EDGE OF VOLCANO.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1922, Page 5

EDGE OF VOLCANO.

POSITION IN EUROPE. “CLOUDS GROW BIGGER.” PEACE PACT ESSENTIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Asia.—Copyright. Genoa, April 27. Mr. Lloyd George, addressing journalists, took a most serious view of the European situation. They were on the edge of a volcano, and unless Genoa succeeded, probably he and the other grey-headed persons present would see the storm break. The clouds on the horizon were growing bigger daily, and Europe might be again devastated. He appealed to America who would, willynilly, be forced to interest herself in Europe for the maintenance of peace. The Genoa Conference would fail unless the peace pact was agreed to. “We must show restraint in the hour of triumph, otherwise Europe will again welter in blood within the life-time of those whose hair is now grey. That is why I wrought to make Genoa a success. I am alarmed at the storms gathering over Europe. They may not break immediately, but they inevitably will break unless the atmosphere can be cleared. I am amazed at people who ignore these portentous facts and concentrate on selfish trivialities. AMERICA WANTED. ‘ Frankly. I wish America were here. Her very aloofness from these European problems would give her the right to speak with authority. Her aid would have Been invaluable, as her voice would have been the voice of peace, conciliation and goodwill. But it is too late; America is not here, and Europe must do her best to solve her problems in her own way.” Mr. Lloyd George urged the Press of both countries to do their utmost to help the conference to a successful issue. The Australian Press Association correspondent at Genoa says Mr. Lloyd George’s speech to journalists was most impressive. He said the conference was the greatest and most important ever held, and, whether it succeeded or failed, it was bound to have a great and lasting effect upon fhe future of the Continent and would affect other continents to a greater degree than any other conference in the history of the world. The question whether carnage should cease in Europe depended on the conference. Some people were impatient because solutions were not found in a single fortnight. The Washington Conference took three months, and it was worth every hour. The whole frontiers of Eastern Europe, from the Baltic to the Black Sea ware unsettled. Every one of them involved the possibility of a terrible conflict. The racial lava of Eastern Europe was boiling with possibilities of conflicts which would draw in the whole of Europe and might even involve distant America. DIVIDED CAMPS. Then they had Russia and Germany in a state semi-antagonistic to the rest of Europe. Anybody who imagined they could permanently keep down those two great peoples representing two-thirds of the people of Europe must either be blind or blinkered as to its impossibility. The insanity of the Russo-German agreement was a revelation to some people. He ventured to give a warning a long time ago as to what was inevitable unless there was a good understanding. When hungry Russia was equipped by angry Germany, how long would it be before Europe was devastated, if that should represent the policy of any European combination.

“For the moment we belong to the dominant and triumphant group, but these things do not last for ever. If our victory degenerates into oppression, if it is tinctured and tainted By selfish interests, if the conscience of mankind feels that we have abused the triumph God has placed in our hands, then vengeance will inevitably follow, just as it followed in the wake of the act by which Germany outraged the

Mr. Lloyd George informally conferred with the heads of delegations, and expects to outline his non-aggression pact scheme at the plenary session of the conference on Monday. The Supreme Council will probably meet on May 6. The Germans will be invited to attend. COMMENT ON THE SPEECH. FEELING IN ENGLAND. A MIXED RECEPTION. Received April 28, 7.45 p.m. London, April 28. Mr. Lloyd George's speech has had a mixed reception from the Press. The Westminster Gazette declares the Treaty of Versailles cannot stand enforcement. It might defer the rise of Russia and Germany, but ?ould not permanently keep them in subjection. The paper adds: “That is what Mr. Lloyd George means when he says if a pact of peace is not arranged Europe will again be plunged in a welter of blood, and that is why we are compelled to tell France that we must steadfastly ojspoee her proposed policy.” The Morning Post supports the French attitude. It says: “The Treaty of Versailles is a great instrument of human liberty, sanctified by the blood of millions of upright men.” The Daily News says: “The way to make an ultimate catastrophe certain is to badger, torment, blackmail and invade Germany, and insult, ostracise and bully Russia.” The Daily Express says Mr. Lloyd George’s views embody the opinions of al! the most sane and far-seeing of hie countrymen. The Daily Telegraph says: “It is a terrible utterance to come from a 9 statesman at the centre of international affairs who has been feeling the pulse of our common civilisation. Will anyone declare he is wrong?”—Aue.-N-Z. Cable Assn.