ADRESS TO PRESSMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1922, Page 3

ADRESS TO PRESSMEN

(Received This Day at 1.30 p.m.) GENOA, April 20.

“God in His Heaven, the Conference still lives and is going strong.” This was Hon. l-loyd George’s optimistic opening in a brief address to five hundred world’s journalists. There are, lie added, two sets of people who legard the Conference from two distinct stand points. The first is those desiring its success and, secondly those desiring its failure. The Conference was working (successfully, though it had its diificulties. Some difficulties he learned from the press, were very serious. He sincerely trusted the Russo-Geiman incident was over and lie hoped to receive the Russian reply to-day. He would be very surprised if the reply were such as not to justify the Conference proceeding. Hon Lloyd George stated he believed the Conference would he successful and terminate in a. scheme that would result in the reconstructio nof Europe. The Germans have decided to accept the proposition not to participate in further discussions of the Russian question Hon. Lloyd George emphasised the gravity of their action in going hhiiid the backs of their colleagues, hut he entirely disbelieved that the action was wilfully desired to wreck the conference, although it might have so resulted. What would have been said if Rrita.n, France and Italy had acted similarly. Unless the Conference produced a pact of peace, it would prove a failure. Mr Lloyd George defended the informal conversations which occurred at Washington Arms Conference. They weie not merely right and fair, but eminently desirable, in order to clear up misunderstandings. He hoped they Wcu'd always he held at this or other Conferences. He looked forward to a considerable portion of the work at Genoa being carried on by the League of Nations.