CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1922, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

GENOA. CONEEKENUfc DISCUSSION IN COMMONS. Australian and n.z. cable association. LONDON, May 25. In his speech on Genoa Conference, in the House of Commons, Hon Lloyd George Said he did not intend to say Anything in reference to reparations or Britain’s fetation?; with Fraile'b; The questions before the L'eiioa Conference were discussed witli the greatest amity. He proe.'eded to outline the work of the various commissions. Without the assistance of the other 50 nations, he said, it was hopeless for llussia, whatever its Glovernment did to extricate itself from the tit of squalor and misery. There were several alternatives fpr dealing with Russia—first, that Which whs tried before, of using force, hut no one suggested that at Genoa. The second was to leave her to her fate, until she changed her government, but how could they insure Europe against tie risks of the latter alternative? The Basso-Germ: n agreement showed the sort of peril that meant: Mr Lloyd George said Germany edtlid hot r&4qtiip RiiSSiii echnomicallv. She had not.the qapitnl. That has not the case with armaments, when they had every natural resource in one country and every technical skill in the other. If the nations were driven to despair, the British delegation realised it was for the peace of the world, whatever they thought of the Soviet Government, that some arrangement with Russia was necessary to help to swell the volume of trade on which so many millions of people depended for daily bread, and to give a sense of stability and security to Europe. The Russian leaders realised they could not get credit from the West upon a basis of confiscation, and repudiation of debt. Mr Lloyd George said that with regard to Russia’s pre-war revolution debts, they Weft prepared to compromise. The talk about nationalisation v. as all humbug. The Russians talked about the' sacredness of the great principle of •the revolution, but 95 per cent of the property in Russia was land. “ Let the Soviet try to take it,” be concluded dramatically ; “ it is as much a peasant proprietary as if the tales bad l>een written out! The great mass of Russian people are more individualistic (bah tii'e; fli6 people of this country.” The position of the Eqropenn Powers was clearly stated in the Allied Cannes Resolutions which the Bussiaris never assailed. The Hague Conference would be a practical discussioft of experts on the basis of the Allied Cannes resolutions. He was hopeful of a successful outcome.

Meanwhile, they had to consider

what could be done to prevent conflict in Europe. Therefore a trace pact WHS embodied ill n solemn declaration by all tlie Powers at Genoa. He was not going to say tbt: Genoa ((Fort would ultimately succeed, but believed it had accomplished great things already. If Genoa failed, the position of Europe would indeed be tragic. The British

delegation.were proud they took a leading part in the upholding and fighting for high ideals, which would'be always associated with the grave problem of Genoa. Mr Asquith considered Ihe results of the Geima Conference were depressing iiild distressingly meagre. Its objeo's were admirable, but what were the net results? Had tie advanced one single stop towards the regulation of the economic position of Russia and the rest of Europe. It .had been relegated to the Hague, where they would have to consider it with a clean slate. When the Conference rose we were in exactly the same position in regard to a reopening of economic relations with Rtissia as on the first day of the Conference. • They had igno r ed one tiling, on which the real re-establislimeif of credit and free intercourse depended, which Was the regulation of debts, and the making of generous remissions of our claims.

Mr Lloyd George said that not a single' step of any importance had been taken throughout the conference without the fullest Consultation with - India’s and the Dominions’ delegates, all of whom agreed, however much they might dislike the Soviet, that Europe was bound to make some arrangement with Russia to enable that country to contribute towards the restoration of the world trade. T’'p Empire’s wliol ■ delegation devoted its utmost s-'engtb dnilv to trying to win a battle for the peace

of the world. Lord Robert Cecil said the greatest disadvantage from which the Genoa Conference suffered was the absence of America. If there were any possible chance of securing American par-

ticipation at some other economic conference; it would l e better to abandon The Hague scheme.

Mr Asquith said the disadvantages suffered by Hie confe*—nee were not only the abstention of America and the halfhearted participation of France, but the real obstne'e was that the subject’s for discussion viore e.hoedy bound (lowa by previous decisions in regard t-i Euro-

pean economic questions. Mr dynes said be did not blame 'France for her attitude. They laul guaranteed her apparent, if illusory, benefits under the Versa'll- s Treaty, and the nuestion un-t whether they should boldly say they bad guaranteed more than they could deliver. Eu'op’ was now more warlike, and was training more anted men than before the •war, Tbev wanted a new policy from these conferences. White Labour dilfered materially from the Prime Minister on many of t! e points dis'-ussel at Genoa, it admired the whole-hearted manner ill which he had tried to make the conference effective. He honed the Premier would continue his efforts to make terms with Bussia. After x two hours’ general debate, Mon Llovd George was on Ids feet again. Lord Robert Cecil’s speech gave the Premier an opportunity to make a lively attack on the Government’s critics, whom be .described as always wanting to he on good terms with France, and wer vet always opposing the French viewpoint. Lord Robert had talked about the old diplomacy, but lie would support anything new, or old, if it were against the Government. Mr AsquiMi’s speech, he described as n series of poor, thin jibes. Mr Worthington Evans closed the tL*M)ate. He described the Peace Pact as most solemn and impressive. The conference showed that while the European States held steadfastly to their individual systems, they were not blind to the calls.of humanity, and were prepared to alleviate human suffering. Mr Chamberlain, in the H<»nse .(it Commons, said the cost of 'l.e lintish delegation^vms^appromnmUd)' LONDON, May 25. In the final of the ladies’ golf championship, Miss Wethered heat MT s s Read 10 up and 8 to play. In the Amateur Golf Championship Hunter (champion) after a close stnigglej beat Whigmn one up. Robinson, Tolly’s conqueror, beat Fry, five and four. In the fifth round Hilton, beat Robinson five and four.