GLOOMY OUTLOOK,

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1922, Page 5

GLOOMY OUTLOOK,

WILL GENOA SURVIVE? RUSSIA STILL SlL£*!f, LITTLE ACHIEVED. By Telegraph.—Press Awn.—Copyright. London, May 8. The Genoa correspondent of the Australian Press Association says that ths Genoa Conference has begun its fifth week with the gloomiest outlook. Many of those who delivered hopeful speeches for its success belied their faith in it by carrying accident insurance policies in the shape of some sort of trade agreement, either signed or ready for Signature.

The Entente friendships have been badly shaken through rumors of concessions negotiated behind each other’s backs. Undoubtedly, rightly or wrongly. the oil story has done great mischief. Even the United States, which took up a position of splendid isolation against European entanglements, has heen forced to take action in her trade interests.

Mr. Child. American Ambassador to Italy, gave a luncheon to Mr. Lloyd George, who discussed the oil situation. It looks at the moment as if the ideals with which the conference started are rapidly drifting into a conces sion bargaining affair.

Meanwhile, in the beautiful retreat at Rapallo, the Russians are considering the memorandum. They can hardly be blamed if they look upon the conference as a crowded auction room, where extremely keen bidding is going on for the goods which Russia has at her command, or that she forces her price. LORD BIRKENHEAD FOR GENOA.

A REPORTED TREATY. Received May 9, 5.5 p.m. London, May 8. Mr. Lloyd George has recalled Lord Birkenhead to Genoa.

Lord Winterton, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said the Government had no information regarding a reported treaty between Germany, the Ukraine, and the Soviet republics, under which a German syndicate has been given a monopoly for exploring the industrial resources of the Ukraine.— Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn.

BRITAIN AND FRANCE. Paris, May 8. M. Barthou told journalists tnat xne Genoa Conference was at an end, but this does not mean the end of FrancoBritish friendship. The Petit Parisien says: “If the alliance ends future events will prob ably show England, even more than France, that her interests are not where she seems to see them to-day.

A FABRICATED INTERVIEW. London, May 8. Tn connection with the reported strained interviews between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Barthou, a writer in the Matin proves this to be without foundation. He says: “I know the details nf the conversation in question; Mr. Lloyd George spoke like a broken-down man; he was profoundly distressed, but never threatened, or even hinted, at new friendships. Mr. Lloyd George admitted that in certain contingencies the Anglo-French policy was divergent, but this was a question of fact, quite different from rupture or menace. What irritated him most was the French solidarity to Belgium, and above all M. Poincare’s refusal to permit the Allied Council to meet and discuss th© reparations before May 31.” In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, on Mr. Lloyd George’s authority, characterised the statement in the Times as a malicious invention.