GENOA IMPASSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1922, Page 5

GENOA IMPASSE.

FRICTION OVER TREATY. GERMANY’S CHOICE. DIVISION OF POWERS. By Telegraph —Press Amu.—Copyright. Received April 20, 5.5 p.m. _ Genoa, April 19. . et J Wirth and Dr. Rathenau obtained an interview with Mr. Lloyd George to-day. The latter pointed out that two courses were open to the Germans either to withdraw from the treaty or withdraw from the first commission. He had no desire to humiliate the Germans, but if they insisted on the Russian treaty they could not take part in the first commission. During the conversation Mr. Lloyd George said he could not allow Dr. Rathenau to make imputations against the British delegation by saying they knew of the preparation of the treaty. Argument ensued, but Mr. Lloyd George was firm. The Germans left very depressed. They meet to draft a reply at 10 o’clock on Wednesday night. It transpires that Dr. Rathenau sought to see Mr. Lloyd George thrice last week, but the latter’s reply was that he was not quite ready to see him. The Germans assert they were terribly anxious about what was going on at Mr. Lloyd George’s residence, it being reported that the Allies were about to come to a decision. It is pointed out that the Germans could easily have sent a formal protest against the Germans’ exclusion. The neutral Powers’ delegates at Genoa hurried to a meeting on l\iesday night and decided on a united stand regarding Germany’s expulsion from the Russian Committee, their view being that the Powers had no right to punish Germany. The Danish ton’- the initiative. Several Powers, in. .ing other than neutrals, are considering a joint protest against the Powers’ decision. Herr Wirth and Dr. Rathenau wish the matter put to a vote of the whole conference.

The Petit Parisien’s Genoa correspondent interviewed Mr. Lloyd George regarding a statement that he knew about the Russian agreement before it was signed. Mr. Lloyd George ’replied, “It is a d d lie.” The Times’ special representative at Genoa says that in view of the attitude of neutrals, it is uncertain how the voting at the plenary session will go. The Russo-German treaty is full of delectable possibilities, but the Germans are anxiously ruffled, insisting that the only surprise sprung on the British delegation was the actual signing of the treaty. The correspondent adds that the treaty is likely to be a serious stumbling block in the further proceedings of the conference. A portion of the Italian Press is urging the Government to circumvent the obstacle by a similar separate treaty with the Bolsheviks, otherwise Germany will monopolise the reconstruction of Russia. Papers point out that previous Russo-German agreements have already placed Germany in an especially favorable position.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FEELINGS OF NEUTRALS. London, April 19. The Genoa correspondent of the Daily Mail says that a notable development in the crisis is the rally of the neutrals to Germany. M. Motta (Switzerland) and Branting (Sweden), on behalf of themselves and Denmark, Holland. Norway and Spain, formally requested the president of the conference to summon speedily a meeting of the full commission appointed to conduct discussions with Russia before Mr. Lloyd George suspended it and transferred the functions to a limited body at his villa. These neutrals state that they wish to prevent the conference collapsing, but their real motive is indignation that the decree expelling Germany frosj the Russian discussions was issued without consulting neutrals, who had been told that they were on an equal footing with the Allied Powers. The break-up of the conference is still considered quite likely. Reuter reports that German circles state the German reply to the Allied Note will declare the German delegation is ready to submit the Russo-Ger-man treaty to the conference, but pro-j tests against exclusion from the discussion on the Russian position, pointing out that this is a matter for the decision of the whole conference, not of the Allies only.

