The sun., 1919-02-17
HOUSE TAKES UP
RUSSIAN MIXUP
Long Conference With Bal
! four in Hope Of Reaching
Basis of Action.
FRANCE STILL OPPOSES
Time Set for Prinkipo Meeting
Has EXpired-Churchill's
Plan Not Favored.
FRANCE STILL OPPOSES
Special Wireless Despatch 10 ruK Sun

Copyright. 1919: al rights reserrod.
PARIS. Feb. ia long conference
held this afternoon by Col. T. NJ.
House. representing President Wilson
in the latter's absence, and A. j. Bal
four, the British Foreign Secretary.
who is acting for Premier Lloyd
George. Is believed to be preliminary
10 a discussion tomorrow by tho
Council of Ten of an entirely new
Russian plan.
For the moment the Russian prob
lem. because of the expiration of the
time set for the proposed meeting on
Prinkipo Island. Is transccnding In In
terest the worlds response to the
League of Nations plan, as 1t is bring
ing up again tho question Of the non
representation ~ such a large part OF
the world at the Worlds Peace Con-
ference.
The virtual admission to-day by For
eign Minister Pichon Of France that the
Prinkipo plan has been abandoned, cou-
pied with his assertion that there is no
change in French opposition to a Rus
sian conference in Paris. has intensified
interest of the situation on the eve of
the council meeting which II Is prom
ised will give birth to the new plan
Evidently neither Foreign Secretary
Balfour nor Col House is impressed
with the plan OF Winston Churchill, who
has weakened on 1t himself His plan
Is understood 10 have provided for a
new invitation on different lines No con-
sideration is being given to intervention
because both the British and American
Governments refuse 10 use their troops
for such a purpose. believing that pub
lie sentiment t. their respective coun-
tries would not alpport it, The question
now Is whether the Soops now in Rus
sia shall remain there.
The plan is to let the Bolshevists alone
and to help in an economic way the
Lithuanlans and EShonians as an OBJ
ject lesson to the Russians. The Presi-
dent Is known to have been inCensed par
ticularly by the Bolshevist reply. re-
Sarding 1t as insulting. and practically
threw up his hands, leaving the Russian
problem to Col. House
One mistake made in the Prnklpo
plan. II Is explained, was in not ordering
the troops TO stop hostlities.
PARIS. Feb. l6 The problem OF what
to do with Russia will come before the
Supreme Council OF the Peace Confer
ence again tomorrow with slight pros
pect that the question will he settled.
The original date for the holding of the
conference OF the Russian factions with
the delegates OF the Entente Allies at
Prinkipo in the Princes Islands group.
expired yesterday. In some quarters II is
asserted that the conference plan will
be abandoned and another solution Of
fered. Others hope that the conference
stlll will be held but This hope is slight.
A new plan for solving the Russian
question is before tie council for official
consideration, hut no action has been
taken on II and no explanation OF II has
been made, The PROPOSAL was put for
ward yesterday br -'lnston Spencer
Churchill. British War Minister. and will
be considered again at-rffe session or tie
council which will meet at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon.
The Commission on Reuara ions also
will meet to-morrow-at 10 o'clock In
the morning--to continue its discussion
OF the principles on which the right or
reparation is based. II is expected that
NJ. Nandenheuvel of Belgium and Louis
Elutz, the French Minister Of Finance.
who has made a study OF the damages
suffered by his country at the hands OF
the Germans. again win be heard,