SAN REMO CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1920, Page 3

SAN REMO CONFERENCE

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright./ POSITION AT SAN REMO. (Received this day at .9.20 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. Mr Perris, the “ Daily Chronicle’s” special San Remo correspondent summarising the inner history of the Conference, says when M. Millerand, Signor Nitti and Hon Lloyd George met, the latter laughingly remarked: “Well, here we are in Paradise, but which is the serpent.” Mr Perris says Hon Lloyd George is by far the youngest man, but he is painfully torn between a deep conviction for the necessity of a reasonable attitude towards Germany, and a deep sense of France’s wounds and difficulties.

Signor Nitti has some resemblance to Hon. Lloyd George, which makes malignant the charge that Nitti has an inclination towards the restoration of the old understanding between Italy and Germany. As a fact, Nitti lias the wisdom to recognise the peril of any policy of adventure at the present time. It is unfair to say M. Millerand is the serpent, but he has inherited a role of immense difficulty from M. Clemenceau. France’s conservative, militaristic Right is now trying to drive JVI. Millerand to extremes. Other leading Frenchmen profess to be 'utterly hopeless of France getting reparation in the security promised by the Versailles Treaty. They regard the Berlin Government as a feeble effigy of the Junker Government, with trouble likely at any moment.

■ The Anglo-American Convention, on which France relied upon for immediate substantial aid, is a weak reed; Italy is even less reliable, and,there is no Russia to aid France. Consequently France stands alone to face the future peril. These critics urge that the sooner Germanys infractions of the Treaty are punished, the better.

DIFFICULTIES OF CONFERENCE; (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, April 21

Mr Perris adds that if Germany’* disarmament is not completed, the coal delivered on the Rhine frontier should be made definitive, and Ruhr Valley be occupied. A struggle is going on behind the scenes to impose these views upon the three Premiers. This is a grievous spectacle, and illustrates the ineffectuality of democratic parties to deal with international matters. There is a danger of the cfvll Government of France being - rushed into further separate action. The morale of the Entente would thus be broken, which would be a cajamity.

Hon. A. J. Balfour has been summon. e 4 to Sap Remo. J An unfavourable symptom is that M. Millerand and Signor Nitti are desirous of returning to their own countries on Sunday, giving no time to sift the situation-

GERMAN NOTES. LONDON, April 21. The German delegation presented three Notes, with the request that they he sent to San Remo. The first gsks for a decision regarding the number of German troops to be permitted in the neutral zone, and also asks for permission'to increalse the number of artilleryr men. The second asks permission to double the strength of the Reichswehr. The third asks for permission to m;nn. tain general staffs, create railway companies and aviation groups, apd also permission to re-establish heavy artillery.

A SPECIAL COMMISSION. (Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) SAN REMO, April 21. A special Allied Commission is going to Kurdistan to enquire into conditions and report to the Supreme Council at PROCEEDINGS. - Received this day afc 2.36 p.m.,) PARIS, April 22. The '‘‘Matins” 'San Remo correspondent asserts Hon Lloyd George and Signor Nitti suggested that the German Government should be invited to participate in the Conference and discuss the .restoration of politicary and economic relations with the Allies. M Millerand interviewed by the Matin ” declared 'when Germany was a lie to procure good faith in carrying out the Treaty one could talk about economic co-operation. The ‘‘Matin adds that M. Millerand’s attitude was a hint to Hon Moyd George that he was taking a wrong step.