GENOA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1922, Page 4

GENOA CONFERENCE

ATTBTODE OF FRANCE. AUSTRALIAN AND -JT.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION. PARIS, Feb. 9. .1 The Government has issued .a Note stating that, if .any Government does , not completely : accept the Cannes conditions, France cannot be represented , .at Genoa. .She insists that before discussion .opens the Allied Governments must agree to an interpretation oi the principles of the Cannes resolution. The Note points out that, as the invitations to the (Genoa (Conference have been issued 'by the Allied (Powers, there is no (question .of .France accepting or -rejecting. Nevertheless, she can abstain from 'pnuticii,Potion in the .Conference of the invitation is accepted under conditions compromising her .rights or threatening her interests. The Soviet Government, in reply to the Dalian Government, makes no allusion to January 6th; therefore, if the Soviet or any other .Government does not completely accept the preliminary conditions, France cannot send a delegation to Genoa.. It is essential if tlie Froncl) Government is to participate, that a complete understanding must he reached with the other Allied Governments regarding the interpretation of the articles of the Conference programme on questions which may oi may not Arise, and on the precise instructions the Allied delegations shall receive to counter efforts of a contrary character. The Note emphasises, as an essential condition, that there must he complete agreement on fundamental principles before the discussion opens, otherwise .Governments “wishing to oppose the January conditions will introduce dangerous conditions which they will endeavour to insinuate through fissures in the programme” if the latter is not constructed in a vigorous fashion. Therefore, the Allied Governments must agree on every interpretation oi the principles contained in the Cannes resolution, since these principles constitute the first article in the Genoa .programme, it is .extremely important that the restriction laid down in .January relating to the conditions .necessary to the restoration of confidence without trespassing on existing treaties shall be applied to the whole programme and dominate the discussions at Genoa. Any interference with tiiese treaties will profoundly disturb the peace of Europe. The Note concludes .with the statement that it would be “particularly inadmissible that the Genoa Conference should roplaoe the League of Nations in the task ..which the Treaties assigned it and which .the League .alone is iu a position to accomplish, ft seems scarcely possible that the .programme to be drawn up at Genoa can be prepared in such a short period, and unless the Conference .is to end in disorder and confusion, it should he .postponed lor at lenst three months.”

BRITAIN OBJECTS. LONDON, Feb. 10. It is understood that Britain is unlikely to agree to any postponement of ti e Genoa Conference, unless Italy requests it. CANADA AND GENOA. OTTAWA, Feb. 10. It is announced that Canada will he represented at the Genoa Conference Sir Charles Gorden is named as one of the delegation. U.S.A. AND GENOA. WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. America’s reply, to the Genoa Gonfeienco invitation, which was clue to-day, is delayed. It is believed in official quarters That France’s action will cause President Harding to defer a reply.