South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-03
LIFT OF FOOD BLOCKADE
MAY BE INITIAL STEP
Lack of Apparent Progress on Part of
Big Four" Causes an Attitude of
Pessimism Around Conference.
BY CARL ID. GROAT.

by United Press:
PARIS. April Important eco
nomic concessions to the soviet gov
ernments i'm Russia and Hungary
were being considered by the big
four" today
The allies. it was understood. are
practically convinced that the situa-
tion in those two countries demands
immediate attention, and that some
sort Of understanding with their
governments is as urgent as peace
with GERMANY
Food shipments TO Russia and
Hungary. and coal expectation to
the latter country probably viii
constitute the allies initial move 10
check the westward spread OF boil
shevism.
See No Progress.
Continued failure Of the big
four" to accomplish any apparent
progress. together with increasing
seriousness OF the situation in Ger
many. accentuated The pessimism
surrounding the peace conference.
There was talk in some high
quarters that il may be necessary
TO make peace along general lines
III the settlement is 10 be effected
before a crisis Is reached in Ger
many
The recent bitter debate in the
British parliament over peace de-
las is regarded as significant
Official advices from American
representatives in Hungary indicate
that country would make large con
al In
food and fuel. The new government.
tccording 20 these advices, in con
~uliddting It's position and giving
every evidence of permanency.
Good Order i'm Hungary.
Good order prevails. Hungarian
leaders are still stressing the fact
their government is "communiSic''
as distinguished from the Russian
boIshevfk system. Property seques-
tration. 10 was said. does not apply
TO Americans.
Considerable significance has been
attached To the order for Gen.
Smuts. south African leader. TO pro-
ceed Immediately to Hungary. II
was announced that Smuts would
investigate certain problems aris-
ing out of the armistice on which
the supreme court desires further
Information
UnoHicuuy. il is understood.
Smuts viii open negotiations which
viii provide the basis FOR AN agree
mcut between Hungary and the al
lies
SoVicts To- Eud IOstilitics.
In case the "big four" should de-
q
declared that strict provisions would
he made for the soviet government
90 cease hostilities and permit the
states which have broken away
from the bolshevik 90 decide their
own fate There is reason TO believe.
90 was learned from reliable sources
mat Russia is ready 90 behave If
she can have food.
Premier Lloyd George is reported
to favor giving Russia food The
French press recently contained s.n
article which perhaps was inspired
suggesting DO would be "a good idea
20 do something toward restoring
order in Russia. The articles sug-
gested food as the best means for
bringing this about
Many Die From Starvation.
Deaths from starvation i'm Russia
are numerous and conditions are so
ritiable that 10 is felt food relief
would help 70 swing the Russiars
back 90 more normal social
scheme than that OF bolshevism.
last nights official communique
regarding yesterdays meeting Of the
-big four announced that progress
was made" IL is known. however.
tha. those close 20 PreS't Wilson
were not so optimistic as they were
Tuesday. The only subject on which
The "big four" appeared 10 be max
lnc real progress was that OF repara-
uons which was taken mp again to-
dav. along with other matters. The
eonferces 80 was learned are still
Inclined % favor the scheme for es-
tabl.shmeut of permanent repara-
tious commission, which would col
lect iudemnitirs as the Germans
were able to pas. leaving the exact
amount underlined as exclusively
outlined by the United Press yester-
day
Wilson was scheduled 10 CONFER
with King Aiber, some time today
regarding Belgium's general claims
King Albert visited the Hotel
Crilion about noon and engaged in
leugthy conversation with Col.