GENOA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1922, Page 3

GENOA CONFERENCE

AVH'tRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. POINCAIRE’S VIEWS. • PARIS, May 8. M. Poincaire Informed President Harding that lie thinks he will be able to suggest a formula which will satisfy French and Belgian claims in connection with the Russian question. PARTING OF THE WAVS. (Jteceived This Day at 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, May 8. M. Bartliou told journalists that Oenoa Conference was at an end but this does not mean the end of the Frnnoo-British friendship. The “ Petit Pnrisien ” says if the Alliance ends future events will probably show England even more than France that her interests are not where she seems to see them to-day . * A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. •Received This Pay at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON May 8. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent says the Genoa Conference ha« begun the fifth week with the gloomiest outlook, Many of those who delivered hopeful speeches for its success belied their faith in it by carrying accident insurance policies in the shape of some sort of trade agreement either signed or ready for signature. Entente friendships have been badly shaken through the rumours of concessions negotiated behind each other’s backs. Undoubtedly, rightly or wrongly, the oil story has done great mischief. Even United States, which took np the position of splendid isola- : tion against European entanglements has been forced to take action in her trade interests. Mr Child, the Ameri- > can' Ambassador to Italy, gave a lun- . cheon to Lloyd George, and discussed 1 the oil situation. It looks at the mo- ! ment as if the ideals with which the * conference started are rapidly drifting 1 into a concession-bargaining affair. * Meanwhile in a. beautiful retreat at J Rapallo, the Russians are considering 11 the memorandum. They can hardly be 1 blamed if they look upon the Confer- 1 ence ns a crowded auction room, where extremely keen bidding is going on for the goods which Russia has at command or that she forces her price. STRAINED RELATIONS. .'Received This Dav at 0.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. c ■ In connection with the reported (; strained interview between Hon Lloyd y George and M. Bartliou, a writer in the d .“Matin" proves this to he without cl foundation. He says—“l know the de- ni tails of the conversation in question. Hon Lloyd George, spoke like a broken in down man. He was profoundly dis- b tressed, but never threatened, or even e ] hinted at a new friendship. Mr Lloyd ti George admitted in certain contingen- a cies that the Anglo-French policy was ( ,l divergent, but this was a question of fact, quite different to a rupture or ta menace. What irritated him most was in the French solidarity to Belgium and tl above all, M. Poincaire’s refusal to per- .limit the Allied Council to meet and on discuss Reparations liefore May 31st. de In the Commons, Hon Chamberlain, mi on Mr Lloyd George’s authority char- on ncterised the statement as a malicious ro invention.