Evening star., 1922-03-10
GENOA NOTE AIMED
ATFORE|GN GROUPS
U. S. Interested in Economic
Situation as Whole, Not
Any NationaIities.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


America meant no threat to Eng
land and France in her note about the
Genoa conference. but il warning
words are found therein they must be
applied to the groups, particularly
those headed by Hugo SHINES in
Of Russia.
This Interpretation Of the Hughes
note came from official quarters to-
day. following the spread of rumors
to the effect that America. in the note
declining Italy's invitation to the eco
nomic conference at Genoa, had
warned France and Great Britain that
exploitation of Russian resources by
their respective nationals was not
likely to bring funds in lieu of Ger
man reparation payments.
Significant Sentence.
The truth Is the United States did
not aim its note at any particular
nation. but expressed itself on the
whole economic situation in Europe
without regard to nationalities. There
is deep significance. however. in one
sentence Of the American note. which
probably will cause Europe to ponder.
It reads thus:
1T is also the view Of this govern
ment-and it trusts that view is
shared bv the governments who have
called the conference-that while
awaiting the establishment of the es-
sentia1 basis of productivity in Rus
STA nothing should be done
looking to the obtaining Of economic
advantages in Russia which would
impair the just opportunities of 9TH
ers. but that the resources of the Rus
sian people should be free from such
exploitatio and that fair and equal
opportunity in their interest, as well
as in the interest of all the powers,
should be preserved"
Even If the United States had de-
cided to attend the Genoa conference,
nothing more expressive of the Amer
lean viewpoint on Russia would have
been spoken. America gives as her
reason for staying away from Genoa
the fact that political entanglements
in Europe are involved. but there is
recognition in executive quarters
here, nevertheless. that certain eco-
nomic developments affecting the
United States are inescapa Bile. Be
cause America believes it is to the
interest Of the allied governments to
have the same view. the American
note deals publicly with one phase OF
the Genoa problem.
Prepared to Speak Plainly.
For, while it is true that the United
States will be physically absent from
the Genoa conference, there is no
intention of keeping quiet if the
occasion should demand plain speak,
ing. The United States can talk to
the other governments and their peo-
pies through public statements. as
well as diplomatic notes.
The Genoa conference developments
will be closely watched The eco-
nomic policies adopted there are ad-
mitted here to be of paramount inn
portance to America. The phrase
"tactful pressure" which was coined
in State Department circles to ex.
press the trend of American policy
toward Europe, has some analogy tc
the moral suasion" of the last ad.
ministration, but it is being employed
as a result of an entirely different
set of circumstances.
The Congress of the United States
has issued warning against en-
tanglement in European affairs, and
while the executive branch of the
government is sympathetic with that
theory. it nevertheless feels too cir
cumscribed and tied down by con-
gressional limitations and would &c
much further toward cooperation
with Europe if it dared. That's be-
cause the economic phases of the Eu-
ropean situation are SO close to
Americas opportunities to get pay
ments of interest and principal on
ten billions of war debt, to say
nothing of the desire for European
trade to stimulate American agricul.
tural and manufacturing industries
Fundamental Laws.
The United States government feels
that on economic questions there are
certain fundamental laws and prob.
lens which the allied governments
must follow if they want to restore
Russia and the remainder of Europe
America will for the present confine
herself to emphasis On those funda-
mentalss but expects Europe to rec
ognize them first and put them into
operation.
The Genoa note may mean "hands
or SO far as participation in the ac-
tual conversations is concerned, bu,
construed if it has been accepted as
isolation from instead of cooperation
with Europe. When the fundamentals
of Europe's economic trouble are
Strengthened out, America will gladly
help. And by that time the treaties
signed at the Washington arms con-
ference will have been rejected or
ratified as the case may be-and
American spokesmen will be more
certain Of what they can say and do.