The New York herald., 1922-06-12
Britain's Reply to Poincare's
Note Attacks His Policy
Toward Moscow.
MUST BE COOPERATION
Premier Warned Attempt to
Dictate to Russia Will Not
Be Tolerated.

PARIS, June II ASSOCIATED Press) -
The British Governments reply to
Premier Poincare's memorandum of
June 1. concerning the condition Of
the French Governments participa-
ton in the Hague conference on Rus
sian affairs, was delivered at the
French, Foreign Office by the British
Ambassador to-day.
The reply strongly emphasizes the
necessity Of cooperation with the Rus
sian delegates and declares that the
French suggestion "that tie non-R Rus
sian commission should elaborate q
complete scheme Of Russian recon-
struction without reference to TIE
Russian delegation and should then
present 1t as an ultimstum for Russia
to take or leave, is to make a travesty
of the purposes entrusted by the Genoa
conference to the Hague commission" /"
If that had been the object Of the
Hague meeting. the reply adds. "it
would have been more courteous as
well as more practical not to invite
the Russian commission there at ALL"
Cooperation II Necessary.
It is further declared. that concentra-
tion and cooperation are absolutely
necessary II practical results are de-
sired. and the British Government. the
reply says. is not prepared to adopt any
other method. It disapproves the
method proposed by the French Gov
ernment. not only because In its opinion
this method is impractical. but also be-
cause the Government regards 1t as in
consistent with another principle to
which the French Government attaches
the greatest Importance avoidance Of
politics.
Contending that It Is solely matter
for the Russian Government whether II
makes restitution Of private property or
pays compensation. the reply says that
his Majesty's Government would be re-
pudiating British principle and British
practice II It took any other view, and
1t thinks It hardly necessary to prove
that this principle and practice are COM
mon to the French and United States
Governments and to civilized Govern
ments In every continent, and to at
tempt to force upon Russia any other
principle would be to demand what no
sovereign State ever has been willing to
concede. It entirely agrees. however.
that compensation must be real and not
of the shadow.
The reply argues that to attempt to
agree on plan for present action
toward Russia, as France proposes,
would be quite impossible without pre-
suming on the right to dictate to Russia
on thousand matters which are abso-
luteiy subject to her own control as a
sovereign State.
Russia a Sovereign state.
Russia is a sovereign state, whatever
opinion the foreign Powers may hold Of
the character Of her Government con-
tinues the reply. ITO endeavor to as
sumo the contrary Is not merely a waste
Of time. II Is a denial in the single case
of Russia of those very principles to
which Europe wishes Russia to return.
principles deeply rooted In European
civilization. which govern the relations
Of all sclf-respecting states"
The reply is long document gcner-
ally maintaining the attitude adopted
by the British delegation at Genoa. II
points out that the British delegates will
not be plenipotentiaries and that any
settlement must be referred to the Gov
ernplent.
In outlining the proposed business Of
the commissions the reply says that pro-
traction of present conditions will lead
Continued on Page Four.