The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1922. REHABILITATING EUROPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1922. REHABILITATING EUROPE.

The near approach of the International Conference at Genoa, gives special interest to the problems which are to be considered by the delegates. It may reasonably be expected that the agenda will be comprehensive and lengthy, also that matters outside the real purpose of the conference will be introduced, though some may be ruled, out. In his Note delivered to the Italian Ambassador at Washington last month, Mr. C. E. Hushes, United States Secretary of State, while intimating that his Government could not helpfully participate in the Conference, gave expression to the deep interest his country took in any. conference that promised effective measures to promote the economic rehabilitation of Europe. Apparently the reason advanced by him for his Government not taking part in the effort he applauded, was. the fear that the conference would develop into a political congress. His prescience may be well founded, but it. is by no means either logical or convincing. The fact is that Mr. Hughes’ claim is based on the possibility of two very contentious matters being discussed—reparations, and the recognition of the Soviet—and he is taking no risk of the United States being lied into a position where it would have to definitely state its views, a line of policy which the New York Globe described as showing that America is unwilling to apply to Europe the same principles that she was willing to apply to the Pacific. Allowing for the aversion that the United States has to the possibility of being entangled in international politics, surely the pressing need for the economic rehabilitation of Europe is a matter .in which America, is sufficiently concerned to lend a helping hand in an earnest attempt to solve at least some of the main problems that await remedies. Moreover, United States delegates could assist in confining the discussions to the matters directly hearing on the real object of the conference. There can be no question that the terrible state into which Russia has drifted, or rather been forced by her dictators, must, form a .prominent, subject, for the consideration of the delegates, especially as Russia will be represented and so be in a position to state her own ease. No notice peed be taken of the assertive statements that have already been made by the Russian delegates as to what are their intentions. The one guiding fact is that Russia wants help, and it is for the Conference as a whole to come to a conclusion as to what form or forms that, aid shall take. Soviet methods will he of no service at Genoa; rather will they receive short shrift. What will happen on the question of the recognition of the Soviet remains to be seen, but there is a consensus of responsible opinion that no

such recognition can be expected until there exists a representative Government founded on the expressed will of the people, in contradistinction to a dictatorship seized by force and strategy. It will, however, be impossible to rehabilitate the economic condition of Europe without, restoring the economic condition of Russia. Mr. Lloyd George, in warning the House of Commons against tying the hands of the delegates, went on to demonstrate how the reparations question was affected by the internal and external peace of Russia, emphasising that without Russia’s restoration, Germany could not pay the reparations. At the same time he pledged his word not to recognise Russia -without the consent of the House of Commons. Britain and France are practically at one in their views concerning the main work of the Genoa Conference, which is to so improve economic conditions, by the restoration of the exchange and other means, as to enable the various countries concerned to balance their budgets. No one doubts the gigantic nature of such a task, yet to shrink from the attempt would be to display lack of courage and a. shirking of a manifest duty. . Success may not be attained, but there is an undeniable duty to make the attempt. The latest pronouncement by Mr. Lloyd George should remove all doubts as to the scope of the Conference, the aim of which is to examine the best method of restore ing order out of a. welter, and to recover prosperity out of a desolation.