GENQA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1922, Page 3

GENQA CONFERENCE

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

AT THE CONFERENCE. (Received 'lbis Hay at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 26. The Australian Press Association’s

Genoa correspondent says some French and Italian papers publish what purports to be the text of Lloyd George’s pact of peace. The document does not come from the British delegation and does not represent their views. A rough draft of the pact has been prepared and submitted to several heads of delegations, who approved of the same in principle. The Russian situation is still not clear. The Russians asked that bank balances in various countries during the Czarist regime should be surrendered, but this demand is countered by the fact that the Soviet has not restored private property held under the old regime. The position at present is that the expert committee is preparing a voluminous report for the meeting at which Russian claims and offers will be taken and discussed. These minutes will require to Ire signed by those engaged in the discussion before the work is resumed. The process deals with questions one to seve nof the London Experts report. Rumours that Hon Lloyd Geoige is returning to England are untrue He intends to remain until the political aspect of the Conference is settled, one way or the other, and a definite basis established. Russians take the view that if the Germans are excluded from the first commission, Poles should similarly be excluded, because they have concluded an agreement with Russia, more mide reaching than the RussoRussia permit any third Power to in erfere with their treaties. The Poles deny the Russian allegation declaring what they signed at Ri'gft was merely a protocol, wherein they declared de jure recognition ot the' Soviet was durable hut nothing so far has been done io give effect thereto. There are. grave misgivings whether the question of private pro- ( perty can be overcome. It cuts clean across the Russian policy of nationalisation. If a modus viveiuli on the point can he reached, the rest of the Conference’s work will he fairly easy.

GERMAN PRESS SHAKY. (Received This Day at 10.15 a.m A BERLIN, April 26

If. Poincaire’s speech, which was delivered fit the Bar of Le Hue, lias evoked intense bitterness, the press representing the Right Party winch has observed a truce since the GenoaCo feronce, is now rapidly nationalist and anti-French. The "Kruea heads a leader, “Poinca.re s decimation of war,” a'«l J >r( j ,h( s t troops will occupy Rhinehnnd " • ' May Germany will he unable to offn military resistance, but can practise passive resistance. The paper a the Government to pay up i T due for reparations.

FRENCH PRESS COMMENT, xßeceived This Day at 10.15 a.m.) PARIS, April 26. The ‘‘Petit Parisien” says even assuming the: worst it is evident that M Poincare docs not intend Frat.ee to act alone, when he declares France alone would have the right to take action He has too much confidence in the good sense of the Allies, more particularly loyalty to the British Government to believe he would have to enforce his strict rights. The French .Government while fully determined to exercise its rights to the full does not intend to exceed the limits laid down. Government’s decision will follow those of the Reparations Commission which will be regulated by the acts of the German Government for the period ending 31st May.

NOTE TO RUSSIA. (Received This Dav at lil.lo a.in.) GENOA, April 26.

The Allies’ Note to be presented to the Russians to-morrow is practically a.n ultimatum, demanding unequivocal replies to the four principal powers—firstlv, payment of war debts either entirely or with a reduction based on the Russians capacity to pay : secondly . payment of pre-war debts with granting, if necessary, of a reasonable moratorium, thirdly, indemnity for all damages caused to foreigners; fourthly restitution of confiscated property .

The Allies are drawing up their other points and an endeavour will he made to force the Russians to reply at the earliest possible moment in order to close the conference before 10th May.

The Political Committee is the only one> which has not finished work. All the others have practically terminated theirs, by enlarging the decisions by the previous Conference, and leaving the League of Nations to put them into effect.