The New York herald., 1922-05-20
RUSSIANS OBJECT 70
ECONOMIC REPORT

ECONOMIC REPORT
Has No Protection for Work
ers, No Plan for Cooperutivss.
GENOA, May 10 (Associated Press).-
NJ. Tchitcherin declared the Russian
delegation found it highly abnormal that
in the composition of the technical COM
1nittes which dealt with the questions
of labor and which was formed by the
personal decision of NJ. Colrat. France,
president of the Economic Commission,
representatives Of Russia had been ex-
cluded.
This exclusion Is stranger" declared
M. Tchitcherin, Considering that the
very constitution Of the Russian Repub-
lie Is founded on labor organization. The
results of this exclusion are visible, for
the report of the Economic Commission
dealing with labor questions opens with
a general remark stating the Importance
or the assistance OK workers in the eco
nomic restoration OF Europe. Yet we
find no mention. of legislation for the
protection OF workmen, leaving aside the
question of unemployment. Neither do
we find any proposal concerning cooper
atiye societies, although the latter are an
instrument OF first value In order to I'M
prove the conditions Of the working
classes. G
furthermore. Article q, which men
tons the conventions of the labor con-
Terence at Washington. deprives those
conventions Of the greater part OF their
practical Importance by confirming the
right OF members not to ratify them
Certain governments, like Switzerland,
desire not to accept the eight hour day.
The Russian delegation considers the
eight hour day as the fundamental pr,n-
ciple for the welfare of workers.
Therefore. 1t raises formal objection
against the liberty explicitly given to
governments not to- apply 1t.
Likewise. the conference did not con-
slider the memorandum of the interna-
tionai federation Of the Amsterdam syn
dicates stating that the minimum 81 So
cial justice as regards workers was m
indispensable condition for the ;.estora.
ton OF peace. The Russian Government
has not recognized the League uf Ma
tlons and stherefore' does not recognize
the international Labor Bureau; but
this In f,owise modifies our viewpoint
7 regarding the faults in the decisions OF
the economic commission on labor Ques-
tions A
The Russian delegation must state
tnat the general impression left by the
report of the economic commission. is
that, 1t Is shorn of that boldness which
is Indispensable II one really means TO
undertake the work Of general recon-
struction- New political orientatlon
should be the, first condition of this.
such as sketched at the opening scs-
sion of the conference"
with these reservations the Russian
delegation accepted the report of the
economic commission In its entirety.
Dr. Motta OF Switzerland saisf the
eight hour day was In operation In pri-
vatc enterprises and in the public SER
vices and that Switzerland merely re-
served the right to make notifications
concerning 1t.
ania, pointed out the impossible situation
his country had been placed in to ad-
here to the conference decisions BY
reason OF the military occupation OF
Wilma by Poland. Poland" he said. "in
defying the treaties in force, continues
her military occupation OF the wilma ter
ritory. That is why the Lithuanian
delegation thinks clause 6 of the non
aggression pact unacceptable, even II
recognition OF the territorial and politI-
cal status quo is only temporary"
. I'VE can accept settlement" N.
Skirmunt of Poland said. Yesterday
the League Of Nations again recon-.
mended division or the neutral zone be-
tween the two countries and the sendinf,
of a commission there. The Polish
representative accepted the leagues de-
cision. IL the Lithuanian Government
objects to the non-aegression pact this
will in no wise alter the pacific attitude
of Poland toward the Lithuanian Gov.
ernment. nor the feelings OF the Polls,
people toward the Lithuanian people.
We are ready at all times to enter into
good neighborly relations with Lithu-
ania. and even TO recognize tn.
Lithuanian Government de jure.''
Japan accepte. the mona ggression
pact after having sent letter to Sisnor
Schanzs. In which the delegation said II
took note OF the explicit declaration by
the president of the first commission
according to which tho arrangement in
question did not affect in any degree
the position OF the Japanese troops In
Siberia.
The Japanese delegation considers
moreover, not only that the non-aEgres-
sion pact does not interpose any obstacle
10 the previous agreement of the same
nature" said the note. but that a repc-
titicn cf such agreements may have the
effect OF strengthening mutual conf.
dence rnd contributing TO the establish
nfent Of peace"
DIR. Walter Rathenaa. Germany. be-
iieved the world situation would i'm.
prove only when the soundness Of Ger
tain principles were recognized. The
world must realize that the total in.
debtsdness OF Its countries was toe
great compared with .heir productive
capacity. All the leading countries found
themselves inclosed In n circle OF In.
debtedness. which made them aimos,
nn creditors and debtors simultaneously
That was why there was not a country
to-day which could frame budge
bss,d on real facts
Dr. .Rathenau insisted that great sac.
fiflccs should be made by all to bring
about rcduction In the great circle OF
reciprocal indebtedness and that uni
versal attempts should be made to pro.
vide funds by mutual credits. Thus only
ne added. could final restoration b,
achievsu.