The New York herald., 1922-05-08
FRANCE WILL LEAVE
GENOA IF RUSSIA'S
ANSWER IS EVASIVE
Must BE Straight Reply to
Terms of the Allies, De-
clares BarthOu.
AGAINST ANY DELAY
ANY DELAY
e-Premier Says Refusal
to Accept May Unite
Us Again
BELGIAN VIEW CHANGING
RapallO Treaty Referred To in
Defense of French Sim
certify at Conference.

Special Cable to THr New YORK HExArp
Copyright, 1923, by THE New YonK HEuLp.
GENOA, May z. The life of ths
Genoa conference hangs this week on
the seriousness of the Franco-Rus-
sian sparring. Louis Barthou. head
Of the French delegation, told Anglo
American correspondents to-day that
Russia must answer "Yes" or mo"
without delay, but accompanied the
statement with optimistic illusions to
Frances and his own desire for the
success of the conference.
The Belgians are reported already
to be swinging around to a more
favorable turn, but the Russians
show every disposition to couple their
grudging acceptance of the Allies
terms with demand for a loan so
large that no Government and much
less no international corporation or
any other corporation can grant it.
On the surface it would appear that
only full Russian acceptation can
avert disaster. This would appear i'm
probable.
Unity Among Powers.
While some observers are tempted
to put a pessimistic Interpretation on
M. Barthou's demands for unequivo-
cality from the Russians, his strong
reiteration of friendship for Great
Britain more than Offset his brusque
tone toward the Russians. Speaking
!. er TO The French journalists, he
said.
II must tell you that unity has
been complete and despite appear
ances cordial among the inviting
Powers. ! have just told the Anglo
American journalists of Emergencies
among the inviting Powers and
must tell you that those divergencies
have not affected our fundamental
relations.
There may have been differences
of viewpoint between France, Bel
GUM and Italy, but must state here
that If Frances duty was not to
choose between two principles she
would not have faced the painful
necessity of choosing between her
friends and allies.
Break Is Up to Soviet.
81 tell you that. my friends. in order
ttat you may not forget ii. How is
the conference going? What viii be
its issue? ] would be bad journalist
and a worse Minister If I shared my
feelings with you in that respect.
have a feeling that just at this mo-
ment the conference Is approaching
the end. but that end does not depend
upon TIE inviting Powers or those
who have rallied to their sides. It
depends upon those to whom we have
addressed a memorandum: il is now
up to the Soviet delegation to say
Yes" or NO. with no shadows be-
tween the two answers. What we
want is something definite.
80. my dear colleagues. il is not the
French delegation that will fix the
date for our departure. That date
will be fixed by the Soviet delegation"
The important feature of NJ. Bar
thou's speech was that he implied
France would seek TO end tho con-
ference II the Russian reply was
equivocal. though France is not a sig
natory to the memorandum TO which
the Russians must reply. Also it must
not be overlooked that the Russians
still cling TO the naturalization OF
property, while France and Belgium
insist on restitution.
Hence the life of the conference
depends on whether NJ. Barthou and
M. Tchitchcrin arc merely shadow
boxing or will Eurt one another i'm
the coming week. The Russians now
are expected TO reply Tuesday.
GENOA. May (Associated Press).--
II the Russians do not give a cate
gorical Affirmative answer to the
memorandum that has been submitted
to them France will not go on with
the negotiations. and IL no arrange
ment is made Will. the Russians the
non-aggression pact becomes impossi-
bile, said NJ. Barthou. head OF the
French delegation TO the economic
conference and Vice Premier In the
French Cabinet. to the American and
English newspaper correspondents to-
day.
M. Barthou was speaking OF the
future of the conference when he made
this statement. His exact words were:
III you ask what is coming. I must
say do not know 1t Is possible. oven
probable. that Russia by refusing to
agree 20 tho memorandum will unite
us again.
at Is necessary for tho Russians
10 reply clearly Yes or No The
terms presented TO them arc precise
and clear. II their reply is not cate
gorical. If 1t is dilatory. IL 1t means