GENOA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1922, Page 3

GENOA CONFERENCE

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLK ASSOCIATION. SIR RBELL. LONDON, May 8. There is a mystery as to New Zealand’s lion-representation at the Genoa Conference. It now deepens. Sir Jas. Allen made a statement on March 14th. this was followed by an announcement fly gif Ffarlcid Bell that life Would act at GeiiSa. Oil his arrival in LondSn today, Sir F. Bell stated that he considered that, in the present circumstances, that' it was neither necessary, nor desirable, he should attend the Genoa Conference. He declined, however, to make any statement on the general question of Australasian representation at such Conference, but said lie could announce that he would not attend at Genoa, unless the present Conference adjourned, and is subsequently re-con-stituted at a later date. . The real object of the New Zealand attorney-general’s visit to England np- • pears to be to meet a request by the Colonial Office for consultation with a New Zealand law officer on several undisclosed matters. Sir Francis Bell subsequently visits Norway. german on reparations. (Received This Day at 10.16 a.in.) BERLIN, May 8. Gessler (Minister for Defence) speakin* at Hahburg regarding reparations itoSltiofl, said thfe.German Government L .fulfilling its obligations hithfertn had gained timfe and made her enfenues realise the Impossibility of a complete fulfilment. If France now proceeded - alone against Germany, Britain and other States would not prevent lier, but would refuse all support. PRESS CONTROVERSY. i (Received This Day at 10.16 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. A typically British touch, was added to the keen fcontroversy ih the London Press regarding fee “Timfes” attitude j over the Genoa , Conference, flie | "Evening News” following the lead of . other Northcliffe papers, issued a poster ( to-da^— “We.stand by France and Belhad tin tfife iirfeeti anbthfer tWfltef declafifig “We Stand by Britain. m. poincaire’S vfeWs': (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) ' PARIS, May 9. j M Poincaire in a letter to Lord Hardinge clears up the dissatisfaction m British circles at Genoa, created by •' former statement expressing fund >•' pathy with Belgium and omitting sympathy towards England. M. Toincaire poinis out that every Frenchman preserves a precious memory ot the . countries wartime co-operation and dosires whole lieartedly a permanence of the cordial relations, but on the'questiolt of general interest of private hropSrtV it Is natural that between the Itfo Allies With whom we are in equal sympathy we caniiot disavow those who think like us. AMERICA AND GENOA. WELLINGTON, May 8. "I am not surprised that America refused to take part in the Genoa Con- ' ference,” said Sir John Salmond in reply to a question. “Doubtless America was anxious to obtain a successful result from the Washington Conference without complicating it at •Genoa. The matters agreed to at Washington had to be ratified by the United States Senate. The Washington Conference related directly to American interests—the navy, and peace in the Pacific. America no doubt did not wish to be mixed up further than was necessary with European problems, and Genoa only concerned her indirectly.” “New Zealand’s part in the Great War lias had the effect in America of stimulating a desire for knowledge concerning our country and its affairs,” said Sir John, in reply to a question concerning the knowledge of New Zealand abroad. “I was astonished to| find how'kindly interested the peo,.le of the United States were in us.” 11. added that to them the fact that a remote dependency •of Great Britain had taken such an active part in the war was a revelation, anil their admiration for us was increased When they saw that New Zealand was directly represented at the Washington C-> de.-en e “It is ten years since I last visited England, but I was agreeably surprintd oH thy recent tour to find so little change externally. It is true they have Immense taxation and hunk nse c'.< bt

and serious depression it. tin industry, but for all that [ I nn.l the k people much more comenied thin I expected to Bee.” Sir John Salmond’s report on the Conference will be submitted to the Government in due course.