Evening star., 1922-05-09
STRIVING TO SAVE
GENOA BY FRAMING
new SOVIET OFFER
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
the allies such an answer as would
not justify France and Belgium with
drawing from the conference. Such a
| withdrawal, the Germans argued.
would only serve the interests of
Russia's enemies!
During the afternoon some doubt
developed whether the Russian reply
would be forthcoming today 1t was
reported in one quarter that delivery
of the document had been postponed
until tomorrow.
NJ. Tchircherin this afternoon ad-
dressed note to Signor SchanZer
ment had yet approved of the memo
randum, and IL not what govern
| ments had approved 1t.
The correspondent for the Evening
News of London. said he had learned
that NJ. Tchitcherin had received wire
! less instructions from Moscow insist
ing that the Russian reply must be
so framed as to avoid an immediate
breaking up Of the conference.
The principal European delegations
here have been given unmistakab BILE
hints by the American ambassador
Richard Washburn Child, that the
standpoint regarding any private or
general arrangement for commercial
and industrial privileges in Russia.
and that no such arrangements can
be recognized by the United States.
says Henry Wickham Steed, editor of
the Times of London.
He adds that whatever agreement
has been, or may be made, must be
affected by the American attitude. un-
less. and until equality of industrial
n
principles and by means which the
United States can recognize.
standard Oil Affected.
The correspondent understands that
| minor British oil interests in south
Russia have suggested to the British
deleg cation the expediency Of estab-
| fishing a special petroleum council
alongside the Genoa conference, and
says that, were such a council to be
constituted, and were it to include the
leading compafies. it's proceedings
might speedily eclipse those Of the
main conference.
AS regards the Standard OIL Com
pany, the correspondent says it's dis
tinct status in the Russian oil nego-
tiations certainly gives point" to the
support lent by the United States to
the French and Belgian attitude re-
garding private property in Russia,
and also to the polite intimation
which the leading delegates received
from Mr.. Child.
Controversy About Belgium.
Belgium is the center around which
turns the fierce controversy over the
Russian question. 1t is Belgium's OBJ
70 ola IN inI
memorandum to the Russians behind
which France is standing in her opposi-
ton to the memorandum. Consequent
ly. all eyes in Genoa are on Belgium
and on NJ. Jaspar. foreign minister and
chairman of the Belgian delegation.
THE question raised by Belgium
about clause seven has two aspects"
N. Jaspar said.
"On one side it is question of prin-
ciple concerning respect for and pro-
other side concerns the economic res
tcration Of Russia by reviving the in
dustry Of that country.
Two and Half Billion Francs.
Belgium invested two and a half
billions of francs. gold. in Russian in
dustry, and possessed 361 factories, in
cluding blast furnaces, glass factories,
electric street railways, cloth mills
water works and electric light plants.
We used to produce in Russia before
| the war AZ per cent of the foundry out
| put OF the entire country. 4S per cent
| OF the steel rails, I5 per cent of the
| chemical products. so per cent of the
glass tableware and 80 per cent of the
\ window glass.
NO other country is so prepared
as is Belgium to restore Russia if
y n o ret fhn 20,
gian proprietors their old possessions.
Money again will pour into Russia,
| Belgian industrialists already have a
| billion francs laid aside to restore
| their Industries there.
Not Pledged to Decision.
I'm clause seven Belgium admitted
| a formula which allowed for nation
| alization of property in Russia on
| condition that its use should be
granted to the old proprietors or,
when this was impossible, compensa-
| tion be given them.
M. Cattier, our legal expert,
simply assisted in compiling clause
seven on the request Of Mr.. Lloyd
George and M. Barthou, under the
express condition THAT his presence
| there would pledge neither the Bel
gian delegation nor the government
to the work of the experts. NJ. Gather,
after the clause was drafted, brought
it to me and agreed with me that it
was unacceptable to Belgium.
II must recall that 1 compiled that
section Of the Cannes resolution re-
specting foreign property, and that
all, including Mr. Lloyd George,
agreed in interpreting it in the sense
that the soviet must return foreign
properties except when physically i'm
possible. Mr.. Lloyd George expressed
himself in the same sense in the house
Of commons on April 2.
Position Not Changed.
MY amendment to clause is
a textual reproduction, word by
| word. of the section approved by the
English experts in London in their
report regarding foreign property in
| Russia. Therefore. it Is not l who
have changed.
Belgium does not wish the failure
| here have been directed toward the
success of the meeting. while every
| one, including Mr.. Lloyd George, has
paid homage to the Belgian sincerity
and peaceful spirit"
| M. Jaspar denied statements print
ed recently q. in several European
! new spapers concerning a military
| and economic alliance between
! France and Belgium. He, said the
| two countries concluded in 1920 a
purely defensive convention, effected
! through the exchange of letters,
! which provided that the convention
be effective only when mutually
agreed upon.
OUTLOOK Is DIscoURAGING.