GENOA CONFERENCE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 18 May 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE.

GERMANY WILL NOT PROTEST. AT EXCLUSION FROM HAGUE CONFERENCE. (Per Press Association —Copyright.) Paris, May 17. Le Petit Parisian’s Genoa correspondent says that Herr Rathenau has abandoned the idea of protesting against Germany’s exclusion from the Hague conference. He has even advised M. Tchtitcterin to accept the Powers’ proposals. GERMANY’S BEST COURSE. Herr Rathenau considers that Germany’s best course is to profit by her Russian agreement during the four months that the other nations engaged themselves not to negotiate separately. SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA LATER. Germany may later attempt to conclude an agreement with Russia on the lines of the general agreement which may possibly be concluded at The Hague. MANY NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING. LONDON, May 16. Ihe “Daily Mail’s” Genoa correspondent says that the Sub-Commission decided that the pledge required from the States represented at The Hague Conference, not to conclude arrangements with Russia during the life of the Conference, shall not apply to treaties already negotiating, but only forbid new treaties.

This follows on the Japanese official confirmation that they are negotiating for a separate treaty with Moscow, including, as well as economic clauses, apolitical clause regarding the evacuation of Siberia.

Italy, Sweden, and Czecho-Slovakia are also about to conclude economic treaties with Russia.

The correspondent adds that everybody believes that immediately the Genoa Conference ends there will be a “Klondike Gold rush” of big commercial interests to secure concessions from the Moscow Government.

Mr Lloyd George, when asked if there was anything in the pledges made by the nations attending The Hague Conference to prevent this, replied: “No Power on earth can prevent negotiations with private persons.”

AMERICA AND THE HAGUE. WASHINGTON, May 16. It is officially stated by White House that the American Note rejecting the Hague invitations, leaves the door open for the United States participation if the Conference programme is modified. It is believed that the United States will insist that the Soviets should agree to guarantee life, property, the sanctity of contracts, and the rights of free labour. FRANCE MAY FOLLOW. LONDON, May 16. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says that the refusal of the United States to participate in The Hague Conference has been received with satisfaction, as it is regarded as a fresh check to Mr Lloyd George. It is possible that France may follow America’s lead and also decline to' be represented at the Hague, but the precise position of the United States is not yet clear. STILL AN UNCERTAINTY. GENOA, May 16. ,It is understood that the United States reply does not indicate Mr Hughes’s final decision. ' Signor Schanzer is. still communicating- with Washington and it: is hoped that America may ultimately agree to attend the Hague. RUSSIA ASKS QUESTIONS. GENOA, May 16. The Russian delegation attended the Sub-Commission. -

M. Tchitcherin asked a number of questions regarding the Hague proposals, including why Germany was excluded, to which a reply was given that Germany made a separate treaty with Russia and M. Tchitcherin was reminded of the decision a month ago. he asked what Power would preside at the Hague, whereupon it was explained that- the Commission would appoint its own chairman and secretariat.

He was also informed that the Soviet’s desire for recognition would depend on the Hague report. A meeting of the Convening Powers decided to refer the Lithuanian question and ijhe anti-typhus campaign to the League of Nations.

The meeting urgently appealed to the nations to contribute to the League’s campaign against the disease.

Mi- Lloyd George, while regarding the Eastern Galician frontier question as dangerous, thought that with the truce proposed, the difficulty would be removed. Therefore it was wiser not to press the question at this stage. He thought that Hungary and Bulgaria would be allowed to hand the Conference their statements regarding the treatment of minorities. It is understood that this course will satisfy both countries, and that the Conference should hand the statements to the League of Nations. The programme for terminating the Conference is deferred until the Russian reply is received. The meeting agreed that although the League was nominated as the place of the meeting of the next Conference, the matter was still open for discussion; and that the findings at the Hague must be referred to tl various Governments for acceptance; that the respective Government’s sovereignty must be maintained; that the period of the truce be still a matter for discussion, but must be decided at Genoa.

M. Tchitcherin started a lengthy controversy with Mr Ishii, in regard to Japan’s attitude to which Mr Ishii made an effective reply that Japan was perfectly ready to conclude a pact of non-aggression.

Signor Schanzer, replying to M. Tchitcherin, said that the instrument of the truce must be drafted here. M. Tchitcherin asked for twenty-four hours to consider the reply, which was granted. There is some idea that the final plenary session will be held on Thursday, but is more likely to be Saturday. RUSSIA ACCEPTS CONFERENCE. Genoa, May 17. The Russians have accepted the proposed conference of experts.