CABLE NEWS. Genoa Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

Genoa Conference.

iusihaman and n'.z. cadi.e association. MR GARVIN’S REPORT. LONDON, May 6. The London journalist, Mr Garvin, writing from Genoa, states: “We 'readied a pinch. This is owing to the Fiench and Belgians demand; and Bus- * '•. sin’s inevitable refusal. I anticipate that the conference hfixt week kill either break down, or will adjourn, for a few months. France and Belgium continue their insistence on some uni-, versal principle of abstract justice. This is cheap and futile. France and Belgium’s ideas of politics and economics are inherently and permanently opposed to the Soviet’s ideas. Nothing can put Europe right except an agreement. The restoration of foreign . property by the Russians is impossible; but the Bolsheviks are willing to compeiisate, by means of concessions and shares to the extent of enabling Western capitalists to fare* as profitably, under the Soviet as under the Tsar, -f the Genoa Conference adjourns it will give both sides an opportunity for studying Mr, Lloyd George’s non-ag-gressive pact. Poland is the main difficulty thereto. Rumania is another difficulty. The Russians are on strong ground regarding both. Poland’s ft* sent frontier is impossible. If Poland’s I frontier could voluntarily be revised, a 1 10-year peace pact could’ be easily attained in a few months hence. Apart -from political difficulties the Technical Commission’s solid work will not be de- , stroyo*l. They have laid foundations of . general law and economic intercourse which might last for centuries, i “The Soviet,” says Mr Garvin, “is , being besieged by concession hunters, j among whom France and Belgium are ■ sure to figure later on. Russia’s oil ! attractions are certain to attract American and European. commercial ii en, whatever the Governments may decide.” • Mr Garvin, writing in the “Observer,” says “ Genoa, by Tuesday, will know whether the conference has achieved. any common policy for broken Europe, or has thrown back the pieces into the melting pot. It looks as though what -the conference’s friends wanted will not fully be attained, but neither will be what its enemies expected. The present sitiiotion is unparalleled in international affairS; M; Poitt" Cairo (French Premier)) hds dictated ordc.s and refusals like a Suzerain. He would not come to Genoa, or confer with the Allies at San Remo. .He -merely showered negatives, though 1 o'fering no constructive alternative. M. Poincaire has been absolutely an enemy of the whole method and spirit of the conference from the beginning, desiring its failure. He is the most stubborn figure in the world’s affairs. He'is full of logical ability but is without a single ray of imagination or humour. Temperamentally, M. Poincaire s fundamentally antagonistic to Mr^. I loyd George. On the contrary ,Mr Lloyd GeOrge and M. Bartholl. had be- - come friends. The latter,, like everyone else came under Mr Lloyd George s personal spell. Had M. Barthou attended the conference as French, Premier, it would have been a decisive success. The conference, front first to Inst has been dull, but the conditions were unequal. Mr Lloyd George in -he plenitude of his decisive conciliatory powers has been in the open with M. Poincaire in ambush. The latter does not believe in conferences. He will* finally obstruct a restoration of any complete European system. MhiU -haos continues, French military policy reigns supreme. Until M. Poincaire resigns, or the present reactionary French Chamber lifts been dissolved, France won’t work for European cohesion.”

GERMANS SEEK LOAN. PARIS, May (5

Herr Bergnanri, a German delegate to the Genoa Conference, has arrived m Paris, bringing a German offer to pa.v reparations by means of a 60 milliard marks loan instead of by extra German .taxation.

V.K AR CONFERENCE FAILING. LONDON, May 4. ah Australian, who has just returned from Genoa, declares that five small nations of North Europe, including Poland, were prepared to enter into agreements with Russia for trade reciprocity before the conference. The possibility of the conference dispersing resultless fills them with consternation. Likewise the Little Entente, headed by Czechoslovakia, because they would be caught—— between Germany and Russia in the event of any war and ground to dust. He says that .independent advices concerning Russia incontestably disclose C the Bolsheviks cannot continue under the present conditions, because they have exhausted the avenues of tion and'robbery. The Russians, .he says, must obtain loans or trade reciprocity,' or else be smashed. Germany.as-, serts that she is unable to pay the reparations without trade. Italy is bankrupt and she must get raw materials. France prefers to seize the Ruhr Valley rather than assist to resurrect the German trade. The position, he declares, is that Britain must choose between trading with Germany, or Russia which she desires to do, or breaking with France which she does not wish. —~ If the Genoa Conference fails to,, achieve something the Australian says, a European war will be almost inevitable.

ATTEMPT TO COERCE RUSSIA, ROME, May 5. The newspaper “Tribuna” publishes an interview with M. Tchitcherin (Soviet delegate at Genoa) wherein ehe Russian declares the memorandum of the Allies to Russia is quite unsatis. factory. It aggravtes the conditions oil which accord between Russia and the Powers was based on Mr Lloyd George’s letter of April 20. M. Tchitcherin states Russia can, not accept the Powers’ interdiction against there being allowed on Russian territory any political propaganda against capitalism. ■Russia also resents the Soviet’s right to negotiate with Rumania on the lem of Bessarabia being interdicted by the Powers. M. Tchitcherin says that the whole proposal in regard to a financial, moratorium for Russia’s debts is too. vague, and he considers the proposed arbitral tribunal to oontrol Russian debt's Ifi. «9Y?roign ftytyis,