Genoa Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1922, Page 2

Genoa Conference.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. I AT THE CONFERENCE. 1 LONDON, May 3. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa, correspondent says:—The Plenary session was dull. The and transport commissions report were adopted witliout alteration. The Russians are now considering the Allies’ memoranduni. Conference circles do not regard th(j French action as .torpedoing the Conference. When Lloyd George significantly declared that the French amendment might lead to a change in the grouping of the powers, a death-like silence prevailed in. the room. There is a belief that the French used Belgian opposition as only a pretext a,t liand to withhold approval after Barthou had aproved, alleging they could not desert Belgium. The Russians are likely to take time before a.nswetring the memorandum. Meantime interest centres in what is taking place in Paris. \NGLO-FRENCH DISAGREEMENT. GENOA, May 3. The French attitude caused a sensation yesterday at the Political SubCommission regarding Russia. The Mill-commission met in the afternoon. The Belgian delegates, who were absent, had previously endeavoured to secure the omission from the draft of a proposal giving the Russians the option of either restoring, or paying compensation for private property. The Belgians now demanded its re- " storation. M. Barrera (acting on behalf of M. Barthou) stated that he was instructed from Paris, after M. Barthou’s departure, that the French approval should not be given until M. Barthou returned. I Mr Lloyd George said that guch an announcement was not expected, as M. Barthou, before his departure, was igI norant thereof, M. Barrere confirmed this view; , l The sirb-commission adjourned, after I which the situation was informally considered. Two suggestions were made. The first was that a telegram should be sent to the French Government, explaining that the draft, as approved by M. Barthou and other delegations, represented a compromise, and that to introduce amendments would necessitate ils reconsideration de novo; and further urging the French Government to confirm the draft without any further amendment. The second suggestion was the possibility of introducing some words in the critical article dealing with private property, to enable the French delegation to let the document | go forward. ! To-night, when the sub-commission .resumed, the French delegation move an amendment to this article, adding further safeguards with regard to the ' restoration of property. , Mr Lloyd George said the amendment added weight to the article, I was already overweighted. 1 FRENCH AMENDMENT ACCEPTED.' 5 j GENOA,' May 3. ■ Continuing, Mr Lloyd George said the addition tendered by France was one taat might well make the difference between settlement and non-settlement. • Ho said he was profoundly anxious to maintain the co-operation of France and would accept the amendment, iD ' spite of the danger, if France agreed ! to pass the memorandum. He added ] that a failure by France to agree might i mean a' failure to achieve the pacificaj tion of Eastern Europe with such ooni ~e<iuenecs upon the re-grouping of pow. j | ers as it was impossible to foresee. He. | appealed to old allies and comrades to I let the draft go through, j M. Barrera said that he was pro. foundly touched by Mr Lloyd George’s j appeal. His position was a most diffi~

culc one. He had clear instructions j not to approve until he received in- , structions from Paris, I Tlie French delegates finally agreed .to send the document-to their Government with a reservation that the I French delegates did not give it their final approval pending instructions from j Paris. ! "Mr Lloyd George then accepted the < amendment.

! INTERNATIONAL FINANCE LONDON,. May 8. ’ The Australian Press -Association's correspondent at Genoa states - 'that Canada will contribute £1,000,000 toj ward* tho proposed international cor-

poration, I THE TARIFF QUESTION.^ GENOA, May 31 * • The Economic Commission has adopted # Swiss motion, recalling the principles of equitable treatment in commerce contained in Article 28 of the League of Nations Covenant, It recommends a, resumption of commercial I relations on the basis of treaties of commerce, founded, on the one hand, on a system of reciprocity adapted to special circumstances, and containing on the other hand, the possibility of a most favoured nation clause. A British preamble was adopted to this motion, setting forth that most of the countries represented at the conference, while recognising that temporary difficulties which may preclude a general adoption of the most favoured nation clause in all cases, affirm; their conviction that this should be goal to be,aimed at. France dissented from the motion. France suggested that Britain wap regarding the favoured nation treatment too much as a doctrine and ajrihe only remedy for European difficulties. There were other remedies, such as reciprocity nnd commercial treaties. BELGIANS AND RUSSIA. The Belgians have written to Signor Facta, consequent on the Allies attitude towards Russia, wilßdrawing all the offers fhey made in the preamble to the note to Russia, including __ a subscription of £4,000,000 to ,a con.sortium. '

CONTROL OF RUSSIAN DEBTSWASHINGTON, May 2. It is stated authoritatively that President Harding favours Chief Justice, Taft’s acceptance of Genoa invitatioba to name the chairman of an Arbitral ii: Commission to control Russia’s debts, The President interprets the invitation ? as a tribute to American fairness. FRENCH ATTITUDE. -*-■*<* PARIS, May 3. JL Cabinet has decided to support Be 1 }; gi'im’s. stand at Gepqp.