GENOA CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1922, Page 5

GENOA CONFERENCE.

OBJECTS DEFINED. PROBLEMS OF EUROPE. NO REVISION OF TREATIES. By Telegraph.—Press Aasu.—Copyright. Received April 4, 55 p.m. London. April 3. Mr. Lloyd George, amid prolonged cheering, moved the Genoa resolution. He said it gave the House an opportunity of approving the objects, purpose and delegates of the Genoa Conference, or of disapproving. If the resolution was defeated, it would be equivalent to a vote of no-confidence.

The Genoa Conference, said the Premier, was summoned to examine the best method of restoring order out of a welter, and recovering prosperity out of desolation. The objection to the Cannes resolution was due to certain limitations to the scope of the discussions. He did not believe such a conference as would meet at Genoa could properly consider the revision of ex*isting treaties, even assuming it was

Received April 4, 8.55 p.m. London, April 3. * 'ontinuing his speech, Mr. Lloyd George said the trouble in Tturope had been attributed largely to the reparations exacted by the treaties of 1919. These treaties did not create the reparations trouble, which were due, not to the fact that they were exacting reparations, but that there was something to repair.

GERMANY’S POSITION. Germany’s ultimate capacity to pay must not be judged by her capacity at this moment, when, in common with the rest of Europe, she was endeavoring to recover from the waste of war. It was a mistake, because the conference had not achieved everything it was summoned to consider, to suppose that the conference had failed. If they proceeded upon that assumption, Europe would never be restored. If any progress made at all the conference w®s justified. LABOR’S PROTEST.

He could not understand the Labor Party’s protest against conferences, as they had been brought to life by them. He had been assured the Government was a dying coalition; therefore, he might have the privilege, as a dying Minister, to give the last word of advice. He did not know who would succeed them, nor their character, but he should say their complexion wouia be piebald, and, judging by their criticisms, he should say the new Government had its principles enunciated and propounded by the Morning Post, the Daily Herald, the Westminster Gazette, the Daily Mail, and Comic Cuts.

He warned them not to tie his hands against the conference. The trade of Europe was of the greatest importance, as not merely directly, but indirectly, the fact that international trade had broken down affected Britain very specially. One of the first things the Genoa Conference would have to consider would be the question of restoring the exchanges. Currency had- broken from its moorings, and was drifting helplessly, therefore one of the first considerations was to induce the nations to balance their Budgets.

IMPORTANCE OF RUSSIAN PEACE.

Another important question was peace in Russia, and peace with Russia. Here he approached a subject where, perhaps, legitimate prejudices clouded peace. Until peace was established they could not restore trade or employment over the whole of Europe. Europe needed what Russia could supply. She was the largest undeveloped country in the world, and needed capital, but she would not get it without internal and external peace. Germany could not pay the full demanded reparations until Russia was restored. Russia must recognise all the conditions imposed and expected of civilised communities. That was the test of fitness for entering the comity of nations. Was Russia, he asked, prepared to accept these conditions? There were indications of a complete change in her attitude. The famine had been a great eye-opener as to her dependability upon her neighbors, and the futility of the scheme which the Soviet bad propounded. If Russia was willing to accept the conditions, then there would be a real basis for peace. This would not involve the further recognition of Russia until the House of Commons had approved. There would not be full diplomatic representation to Russia until the Powers were satisfied that Russia was endeavoring to carry out her undertakings. The alterenative suggestion was that they should do nothing until one day it was reported that tne Soviet Government had disappeared, and that a Government of a totally different character had been established in Russia. When was that going to happen? The conduct and methods of Bolsheviks had excited just wrath and anger.

A NOTABLE PRECEDENT. Pitt had the same problem to deal with after the French revolution, when the circumstances were not unsimilar to those of to-day, and Pitt decided that peace with the French Revolutionary Government was desirable. We are actuated in going to Genoa by the same motives which actuated Pitt, The fact that there are large revolutionary armies in Russia, or the belief that they existed, was an excuse for armies in other countries. It was our business, our duty, to see the establishment of complete peace throughout Europe in order to deal with the serious problems of trade and unemployment. The Premier concluded, after speaking for eighty-five minutes.

THE VIEWS OF LABOR.

Mr. Clynes moved the Labor amendment. He expressed some sympathy with Mr. Lloyd George, who had been trying, not to persuade the Opposition that the Genoa Conference was necessary, hut to persuade the serried ranxs behind him. Mr. Clynes declared that unless the Genoa Conference proceeded to revise many features of the Peace Treaty, which’Mr. Lloyd George knew was the cause of all Europe’s troubles, it would fail as completely as previous conferences. The Government was clearly erumbling. Mr. Lloyd George was attempting to turn the so-ealled economic conference into a gateway ior a general election. While Mr. Lloyd George might secure a majority, he would not secure the spirit of confidence in either the House or the coun-

