Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-15
Soviet Government Repu-
dates All Obligations of ]
Former Regimes.
ALSO CASTS ASIDE
DEBTS OF EMPIRE
If Compelled to Meet Obligations Of
Former Governments, Soviet Will
Have Largo List of Counter Claims
to Offset Claims of Foreign Ma
tions-WouId Also Fall Heir to
Treaty Rishts
By Associated Press.

London, June 15.--Soviet Russia
does not recognize it's liability for
debts contracted by Russia up to
November, 1917, and, If compelled to
meet them will have various offstes,
says the Times, in reporting CONVEX
sations between British ministers and
Gregory Krassin, bolshevik minister
for trade and commerce. M. Krassin
Is said to have denied the existence
of any liability. but intimated that If
the forces of circumstances should
make 1t desirable for the soviet gov
ernment to accept such liability, It
would. as er-balancing factor,
insist upon inheriting the rights and
privileges secured to Russia by for
mer treaties.
He laid special emphasis, 1t is de-
clared, on the convention of 1915.
which awarded Constantinople to
Russia.
In addition, the newspaper asserts,
M. Krassin stated that Is soviet Rus
sia was compelled to bear the burden
OF the debts Of the imperial regime,
1t would insist in writing off against
that the debt incurred in overcoming
the attacks of white rebels" in so
far as such attacks were financed or
supported by any foreign powers.
Offers Britain Soviet Loot,
Gregory krassin, who is in London
endeayoring, to negotiate trade and
economic agreements between SOW
let Russia and the British governs
ment. has among other tentative
mr. nc3 Nfp n
ish subjects concessions of a most
extraordinary character for the ex-
ploitation Of Russia private property
confiscated by the soviet regime.
The concessions which Krassin is
now offering as a bait to British
leaders not only mark a radical de-
parture in international relations, IL
adopted, but strike at the very vitals
Of the Magma Charta guarantee Of
ri.h right of ownership Of private prop
Expect England to Decline.
There Is no indication that the Brit
ish government will accept or even
consider this new form of concession.
On the contrary, 1t is the belief in
official quarters here that this kind
OF a proposition would be rejected
by the British statesmen with whom
he has been dealing; that acceptance
OF such proposition by any allied
government would not only be most
serious blunder, but would lead to
consequences of the greatest inter-
national Importance
Even II the British government had
any intention Of entering on such q
concessionary arrangement, It is not
believed other governments would
quietly acquiesce in any such mon
opoly being granted to British sub
jects alone, as subjects Of other
countries have, been interested In
Russian private investments con-
flscated by the soviet government,
and it is quite certain protests would
be made against the right of the
soviet government to thus dispose Of
private property.
Involves All confiscations.
The proposed concessions to Brit
| ish subjects. 1t is proposed. are not
to be limited to the exploitation Of
properties and facilities which be-
longed to the Russian government
| that the civilized world once rec
ognized. They also include conces-
sions-and this is the novelty of the
bait that Krassin is dangling at Lon
don-for the exploitation of private
properties, such as Industrial plants,
mills, mines, and other properties.
which belong to private owners, but
which have been conf1scated by the
soviet Russian. government without
color Of legality.
Italy Files Large Claim.
BY Associated Press.
Paris, juno 15.-Ita1y's claim on re-
paration paid by the central en-
pires, including pensions, has been
| fixed at 80 SOC, 100000 lire, (normally
about s12,120,0O0,O0 according To