The New York herald., 1922-05-17
May Ask Washington for
Statement on Attitude
Toward Soviets.
DISCORD ON HUGHES NOTE
British See Hope of Further
Moves in Washington-Bol-
sheviki Oppose Conference.
ny JOHN NH. STUART.

specidI Cable to THE NEw YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1922, By THE NEw York HERALD
GENOA. MAY 16.-Secretary Hughes's
note declining on the part of the
United States to participate in the
proposed Hague conference to study
the Russian problem has resulted in
fresh Anglo-French differences of
opinion. While the British. apparently
with some official American encour-
agement. believe the note opens wide
the door to the continuance of corre-
spondencc, the French and Belgians
take 1t as fiat refusal.
The latter, Furthermore, are talking
now OF not going to The Hague II the
United States does not go, and there Is
a move in French quarters to send a
note to Washington asking just what
Is the American attitude toward Rus
sia in view of the latest Developments
The French are confident that a clear
definition would heartily back up the
French position. Meanwhile, Just as
Mr.. Lloyd George proved to be unable
to conciliate the French, Belgian and
Russian points of view at Genoa, the
same situation appears to be develop
ing over the Hague meeting.
With the French again manifesting
renewed aversion to the Hague plan.
backed by Official Paris opinion. the Rus
SLAMS are reported as even more opposed
to the proposition. They. too, read the
Hughes note az not only refusal. but
as another attack upon Communism
and 1t is likely they will again try to
inject propaganda as an answer into to-
morrow's proceedings in the sub-com-
mission, when they are expected TO
present their position as 70 the plan and
scope of the Hague meeting
George Tchitcherin asked a number
of mild questions before the sub-com-
mission to-day and got answers which
appeared to satisfy him.
He then asked further time 10 pre-
pare a formal answer and was given
twenty-four hours. IL is reported that
when Tchitcherin appears before the
subcommission tomorrow his reply will
be no more an outright acceptance of
The Hague proposals than was his reply
to the allied memorandum last week.
of the Japanese delegation. came so
near to diplomatic blows in the course
OF this mornings discussion that Mr..
Lloyd George had humorously to sug-
gest that the non-aggression pact be
made Immediately effective in that
room. Tchitcherin professed TO speak
for the Chlta republic. and asked how
the non-aggression pact would affect
those boundaries.
The pact says dc facto bound
aries" tho japanese statesman cut in.
DE facto means where our soldiers
stand to-day" he added.
The Italians are deeply disturbed over
the misconstruction placed upon certain
American communications. The news
papers this morning were cnthusiss
over Americas acceptance of the
Hague Invitation. II now develops that
the italian spokesmen gave out such an
impression last night. assuming too
much from Ambassador Childss an
swer to an informal query by Signor
Schanzer.
Sienor Schanzer asked whether .hc
United States would be satisfied II The
Hague commissions we're required to re-
port to their Governments and 70 take
no decisions themselves. and n separa.A
agreements with Russia wero meanwhile
barred. Mr.. Child replied. according
TO THE NEW YORK HERAips informant.
that these were conditions without which
the United States certainly would not
attend at The Hague.
1t Ia further learned that extensive
informal conversations have been car
ried on through Mr.. Child almost
throughout the conference. ard that he
Continued on Pare Two.