Genoa Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1922, Page 2

Genoa Conference.

tUSIRAI.IAN AND M.Z- CABLE ASSOCIATION. PRESS CONTROVERSY. LONDON, May 8. Mr Steed, “The Times” special reppresentative at the Genoa Conference, has wired a reply in reference to Mr Lloyd George’s denial of statements reported by “The Times”. Mr Ste'Aii 1 * states: I have no hesitation in affirm- _ ing that the substance of Mr Lloyd George’s words to M. Barthou wag as I gave it. Also, he afterwards repeated the' same statement to others. Indeed he (Lloyd George) has repeatedly made analogous or identical statements, l>oth privately and officially during this conference. There is no doubt whatever that he clearly gave M 7 Barthou to understand that, inasmuch os France preferred Belgian friendship to British, he must not be surprised if Britain regarded the Anglo-French Entente as being ended. Mr Steed adds: “According to the German sources, Mr Lloyd George urged Dr Wirth (German Chancellor) and Dr. Rathenau (German Minister) yesterday to use their influenpe to persuade the Russian Bolsheviks to accept a concerted European document. The Germans, however, used this as an opportunity to split th Allies.” “The Times” adds: “Further information of Mr Lloyd George’s statement to M. Barthou comes from the English Press correspondent, Mr Ward Price, at Genoa, who states that M. Barthou gave him (Mr Ward Price) a straightforward account of what passed with Mr„.. Lloyd George in which ' account M, Bartliou affirms that Mr Lioyd George said: “We have come to the partihg of the ways!’ • i RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. ’GENOA, May 101. Tne Vatican has memorialised the Genoa Conference requesting that any agreement sought by Russia should be made to secure religious tolerance, freedom of worship and security of religious property in Russia. . 1 Russia’s reply to the Allies’ MemOrandum is expected to-morrow, . • MOSCOW, May 10. There was a daamatic episode in the trial of the Archbishop of Moscow and 20 priests for agitating against the appropriation of • the property of the Russian Orthodox Church by the Sovi- . ets. The. Patriarch Tikhon appeared in the witness box in block silk vestments, and wearing, an .ikon. As he entered all those in the Court rose’to receive his benediction. The president asked who had done it; Tikhort repL “You know that. The Soviet Government has done it!” ’ As a result of this Evidence, the patriarch Tikhon was then included in the indictment:

ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. PARIS, May 10. President Millerand has returned and attended a Cabinet meting, which unanimously approved of the French dealt sion. to adhere to the Russian Memoran- _ dum subject to a modification of Article VII, but declared that, thene w-ill be no compromise on the Subject' of private property in Russia. “Le Petit Parisien” states that the British and Italian delegates have arrived at a formuln which will facilitate an agreement with Russia. This proposal is to leave Article VII., regarding the restoration of private property, out of the memorandum for the present, thus allowing each country to negotiate separately with the Soviet on the property question. The British delegation says the same paper have also proposed that a pact be signed only for five years, making no reference to any existing treaties in order not to involve any neutral countries. It is also not regarded as essential that all countries should sign.

LLOYD GEORGE’S ATTITUDE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.)GENOA, May 9

A correspondent of the “Journal Dehats” telegraphs that Mr Lloyd George in all recent conversations, whether official or unofficial, particularly with M. Barthou and M. Benes, announced the imminent end of the Franco-British Entente. His denial is merely playing, o poll words. The revelations which have been made, even fall short of the truth.

RUSSIA’S REPLY. (Received this day at 8 a.m.). GENOA, May 9. The Russians have communicated the general trend of the reply to the tabled memorandum which will be presented on the 10th. The reply apparently is long and argumentive. The Russian delegates'declare they are not prepared in the spirit of conciliation. After disagreeing with some of the memorandum' proposals, the hope is expressed that a difficulty will not present itself of eliminating the political features of' the memorandum, inasmuch as the Russians generally endeavoured to bridge the conflicting social and economic systems. The desire is emphasised that negotiations shall not be ruptured and it is declared that a Rußso-British trade agreement, if not wholly satisfactory has re- • suited in the two countries becoming less distant. They think the Genoa Conference has proved a great help. Regarding the clause dealing with the restitution of private property, the' reply holds that the world must accustom itself to the fact of the existence of a European state, whose life is based essentially on the system of State property.