABOUR AMENDMENT. Air J. R. Clynes (Lab.T moved the Labour amendment. He expressed some svmpathv with Mr Lloyd George, who had been trying not to persuade the Opposition that the. Genoa Conference was necessary, but to persuade the serried ranks behind him ot its necessity. Mr Clynes declared that unless the Genoa Conference proceeded to revise many features of the Peace Treaty which Mr Lloyd George knew were the cause of all Europe's troubles, r would fail as completely as previous conferences had failed. The Government was clearly crumbling, he said, and Air Lloyd George was attempting to turn the so-called Economic Conference into a gateway for a general election. EFFECT OF REPARATIONS. While Air Lloyd George might secure a majority, he would not secure the spirit of confidence in either the House or the country, which realised that the British workers and not Germany were now paying the reparations. Ho declared that if Germany were compelled to produce at the present rate it would entail a serious displacement oil Brimaiiy a triumphant position in all the

world's markets Tf communism bad failed in Russi.v. had capitalism succeeded better in Great Britain, which had one and three-quarter million unemployed living on doles, and seven millions unemployed on wages below subsistence level? Capitalism had produced slums and n 03 nation. Our whole policy towards Russia must lie changed. Mr Lloyd George had ceased to be Prime Minister, and had become a party prisoner. Labour could not support a. Government which, at borne and abroad, bad failed to use its enormous majority for the Rational benefit. I.IBKKAT. CRtVkTS.M. Sir Donald AULeau, in the absence of Mr Asquith, owing to ill-liealth, criticised the Government strongly for seekivio- to secure a vote of confidence before going to the Genoa Conference when it bad not done so in connection with eleven previous conferences. The real cause of the postponement of the Genoa Conference and the general election, be said, was Sir George Younger, who appositely entered the House at this point, causing the members to be convulsed with laughter. AIR BON AT.’ LAW. Mr Bouar Law thought it was difficult to understand why the Government had brought down such a motion. and still more difficult to understand win- anyone opposed it. The House had known the Governments views since the Cannes Conference, be said. Air Lloyd George probably understood electioneering as well as anyone in the House. Therefore it was most foolish to suggest he was going to Genoa to make political capital. 11would have been advantageous to postpone the conference if there was a impossibility of securing America’s attendance. He thought the ruling out of the reparations question would form a great handicap. Famine-stricken Russia could in no wise help Europe’s trade for years, but Air Lloyd George, believing it possible to do something to hasten Europe’s restoration, bad proved bis immense courage by proposing the conference. He was glad Mr Lloyd George bad removed all fears that Russia, would be recognised without adequate guarantees, or that quixotic schemes of lending money to other nations might be adopted. LEAGUE NOT CONSULTED. Lord Robert Cecil could not support the resolution because the machinery of the League of Nations bad not been employed, and the conference would not deal with questions of disarmament and a revision of the Versailles Treaty. Mr Stephen Walsh (Lab.) said that if the reparations question were not included, the conference would be rendered null and void. The Government was not asking for a’ vote to justifv the going to Genoa, but for a continuation of a long firm swindle. (Laughter.) Air Chamberlain wound up the debate by pointing out that the Labour Party wanted the conference, but also wanted reparations upon the agenda. They did not seem to- appreciate the pojnt that if reparations were included there would be no conference. COST OF DELEGATION, LONDON. April 3. The Under-Secretarv for Foreign Affairs. Mr Cecil Hannswortb, replying to questions in the House of Commons, said the cost of the British delegation at Genoa would not be a heavy one as the members were the guests of Italy.