The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-02-23
PETITION
ASKS END
OF STRIFE
Britishers Favor Relations
With Soviet; Allies Plan
to Open Up Trade
BY ED l. KENN

LONDON, Feb. 23.]PremamD
Lloyd George and Mimi hnVo
agreed 10 complete resumQ11Gn
Of commercial relations NJ
Russia, but win hsve no 49,
matte dealings with the 6ev1Go
government, IL was reporoG0
here today just before FeGuo
tion Of the conferences u ~
council Of premiers.
The two premiers. according .
the report. feel that Commercial ~
iations should be resumed 1t onco
because OF the European econoutc
situation. II the Soviet goverunont
demonstrates its ability to survive,
II was believed taht diplomats ~
lations must inevitably follow tho
resumption of commerce.
II was understood that Promier
dilierand. representing Francs. win
accept the proposition Of the BritiuA
and Italian preniers.
J. o'Grady. British representative
in the recent British Russian convor-
sations In Copenhagen. brought =
concrete. tentative peace propooal
from the soviet government when -
returned here last week. II wns -.
ported today.
O'Grady. according to the repoet.
received the proposal from Maxim
Litvfnoff. the Bolshevik emlmnary-
The proposal. IL is said. VIII be tntrU
duced by the British I'm the council
OF premiers this week for informal
discussion.
NEWSPAPERS ASK
PEACE WITH RUSSIA
The liberal press today united n
demand for peace with Russia "a
the ground OF expediency. A The
council OF premiers resumed its con-
ferences to discuss the Russian situ-
alton. peace with the soviet govern
ment was brought to the front, NOT
only by a petition signed by prum.
inent military and civil leaders ana
reports of new offers from Premfer
Lenine. but by an insistent demand
in the press.
II was considered significant that
for the first time The Chronicle, ~.
puted organ Of the government, 1o1n-
ed In the appeal
None of the allies wants war with
Russia" The Chronicle said. demand.
ing to know IL anything can be gain
ed by further refusal to consi6er
Russia's offers?"
Whether or not we like Lenino n
immaterial." The Star said. The
truth is We cannot get past his re-
mt
and so do we. and we shall have Il
The Westminster Gazette demand
ed consideration of Russia's peace
offers" while practically all the
newspapers said the question must
be settled soon, one way or another.
The petition urges that the British
government bring about peace with
the Russian Bolsheviki and recox-
nize the soviets.
The petition was forwarded BY
men who have been prominent In
British affairs in Russia.
The British government, the ne
tision says. should not take the po-
sition that early crimes OF the
soviet government should bar its rec
ognition now. Opponents OF tho
Boisheviki, II says. have not shown
themselves superior to the soviets.
Stability of affairs OF the continent
depends upon peace in Central
Europe. the petition concludes.
This weeks session was expected
to be one of the most important
since the council convened. Approxi-
mately so statesmen win attend. in
.,l,tdipv rapraaantafiyas of Erau~o
Great Britain. Italy, Belgium. Hun
gary, Turkey. Greece and Jugo-
Premier Millerand, accompanied
by vittorio Sciaioia. the Italian for
eign minister. left Paris for London
yesterday. Scialoia, II was said. win
Italy in conferences on the
situation