PEASE OF EUROPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1922, Page 5

PEASE OF EUROPE.

IDEAL OF POWERS. GENOA CONFERENCE. PROCEEDINGS BEGIN. IMPORTANT TASKS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. Genoa, April 10. The great conference of nations to consider problems of Europe opened to-day. Signor Facta (Premier of Italy), in opening the conference, said the world war’s psychological, political, social and economic effects had completely destroyed financial and economic conditions. The fundamental reason for the economic chaos was a lack of confidence, which must be restored before normality was attainable. They had not assembled as friends, enemies, victors and vanquished, but as men of all nations striving for the attainment of a lofty ideal. The Pacific cloud had already disappeared as the re. suit of the Washington Conference, and they must work for the peace of •Europe in the same sincere spirit inspiring the Washington deliberations. He concluded with an appeal for equity, justice and solidarity between nations.

BRITISH PREMIER’S ADDRESS. APPEAL FOR COMMON ACTION. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. Genoa, April 10. Mr. Lloyd George, in his address to the conference, said: “This is the greatest gathering of European nations ■which has ever assembled, and the results will be far-reaching upon the destiny of the world. We meet on equal terms, provided we accept equal conditions. Those laid down at Cannes are honorable in themselves and essential to any intercourse between nations. We fully accept them ourselves; they are the only conditions upon which we can consent to deal with others.”

After detailing the conditions, Mr. Lloyd George went on: “Europe, exhausted 'with its fury, with loss of blood and treasure, is staggering under colossal burdens of debt and reparation which the war entailed, and legitimate trade and industry everywhere is disorganised and depressed.” Mr. Lloyd George said there was unemployment in the west and famine and pestilence in the east. He added: “The first need of Europe is real peace, and unless peace is established and there is goodwill amongst nations, all discussions will be of no avail. If we, act together in the same spirit we hall succeed, not in the spirit of a greedy vigilance, but with common desire to restore the world to its normal condition of health and vigor. We must not roll boulders in front of the plough. Let us think more of what we can accomplish than of what we can restrict. Public opinion is amenable in guidance.”

SNARLING MUST CEASE. Mr. Lloyd George concluded: “It is good to study currency, exchanges, transport and credit, but if real peace becomes the issue of this conference all those will be added unto you. It is true that actual fighting has ceased, but snarling goes on, and Europe is deafened by the canine clamour. It is not dignified; it rattles the nerves of a nerve-ruined Continent. We can only make a real contribution towards the restoration of Europe if the conference can stop this snarling. “I regret that America is not represented, but if we can set things right, America will come in gladly. If we fail, a sense of despair will sweep over the world, but if we succeed, a ray of confidence will* illuminate the gloom, bringing rest to the spirit of mankind. M. BARTHOU URGES FAITH. Following Mr. Lloyd George, M. Barthou said: “I bring to this conference the loyal co-operation of France. The world is tired of vain words and solemn declarations. We are here for action. We do not disguise the difficulties of our task, but faith alone will save the world. France claims no hegemony. War has cost her too much. She is wholly and resolutely for peace.” M. Barthou concluded: “Genoa will not be a court of appeal where existing treaties are to be judged and revised.”

GERMANY PROMISES CO OPERATION.

Received April 11, 8.5 p.m. Genoa, April 11. Following M. Barthou’s first speech, Herr Wirth (Germany), in a conciliatory address, said that Germany, who was abiding loyally by the Cannes resolutions, was one of Europe’s sick countries, and had come there to heal her wounds. They would work loyally with the conference. The world must abandon the spirit of distrust which was hindering Germany’s recovery. The economic and financial leaders should always have the final word at the conference. “We promise co-operation; that is all we can do.”

RUSSIA’S POSITION. PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION. Received April 11, 7.30 p.m. Genoa, April 11. M. Tchitcherin (Russian envoy), following M. Barthou, said that Russians did not desire to make propaganda, but to collaborate. They accepted the principle of the Cannes resolutions, not/ ing their reciprocity. Russia’s economic proposals might even exceed those made at Cannes. Russia was ready to disarm if assured against attack. “We did not come here-,” added M. Tchitcherin, “seeking Bolshevik ends, but for loyal participation on a basis of reciprocity. We will introduce our own special plan for the reconstruction of Russia, and finally will propose calling a universal conference which will offer even a larger basis than the League of Nations.”

