The Washington herald., 1922-02-05

have shown themselves in the past
70 be unscrupulous. untrustworthy,
and cunning, and there Ia not the
slightest title Of evidence 10 shew
that they have learned the most g.
rudimentary principles Of fnternz-
tional honor. Therefore IL is clear
that the new guarantees TO be de-
manded from the Bolsheviks must
be something more than mere
promises The country will
defer its opinion concerning these
new proposals until Il has had an
opportunity Of exanining the guar
antees."
TeAesr.pA Is Dshssss-
The Daily Telegraph LondonD.
while approving strongly the call
ing OF the Genoa conference. Is
dubious about Russia The Tsle-
graph says:
The principal rock ahead. IL fs
at once evident, Is the question Of
Russian participation. and Of the
conditions with which, IL IL is TO
take place. " IL to be surrounded.
y. The question is whether
guarantees satisfactory to this
country. 90 say nothing OF a coun-
try SO fixed in its attitude toward
the Soviet Government as France,
can be obtained from the govern
ment in regard to these points. As
regards propaganda and conspiracy,
our own experience Of Bolshevfki
good faith is not particularly en-
couragtng. - What has hither-
to stood In the way of the economic
reconstruction of Europe, more
fatally than any other obstacle. Is
a regime In Russia which has
worked for the incurable economic
ruin OF Europe. The nations will
look for the most complete assur-
snce, beofre Russian participation
in the proposed conference is re-
quested. of an influence which =
concerned TO organize salvation.
and not to plot destruction"
Yet OF course. RussiAs particI-
patton WAS requested and the Rus
sian government agreed TO the
terms stipulated. II Is probably
the view OF Mr.. Lloyd George and
Of others responsible for the Genoa
meeting that Russia's good conduct
Is guaranteed more by Russia's cir
cumstances than by any promises
Russia may make or any evidentisl
activities she may undertake. Boil
shevik propaganda and conspiracy
no longer strike terror to Eu-
ropean statesmen. Mr.. Lloyd
George is well aware that the Rus
sian trade delegation in London
maintains = stan OF about 400 al
Soviet House and its other estab-
lishments and this force has not
been able to start . Red revolution
in Britain. The British premier IL
not afraid OF conferences. TIE
Irish question was settled by q con-
ference to which the Sim Fein
delegates came without guarantees
or conditions. except the implied
condition Of the solidarity Of the
Empire. Mr.. Lloyd George ve1ld
probably be willing 70 confer with
the Bolsheviki representatives with
out conditions at all.
The trade agreement, under which
the delegation mentioned above is
maintained in Britain. is looked
upon as a guarantee Of Bolsheviki
good faith by some. The Lincoln
CLondon) Echo. recently published
q statement from the Association
Of British Creditors Of Russia
which took that view. This asso-
ciation approves the economic con-
ference, including the invitation TO
noeead " pat NlCip4Ac- IL pieCcS no
value on the word OF the Bolshe-
viks. but says:
Great Britain. in the trade
agreement. holds a guarantee OF
good faith for any engagement into
which the Bolshevist Government
of Russia may be asked TO enter.
The Soviet rulers know the value
Of that agreement; they will do
anything, give anything. rather
than see IL cancelled and their rep
resentatives hung out Of England.
. AS a government they exist
only by virtue of such recognition
as they have won and know that
| il such recognition were with
drawn, their own positions. TO say
nothing OF their heads. would be
unsafe"
The statement OF the association
puts forth the thought that tho
opening Of Russia TO trade is the
surest way OF destroying the evil
that is cripplinS Russia
The Manchester Guardian. noted
throughout the world for its lib
eral wisdom. thinks the inviting of
\ Russians 10 conference 'the most
natural thing in the world" For
Russia and Germany hold the keys
to the economic riddles of Europe
and Russia is believed by many to
hold tho Inaster-key." As a whole.
the British press feels no fear Of
Russian participation at Gehos, but
believes that RusSia's presence IN
essential to the conferences sue
| cess