SIDELIGHTS ON THE PACT. London, April 18. The Genoa correspondent of the Daily News interviewed Dr. Rathenau, who stated that the use of the word secret in connection with the treaty was most unfair. Four times last week the Germans discussed the treaty with officials of the British delegation. Dr. Rathenau said that he personally tried repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, to see Mr. Lloyd George. The Daily News expresses the opinion that there is a possibility that the Germans will withdraw from Genoa or the French demanding the annulment of the treaty. The correspondent suggests that the unhappy procedure is partly responsible for the crisis. At the opening session the Allied delegates allotted themselves special seats, and the first moment an issue of real importance was raised they withdrew in private conclave. The Germans were not the first to resent this. Neutrals were bitterly and vocally indignant. Even now the political suh-commission has not been convoked, and the neutrals have unanimously requested its immediate convocation. THE SECRET AGREEMENT. London, April 19. Mr. Clement Edwards. M.P., who has just returned from Germany, said he was informed in Prussia that Germany had made two compacts with Russia, the first commercial, the second consisting of a secret military undertaking involving the mutual use of perman and Russian troops. LOAN TO GERMANY. Genoa, April 19. M. de la Croix*, president of the Reparations Commissions Committee, which is studying the question of an international loan to enable Germany to pav reparations, has announced that Mr. Pierpont Morgan has accepted membership of the committee, which will sit in Paris when Mr. Morgan arrives.

NEW PHASE OF TREATY. ITS EFFECT ON REPARATIONS. Received April 20, 11.55 p.m. Paris, April 20. •M. Poincare has given instructions that the Russo-German treaty must be brought before the Reparations Committee, as the terms threaten to deprive the reparations fund of a portion of the resources to which it is entitled under the Versailles Treaty. He has also requested the Allies’ Governments to support the French in bringing the treaty before a. conference of ambassadors with a view to ascertaining whether there are any general infringements of the Versailles Treaty. M. Poincare has instructed M. Barthou to cease to 00-operate in Russian affairs if the Russians insist on inserting in any agreement with the Allies clauses similar to those included in the treaty made with the Germans.—Reuter Service.

COLONEL REPINGTON’S VIEWS. London, April 19. The Genoa correspondent of the Australian Press Association says that the commission's work on currency and exchange haa practically completed its work. The conclusions reached generally differ very little from those of the Brussels Conference two years ago. The commission will probably recommend convening a conference of representatives of each country’s central bank of issue, in order to carry out the commission’s scheme. America would be invited to join through the Federal Bank. {Sir Robert Horne stated that by absention America could wreck the scheme, but he thought America could not isolate herself from such conferences of world financiers. Colonel Repington. the special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Genoa, says that the Germans have lost much and gained nothing by their deal. They figure as paltry ’cneaxs, while their involved excuses are specious, discordant, and unconvincing. Herr Wirth has not appeared throughout this scurvy trick. It is impossible to believe that such an estimable and straightforward character would not have seen that the coup meant sacrificing a whole year’s success by a moment of weak aberration. These things must be paid for. The best chance of paying France and saving Germany, namely by the issue of an international loan, may now fail through want of subscribers. Even Amsterdam will not lend money to Germany with which to arm her Bolshevik allies. FRANCE REASSURED. Paris, April 19. In consequence of the German assertions that they previously discussed the Russo-German treaty with British officials, Mr. Lloyd George has issued a statement to the French Press emphasising British loyalty to the French stipulations concerning the scope of the conference, and declaring that Britain and France will continue to co-operate. He asserts that Britain is opposed to all ascendencies in Europe, believing peace to be the great common interest. GERMAN EXCUSES. London, April 19. Germany is preparing her reply to the Powers’ Note. It is understood that it is conciliatory in tone and suggests that owing to the exclusion of Germany from earlier conversations, she was entitled to sign the treaty, but nevertheless she is willing to continue to participate in the financial commissions. One German delegate, interviewed, alleged that Dr. Rathenau’s principal reason for conducting the agreement was his exclusion from the discussions at Mr. Lloyd George’s residence, of which he merely received a daily summary. In this action he considers the other Powers were disloyal to Germany, especially as the protests by M. Motta, the Swiss delegate, were brushed aside. CONFERENCE OF BANKS. Received April 20, 5.5 p.m. Genoa, April 19. The exchange sub-committee recommends the maintenance of the gold standard and free exchange dealings. France proposed and Russia seconded that the Bank of England should be the convener of the Central Banks’ Conference. It is likely this will be agreed to.