Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-03

M. Pichon Says Action Re-
garding Colonies Did Not
Settle ItaIy's Claims.
STANDSTILL AS TO RUSSIA

STANDSTILL AS TO RUSSIA
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS February Following up the
practice he initiated last Sunday of
meeting personally the foreign news
paper correspondents. NJ. Pichon. the
French foreign minister. today frank
" discussed some subjects which are
absorbing the attention of the con-
ference itself and the public.
Referring to the declarations of the
official communicates of last week. on
the subject of international control
of the colonies, NJ. Pichon said that
action in that matter did not in any
way touch the Italian claims to con-
troll of Dalmatia. That subject had
not been considered. nor had the coun-
Gil undertaken to settle the selection
of the manufactures to be placed over
the colonies.
Also il was true. NJ. Pichon said
that no decision had been reached as
regards the validity or the vitality of
the so-called war treaties under which
dispositions were to be made of much
territory.
Discusses Russian Situation.
With reference to the suspended eff
fort to bring together the representa-
'tives of the various Russian political
sections and the peace commissioners
at a meeting at Princes Islands, he
said that so far there had been only
one official reply to the invitation
which the council had sent out by
wireless. and that had come in the
form of a document sent by Russian
gentleman who had been a member of
the duma and is now head of the gov
eminent of Crimea. He expressed
lands, but feared that he would be
alone so far as the other Russian fac
lions were concerned. The Russian
groups in Paris had written letter
to Premier Clemenceau saying they
would not go to Princes Islands. but
their own government had not re-
sponded to the invitation formally.
As to the Omsk government, Admiral
Kolchak, its head, had not said that
he would refuse to attend the Princes
he was rather inclined not to do SO.
Refers to Eastern Siberia.
IOuCHiHS tuS SitUdllCn IN eastern
Siberia. NJ. Pichon. in answer to an
inquiry, said that undoubtedly the en-
tente military forces there we're sub
ject to the control of the supreme war
council in Paris. Gen. Janin of the
forces was commander
in-chief so far as the actual dispose
iton and movement of the troops were
but Gen. Knox of the Brit
ish army was charged with the con-
troll and transportation of all supplies.
In explanation of Frances attitude
toward Finland. NJ. Picnon said that
while the government there had been
recognized at first by France. such
action had been reconsidered because
Of the developments in the movement
In Finland to install a monarchical
form of government. However. that
movement had been stopped and
France intended to resume relations
with Finland.
Turning to Poland he pointed out
that the frontiers of that country had
not yet been fixed. All declarations
of the entente had been to the effect
that Poland should be given access to
but he could not tell whether Danzig
would be one of the ports. The effects
of the creation Of such a condition
upon eastern Prussia had not yet been
he was less concerned
with the fate of East Prussia than the
fate OF Poland.
No Decision as to q. s. Troops.
In reply to the suggestion that the
American troops might be withdrawn
from northern Russia, in the Arch
angel sector, II the Princes Islands
were not held. 81. Pichon
said that the conference had not yet
what steps would be taken
in event Of failure and that there had
been no consultation on the subject
since the invitation had been dis
patched.
AS for French activities in southern
Russia, he declared that those troops
were simply protecting the ports The
news from the Archangei section was
not sufficiently definite as yet to
justify any conclusion. Undoubtedly,
he added, the bolsheviki had stronger
forces there now than they had be-
fore: 50 it had been considered safer
to bring the allied troops closer to-
gether. He did not regard the situa-
ton as dangerous and it might be
said that IL the bolsheviki were
stronger in the north they had be-
come weaker elsewhere.
AS to the campaign of the Esthon-
ians, all those new governments were
in the same position. They had some
troops, but lacked the equipment and
munitions with which, they asserted,
they could secure results and make
a successful campaign.
In Ukraine the people also lacked
arms, munitions and other supplies;
they were just able to repel invasion
at the present time. II the Ukraine
peasants were once persuaded that
their lands could not be taken from
them again, they would be strongly
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