try, which realised that British workers, and not Germany, were now paying the reparations. “ He declared that if Germany was compelled to produce at the present rate it would entail a serious displacement of British labor, and eventually give Germany a triumphant position in all the world’s wkets. If Communism had failed in Russia, had Capitalism succeeded better in Britain, which had 1| millions unemployed living on doles and seven millions employed on wages below subsistence level? Capitalism had produced slums and a 03 nation. Our whole policy towards Russia must be changed. Mr. Lloyd George had ceased to be Prime Minister, and had become a prisoner. Labor could not support a Government which, at Home and abroad, failed to use its enormous majority for the national benefit. LIBERAL CRITICISM. Sir Donald McLean, in the absence of Mr. Asquith, owing to ill health, criticised strongly the Government for seeking to secure a vote of confidence before going to the Genoa Conference when it had not done so in connection with the eleven previous conferences. The real cause of postponement of the Genoa Conference and the general election was Sir George Younger, who appositely entered the House at this point, causing members to be convulsed with laughter. BONAR LAW’S LOGIC.

Mr. Bonar Law thought it was difficult to understand why the Government had brought down such a motion, and still more difficult to understand why anyone opposed it. The House had known the Government’s views since the Cannes Conference. Mr. Lloyd George probably understood electioneering as well as anyone in the House, therefore it was most foolish to suggest he was going to Genoa to make political capital. It would have been advantageous to postpone the conference if there was any possibility of securing America’s attendance. He thought the ruling out of the reparations question would form a great handicap. Famine-stricken Russia could in no wise help Europe’s trade for years, but Mr. Lloyd George, believing it possible to do something to hasten European restoration, had proved his immense courage by proposing the conference. He was glad Mr. Lloyd George had removed all fears that Russia would be recognised without adequate guarantees, or that quixotic schemes of lending money to other nations would be recognised.

OTHER CRITICS. Lord Robert Cecil could not support the resolution, because the machinery of the League of Nations had not been employed, and the conference would not deal with the questions of disarmament and revision of the treaty. Mr. Stephen Walsh (Labor) said that if the reparations question was not included, the conference would be rendered null and void. The Government was not asking for a vote to justify going to Genoa, but for the continuation of a long-firm swindle. (Laughter).

A STRONG POINT. Mr. Chamberlain wound up the debate by pointing out that the Labor Party wanted the conference, but also wanted reparations upon the agenda. They did not seem to appreciate the fact that if reparations were included there would be no conference. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

London, April 3.

Mr. Lloyd George was accorded an ovation in the House of Commons on moving the Genoa resolution, the rejection of which would be equivalent to a vote of want of confidence.

He warned the House against tying the hands of delegates. The first question would be an endeavor to restore the exchanges, to induce the nations to balance their budgets, also to secure the internal and external peace of Russia. Without Russia’s restoration Germany could not pay the reparations. Mr. Lloyd George believed the famine had changed the Soviet’s outlook and shown the need of its dependence upon its neighbors. He promised not to recognise Russia without the apporval of the House of Commons. The problem of the Bolsheviks was similar to that which faced Pitt after the French revolution.

The Labor amendment was defeated, and the Government’s Genoa resolution was carried by 372 votes to 94.

PREVENTING TROUBLE. ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS. BOLSHEVIKS AND FASHIONS*. Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, April 3. Advices from Genoa say that most elaborate precautions are being taken for the prevention of possible disturbances or acts of hostility against delegates to the conference. The police are keeping surveillance over taverns, ana already over one hundred suspected persons have been arrested. The police have been greatly reinforced.

Great satisfaction is felt because Socialists, Fascisti and seamen have promised not to make a disturbance unless provoked. A hundred bi-lingual commissioners and innumerable plainclothes men are concentrated at Genoa. While the Bolsheviks are sheltered, strangely, under the roof of the Hotel Imperial, they will be protected by two hundred men stationed in the vicinity. Excessive precautions are being taken against unauthorised persons entering the Royal Palace. The Daily Mail’s Berlin correspondent states the Bolshevik delegation arrived there and quickly motored to their hotels, their location being a secret. Travellers on the same train from Riga comment on Bolshevik girl secretaries dressed in the latest fashions, with silk stockings of many colors, and with powder puffs prominent.—United Service.

POLICY OF RUSSIA. SOME FAR-REACHING DEMANDS. Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, April 3. A message from Moscow says the Soviet is making the following aemands at Genoa:— The recognition of the Russian merchant flag, the unrestricted use of foreign ports, handing over all Russian ships. Sixty per cent, of Russian pre-war shipping, it is claimed, was in foreign ports, and any lost must be replaced. In the event of the Dardanelles being declared neutral, the Soviet claims participation in international control. Trotsky, addressing a Communist Party Congress, said the main worK of the Communist Party now is the training of the new generation. He added: “Should the bourgeoise of Europe attack ns and refuse to set up a new economic policy calculated to espthlLk nMmful ImaineM ral&Uona. W*

will probably again introduce a terror more pitiless than during civil war..— Times Service.

COST OF BRITISH DELEGATION.

Received April 4, 10.30 p.m. London, April 3,

Mr. Cecil Harmsworth (Foreign Un-der-Secretary), answering a question as to the cost of the British delegation at Genoa, said it would not be heavy as they would be the guests of Italy.