The New York herald., 1922-03-09
Omits Questions WhicG
Must Be Considered
in Rehabilitation
of Europe.
RUSSIA ALSO A BAR
Action Necessary First by
Those Responsible for
COuntry's Disorder.
SYMPATHY Is EXPRESSED
Hope Is Indicated That Meet.
ing May Lead to Another
Conference.
Special Dispatch to The New YoIk Hr,ALn.

New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c., March 3.
The United States Government de.
clined tonight to participate in the
Genoa conference
Secretary Hughes presented the
American decision in the following
note addressed to the Italian Gov
ernment, through Ambassador Ricci,
and made public at the State Depart
ment:
Department of State,
WASHINGTON, March s, 1922. !
''Excellency-I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your Ex-
cellencys note transmitting the in
vitation addressed by the Italian
Government to the Government OF
the United States to take part in an
economic and financial conferences
to be convened at Genoa pursuant to
the resolution adopted on January s,
1922, by the allied governments in
conference at Cannes.
Il have also received your lptsr
notes with respect to American er.
resentation, the proposed agenda na
the postponement OF the date OF 14
conference.
Has Had Most Earnest Attenttsa.
Since the receipt OF your L,
lency's first note the question 81
American participation in the 1so
posed conference has had the ru1ss
earnest attention. I am sure that sau
will realize that the Governmen 8s
the United states must take a Cor5
interest in any conference which hoIes
promise OF effective measures to 1r3-
mote the economic rehabilitation ~
Europe. since not only do we Ike
desire the return OF prosperity to taa
peoples who have suffered most se-
verely from the wastes and disl3crs
tions of war. but it is also man tess
that there can be no improvement a
world conditions in the absence OF BH-
iopean recuperation. 1t is with thM
sympathetic spirit. and with the
most reluctance to withhold its sup
port from any appropriate effort to-
attain this object, that the Govern
ment Of the United States has ex-
amned the resolution adopted at
Cannes ana the suggested agenda for
the conference.
Il regret to inform your Excellencv
that, as result OF this examination. A.
has been found impossible to escape tbs
conclusion that the proposed conference
IL not primarily an economic confer
ence az questions appear TO have been
excluded from consideration without the
satisfactory determination OF which tho
chief causes OF economic disturbance
must continue 20 operate. but IL rather
a conference OF 2 political character ir
which the Government or the UniteR
states could not helpfully participate
This Government cannot be unmindtul
OF the clear conviction OF the American
people. while desirous. sS has been abun-
dainty demonstrated suitably 10 assist
n The recovery. or the economic life oe
Europe that they should not unnsces-
ssrily become Involved IN European po-
litoal questions.
Anxious for Russian welfare.
"it may be added. with respect %
Russia. that this Government anxious
70 do an IN its power 70 promote tho
welfare or the Russian people. views
with the most eager and friendly in.
terest every stcp taken toward the res
toration or economic conditions which
will permit Russia 70 regain her PRO-
ductiye power. bat these conditions. W
the view or this Government. cannot hs
secured until adequate action is taken
on tile part of those chiefly responsible
for Russlss present economic disorder.
1t + also the view n this Gov.rn-
ment-and Il trusts that this view Is
shared by tho Governments who hava
called the conference-that. while await.
ing the establishment or the essential
bases os productivity in Russia. to
which reference was made In tho pub
Tic declaration Or this Government On
March rs. 1921. ana without which this
Government Believes al consideration
Of economic revival 10 be futile moth
ing should be done looking - the o.
tanning az economic advantages m Rus
sla which would impair the Just oppor-
tuulties ~ others, but that the resources
Of The russian people should be tres
from sucn exploitation and that fails
and equal economic opportunity IN thslS
interest. a. well sS in the interest a.
all the Powers. should be preserved
While this Government does not t@-
lieve that II should participate IN tha
proposed conference L sincerely hopes
that progress may hr risdc IN prersrirx
the way for tho ?, ,erfHal dMrvsv'er ava
settlement ~ the fundamental asyaenls