AT GENUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1922, Page 5

AT GENUA.

HELP FOR RUSSIA, IF AGREEMENT FAILS. BRITAIN MAY ACT, By Telegraph.—Freis Assn —Copyright. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. Paris, May 1. It is reported from several sources at Genoa that Britain is prepared to conclude a separate agreement with Russia if a general agreement with the Powers proves impossible. It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George has thus informed M. Barthou. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, May 1. The Genoa correspondent of the Australian Press Association learns on good authority that Russia came to the conference with agreements signed by the small States on the lines of the German one. The latest of these agreements was signed as recently as March 22. This fact accounts for the truculent attitude of the Soviet towards the conference. As most of these agreements were made with war-worn countries the Soviet recognises that they cannot help her greatly without financial help from the nations with capital. The Italian delegation replied to Tchitcherin’s letter stating that the meetings which had taken place had as their object the defining of certain points for the benefit of the Russians, therefore they could not recognise any adequate grounds for protest. Tchitcherin has also written to M. Barthou, calling his attention to the comment in the French Press and by the Government on the Russo-Gennan agreement, which has been interpreted as against the interests of France, also that the agreement was alleged to contain a secret clause of an aggressive military character. The (statements by the Russians and Germans apparently had not allayed the suspicions concerning the real sense of the Rapallo agreement, therefore the Russian delegation, in the interests of truth and to dispel these rumors, emphatically de dares that the agreement does not contain any such clauses. The Soviet Government is not engaged in any act, direct or indirect, against France or any other nation. The sole object of the agreement was the liquidation of certain questions pending between the two States, which had been in a state of war. Both felt the necessity of re-establishing peace, both in the interests of themselves and humanity generally. It was only the first of a series of agreements to complete the general understanding for which the Powers at Genoa were striving.

Regarding France’s particular position, the Russian Government considers several points of contact exist with France which ensure agreement. Russia’s policy never varied despite the hostile attitude France had maintained against her for four years. This hostility created a lively resentment in Russian public opinion. They were con vinced that a change on the part of France would be beneficial to the economical reconstruction of the world. His letter was dictated by the desire to dissipate misunderstanding which might interrupt the conference. A copy of the letter was also sent to Mr. Lloyd George. M. Barthou said that the only observation he had to make was that France was never hostile to the Russian people, but only hostile to the Government which signed the Brest-Litovsk Treaty.

Mr. Lloyd George is gratified that the letter has been sent.

THE NOTE TO RUSSIA. APPOINTMENT OF TRIBUNALS. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. London, May 1. The Australian Press Association’s Genoa correspondent states the draft of the Russian Note has been completed, and will probably be delivered tomorrow. It recommends that a president of a mixed arbitral tribunal be appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States, with two other members, one representing all foreign bond-holders and the other representing the Soviet. It will be permissible for bond-holders individually to make their own arrangements with Russia within a definite period, and failing that the claims will be referred to the tribunal. A special tribunal to deal with private property claims will be under a preuif d'ent elected by the president of the arbitral tribunal, the other members being nominated by the nationals concerned. The plenary conference meets on Wednesday to receive the financial and transport commission’s report.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. DISPOSAL OF TREASURE. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. Genoa, May j . The memorandum to Russia stipulates that Roumanian treasure sent to Moscow for security in wartime shall not rank as a war debt, and must bo restored fully. At a meeting of the economic commission Mr. Lloyd George stated that Bril'-in advocated the adoption of a general most favoured nation clause for Europe for the purpose of preventing the formulation of a series of separate agreements. The Italian, German and Japanese delegates supported him. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.