Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-11
THE GENOA CONFERENCE,

-. 8 Ihirty-three nations are represented at the &C.
alnoa conference. Something like one thousand del
Segates are present. The gathering is noteworthy,
among other respects, in that Germany and her
Il European allies in the war are represented as we'll
GAS the nations which were opposed to them. Rus
rttsia has a dozen delegates in attendance, though the
aexact status OF the Russian delegates is not clear at
tine outset OF the conference. The United States is
Tnot a participant, but is represented there by an am
bNpassador who sits as an observer and interested
spectator.
is The American government doubtless had
.we1ghty reasons for declining to participate in this
gathering. One such reason, as stated by our sec
<9retary OF state, was that it appeared probable that
the conference would deal with political as we'll as
economic questions, and it was not considered de-
sirable for the United States to take part in a CON
ference which would have to deal with the shaping
Eof European political affairs in which this nation
had no direct interest.
H.. Another fact which Influenced the American
Edecls1or1 was that the Russian Soviet government
was to-be represented, and the American govern
i ment, speaking through two administrations. has
declared without qualification that it could ac-
cord to recognition to the Moscow organization I'm
I'll 1t had not merely promised but actually put into
erect such measures as would entitle it to consid-
f%eratlon as a civilized government.\ Without oues-
ton that decision has the hearty appreciation of the
Il american people, and on this ground alone the de-
cclsion OF Our government not to enter into this con-
4. ference was welcomed by many who otherwise
Il would have desired our nation to aid BY it's pres
i ence, its counsel and its active participation in the
formulation of plans which, by the stabilizing of
finances, would supply one Of the essential elements
IN the economic rehabilitation of the world.
France has insisted that the question of Ger
man indernnities and that of amending the treaty.
lot Versailles shall not be raised. In this Great
britain concurs. There is also substantial agree
nent between these two nations with reference to
Russia. All the world desires the restoration Of
Russia to something like a normal state. EVERY
where It is recognized that Russia, bankrupt and de-
moralized, is I. dead weight on civilization and a
menace to its future. But civilization cannot i'm
prove its condition by accepting the state of affairs
which prevails in Russia as the normal and newt
able one and undertaking to adjust itself to that
4 status. Grim as is the alternative, it is better that
Russia shall remain an outcast until she has given
eyidence of a desire to emerge from the gutter.
Ihe possibilities of this conference are tremen-
dons. The time for It seems to be opportune, The
war itself is far enough in the background to permit
the nations to address themselves to the work Of.
Reconstruction with the anirnosities of that struggle
aessssharply before them than would have been DOS.
lkibie earlier. The fever, we may hope, has subsid-
ed The peoples Of the earth are ii a position to
&fakessccount with some calr1f1ess Of their present,
4E0ndition, and TO Jay plans with some measure Of
sound Judgment for their future. The United States
NAxS probably done wisely under the circumstances
5a Jtenaining out Of the conference as a partieipat-
agsahs1abess But the United States, ~ issssNs than