M. BARTHOU’S PERTINACITY., M. Barthou spoke a second time in reply to M. Tchitcherin, repeating that France would not permit the raising of the disarmament question. M. Tchitcherin then attempted to discuss Ukraine, but Signor Facta (President) declared the incident closed. M. Barthou, speaking with heat, said: “The incident cannot close in ambiguity.”

»Signor Facta replied: ‘There is no ambiguity, as all present accept the Cannes resolutions as the basis of the conference. M. Barthou insisted on having the last word, and dramatically protested that the Russians had abandoned the Cannes resolutions.

GLIMPSE OF MEETING ROOM. THE FIRST SENSATION. OVER DISARMAMENT. Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. Genoa, April 10. Though Mr. Lloyd George occasionally seemed a tired man, his speech was a great effort, recalling that at Paris after his return from Rapa.Ho in 1917. Mr. Lloyd George, fighting W’ith the zeal of a Crusader, electrified the conference, which was held in a room in the Palace of St. George, a square hall about the size of the House of Commons, a chamber with lime-washed walls and life-sized statues in the niches. The newspaper men are crowded in the gallery at the back of the delegates, who are sitting in double horseshoe form.

Mr. Lloyd George’s best point was his reference to “snarling,” which was delivered with much forcefulness.

The sensation of the session was an encounter between M. Tchitcherin (the Russian envoy) and M. Barthou (French envoy). Directly the Russian suggested land disarmament, M. Barthou jumped up and declared that France absolutely and categoriclly refused to discuss disarmament. Mr. Lloyd George intervened, but M. Barthou again became angry when Mr. Lloyd George said that disarmament must ultimately be discussed. M. Tchitcherin reminded M. Barthou that M. Briand discussed disarmament at Washington. M. Barthon retorted that the Cannes agreement is that disarmament should not be discussed here.

POLICY OF BRITAIN. UNDERSTANDING REACHEQ. EARLY DIFFICULTIES. Genoa, April 10. The British and Dominions delegation met this morning ami arrived at a common understanding dealing with, conference business. The conference in the afternoon appointed four commissions. The first will deal with the conditions of the Cannes resolution, the Russian question, peace questions and general questions of confidence among nations. The second deals with finance, currencies and exchange. The third deals with economic and commercial tariffs. The fourth deals with transport. There wLI be a subsidiary commission on legal questions. Each country will have a representative on each commission.

It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George was greatly influenced by his preliminary conversation with the French, who objected to treating with Germany and Russia on the same basis as the other Powers. Mr. Lloyd Georgs replied that the conference was not summoned in order to issue ultimatums. If Russia and Germany accepted the Cannes resolution they ought to go straight ahead with the work of the conference, which would otherwise be useless.

The Japanese and Italians strongly supported Mr. Lloyd George. It was agreed not to allow Germany to raise the reparations questions, on the grounds that the vanquished cannot appeal to the victors in the presence of neutrals. The general aspects of reparations will be discussed as affecting the economic position of the world.

MILITARY PRECAUTIONS. ON (EXTENSIVE SCALE. Received April 12, 12.30 a.m. Genoa, April 11. The city is an armed camp. These surroundings to a conference with a peaceful intent are mainly due to the presence of the Russians, and the fear that turbulent elements might demonstrate against the Bolshevist delegation. A large force of military has been imported into the city, together with a strong contingent of Carabinieri. An especially wide cordon has been drawn round the Palazzo San Giorgio, where the conference met, while small units of infantrymen are stationed every twenty yards in al] the streets converging thereon, and cavalry patrols traversed the streets, which are decorated with Italian colors.

Crowds thronged the streets, but there was little in the ceremony for spectators, owing to police precautions. Thirty countries are reprinted. and five hundred journalists of all nationalities are present.