Evening star., 1922-03-20
The Genoa Conference.

Russia's position at Genoa to some
discussion in the American news
papers Of the refusal of the United
States to participate in the gathering
called by Italy to consider Europe's
economic problemS Friends and foes
OF the movement are unanimous in
conceding that the action Of the
United States has eliminated all pos
sibility of the gathering being made
success. Regarding justification,
however. opinion seems to vary with
the political policy Of the newspaper
itself, while the great mass OF the
independent journals likewise are
sharply divided in opinion. But in
sested feeling of wonder regarding
what Russia will get out of it all
The truth is that the conference
called to meet in Genoa was in fact
projected In London" says the Boston
Transcript independent republican,
Its real purpose is to give recog-
milton to Lenin and Trotsky and to
supply a stage upon which the Lon
don government can act as intro
ducer of the Lenin-Trotsky outfit
to the United States. 1t is due the
President and his cabinet to say that
when the question Of participating in
the conference was put to the cabinet
weeks ago the vote was unanimous in
favor of the declination."
Before it seeks friendly relations
and economic undertakings with the
United States the government of RUS
sia must insure fair play. decent
treatment and economic opportunity
to it's own people," is the position
Of the Syracuse On. " Herald (in-
dependency.
The Pittsburgh Press Gndependent)
cannot accept this viewpoint. THE
one regretable paragraph it says.
lis the slap at Russia. Mr.. Hughes
seems to be still determined to die
tate to the Russian people what kind
of government they shall have. How
the United States can persist in its
hostility to Russia and expect to fare
as well in Russian trade as the ma
tions which have given de facto rec
ognition to the Russian government
and authorized Russian trade rela-
tions is not clear. This portion of
Mr.. Hughes note is not in keeping
with the clearness and force of the
rest of it,"
Normal trade relations are not pos
sible, Of course" says the st. Louis
Post Dispatch independently. "in the
absence of government which ac-
knowledges its responsibility for pro-
tecting the life, civil rights and prop
erty of foreign citizens. But this Is
problem no more for the American
than for the other governments con-
cerned in economic rehabilitation
The Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail
independent republican, insists that
"one OF the great needs today of Rus
sia is capital and confidence Under
the present regime it does not appear
hof cc{o 1hk hk1s tor INI
outside world would be foolish to put
any capital in Russia without con-
fidence in the Russian people or in
the government"
That absenteeism may work harm to
the United States if this government
Of the Newark IN. J) Evening News
independently. eff the conference is
to deal with Russia would it not be
safer for us to be on hand and see
that our views on this question are
respected?"
"Stripping the letter of Secretary
Hughes of it's diplomatic phrase
ology," says the Canton (Ohio) Daily
News (democratic), 'ft evidently means
that the nations of Europe, including
Russia. must give more evidence that
they are willing to help themselves
any discussion Of methods of rehabil.
itation. Nations still ready to pounce
upon each other cannot well be help
ed until they change their attitude
to one of larger pledge of friend
shin"
The Wheeling Register (democratic)
suggests that "inasmuch as the State
Department holds so many splendid
suggestions for European rehabilita-
ton, why not give a few of them to
this country?"
Until Russia gets sober there is
no use trying to talk business with
hen" says the Adrian (Mich.) Tele-
gram Independently. "or to talk bust.
ness that involves her in any way"
Conceding that there will be a
vacant chair at Genoa. the Kansas
City Journal (republican) explains
that "the chair will be vacant be-
cause European reconstruction is a
matter for Europeans to consider"
Russia must be regarded as an
essential factor in the rehabilftatlon
of Europe" points out the Green Bay
(Wis.) Gasette independently. "The
United States will have nothing to
do with communism or bolshevism
because they are in violation
Of the rights, Of other nations and
forbid international dealings.
Shocking Our Neighbors.