GENOA CONFERENCE SHIPPING AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1922, Page 2

GENOA CONFERENCE

SHIPPING AFFAIRS.

G ERA 1 AN-R U SSO SURPRISE. ' IUBTKAMAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, April 17. The Australian Press Genoa correspondent states the Conference is .surprised at the announcement of the Russo-German Treaty concluded teste i day. It replaces the Treaty, and renounces all war claim?; by both nationals. It also condones the claims of private property, provided the Allies similarly renounce it. The Treaty cancels claims on account ol Russian socialisation measures, provided the Soviet does not give a- similar account of claims of other States. It accords the favored nation treatment.

The delegations who resumed c-onver sat ion this evening will now turn their attention to this new turn of It puts Allies in such a position, tlia-F; Russia- can say Germany is willing to renounce her claims, why don’t you. It purports to be an economic treaty, hut it is a “De Jure’ recognition of Soviet diplomatic relations, established from six this morning, and is generally regarded as a prelude to a RussoGerman alliance. The document was not officially communicated to the Allies except Italy. When the delegates met a German official unofficially handed it Hon Lloyd George.

A GRAVE POSITION. GENOA, April 18. Hon. Lloyd George immediately sent a message to the German delegation saying—“l take a very grave view of Gie German in taking a step behind the conference’s back. He also expressed astonishment and indignation.

The French were considerably peturbed, hut the delegation of Allies decided not to take any action until tomorrow,

The British vie\y is one of surprise, that the action was taken here, although the possibility of such a treaty as always been foreseen. The idea of the Genoa conference was to prevent the division of Europe into two camps. Germany now finds herself in a worse position than hitherto. She has proved herself disloyal. There is no defence for her attitude. The Treaty was evidently drafted months ago. Perhaps little exception could be taken if it had been signed prior to coming to Genoa. The Russians were always free to make an agreement- for recognition whenever it could, hut Germany’s case was different, because she accepted the Cannes Agreement, for the very purpose of reconstruction of Europe. The outlook is grave although some opini >ns think it will not cause a- break up of the Conference. JAPAN’S DEMANDS. TOKIO, April 16. The newspaper “Muniehi Shimbun” reports that instructions have been-sent to Japanese delegates at Genoa Conference to insist that Russia must recognise 25 million yen loaned to Romanoffs and Kerensky direct, plus fjxtv million yen, Russian debts, for war supplies, for which the Japanese Government gave a guarantee; also sixty million yen unguaranteed debts. ThgT® 5 question -of the disposition of sixty ' i ikon yen lying in a Yokohama hank to the credit of the Czarist Government, requires a settlement. Japanese creditors desire that the money be apI lied to payment of unguaranteed debts. Under no condition will Government permit this amount to leave Japan,

CHINA AND JAPAN. TOKIO, April 16. A rupture in the negotiations with China, followed China delegates taking the stand that any agreement signed must state explicity when Japanese troops will evacuate Siberia, while lapanesp contended that this was a matter for subsequent arrangements Allowing the signing of a general agreement.

The Japanese foreign office explains that Japan undertook to name a definite date for the evacuation of Siberia and 1 laced the matter in the hands of the military experts to call an immediate conference, but China made an additional proposal, upsetting the funiamentnl agreement already reached regarding the protection of the lives of foreign residents and adoption of an open door policy Japan ordered, the delegates to withdraw from the Conference if China persisted in her demands.

GERMANY AND RUSSIA. LONDON, April 17

The “Daily Express”. Genoa correspondent interviewed Dr Rathenau, who said that an economic treaty was a necessity. “I want to emphasise,” he said, “the Rappallo negotiations tit Berlin. We did not come to a. definite conclusion at Berlin, because Germany felt the Genoa Conference might produce something tangible. Germany saw herself isolated at the first moment of the conference, and was alarmed when she saw the Allies and Russia in a secret conclave at Mr Lloyd George’s villa. Germany though that if the Allies and Russia combined, then Paragraph 116 of the Versailles Treaty would be put into effect. Our only course was to get together with the Russians, which was done.

MELBOURNE, April 18. Mr Larkin, the manager of the Commonwealth Government Shipping Line at London, has cabled to say that Lord Inchcape (head of the shipping** combine) has given an assurance in the event of the liner Hobson/s Bnv belonging to the Commonwealth (cabled on March 18) being held up through the action of the Australian maritime nations in insisting upon Australian Government ships being manned by Australian seamen then all the vesels of Lord Inchcape’s group of lines, that are trading on the Australian coast, will be withdrawn. They will be kept away until the Government vessel is fully manned. Action has also been taken in this direction by the Commonwealth Ship Owners’ Association, who, in view of their pending strukgle against the Seamen’s Unions over dictation, have already given a number of their masters and officers one month's notice. This indicates that the private owners will all stand by the Hughes Government when the crisis comes to a head, which it is expected to do on the arrival at Sydney next week of t£ie Hobson’s Bay.