Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-21

Why does Dr. eRathenau say you knew all about the Russo-German treaty In ad- vance7"
 T don't know whether Rathenau said that or not" came back the premier with amazing quickness. certainly he did not say ft to me. If he did 1t would have been absolutely untrue; knew nothing about the treaty until met my col leagues on the way to the afternoon meeting"
 Mir. Lloyd George emphasized that ev- erybody was on an equal footing at Genoa and that the Germans had a place on all the commissions which were to discuss the accord affecting Russia and all nations. To make separate pact behind the backs of their colleagues was an act Of dlsloyalty on the part of tho Germans.
 eve were justified in taking energetic measures" declared the premier. "The thing will have q good effect on the con ference"
 The next question was: Does the prime minister think that the Russo-Ger- man treaty represented a deliberate at- tempt 10 wreck the conference?"
 To this MT. Lloyd George replied :: Whatever we may think about the &C., cord, I do not think it was negotiated with the idea of wrecking the confer ence"
 The German incident he added had not consumed useful time of the confer ence which had to wait anyway for an answer from the soviet delegates, and he was confident that they would get the answer in proper time for a discussion of the project of a pact or guarantee that the nations of Europe solemnly bind themselves not fo engage In Aggressive acts against their neish'bors.
 The next query awoke the prime min ister from his weariness. His voice now was clear and resonant and carried tc every corner. where his auditors were striving not to lose a word-"What kind of people don't like the Genoa confer. ence?"
 "Quarreisome people" he exclaimed with an impressive gesture, ''who like t. keep up hatreds between nations and who rejoice at seeing conflicts arise" | The next question read as If 1t erna- mated from the correspondents of tn, neutral countries, which have been com pfaining about the private negotiation. among the. Big Four''--''Are small in : formal Conferences justified behind thf back of the1c confefenca2e
 %Yes,n replied the premier T con
  1 to the congress. At the Washington con ference, which was remarkable sue cess. thAre were innumerabla informa i discussions between the delegatess At al conferences 1t Is the same thing. Sucl taka are desirable and conducive to sue , cess."
 l Germans Withdrew Questions.
 Next, the German correspondents pass ed up a number of sheets of paper the, wanted to know the exact conditions un der which the Russo-German treaty va arranged and signed.
 T regret these questions" said tn premier, and I hope that the German writers will not Insist upon them. I vii answer If they insist, but I think it pru 1 dent not to aggravate the present situa i tion. I have said that the treaty wa not an attempt to wreck. the conference though the effect might have been that I do not want to engender controversies but to restore harmony"
 The Germans withdrew the questions Mir. Lloyd George affirmed that in hi judgment the work began at Genoa would be taken up and pushed forward by tn 1 league fnations. Asked If German! and Russia should be members of tn league. he replied instantly: Yes. Tn league of nations can never do anything until all nations are members. Witt Russia and Germany absent more thai half the population of Europe Is withou {, representation
 Do you believe in an absolutely ia vorable issue of this cenference?" wa the next question.
 T do. I was confident before I cam here and my confidence has grown de spite all the difficulties which hay arisen. I never saw conference with :, out difficulties. And the more importan [ tho conference the greater are the diff culties. E
 I l''I have no hesitation in saying tha 1 this conference will end in complete re ] storation of the harmony of Europe. I is the first time we have called all Flu rope together. I have a profound fait | and conviction that it will end in the re 1 construction of Europe"
 l The British prime minister had a grea 1 ovation as he walked out of the palac between lines Of |, guardsmen. His fna l words were: When. you have other ques i tions, let me know"