The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-12

SllllHb lHucHHlltlg WINE tlc Nblllti
ence is going on to study Russian af.
fairs, according to a statement issued
by the FrenCh delegation today.
Genoa, May 12 (By the Associated
Press)-Great Britain has proposed
a truce in eastern Europe on a basis
Of defactor boundaries pending con
clusions Of commission to be ap-
pointed, il was announced today
Genoa, May 12.-Russia's reply to
the allied memorandum which was
presented yesterday to Signor Schan.
zer, president OF the economic confer.
ence. is generally regarded as concili-
atory. At least it is considered a
basis for further negotiations.
Its suggestion that all the tangled
financial problems be submitted to a
mixed committee OF experts named by
the Genoa conference provided a
means OF escape from the present su.
perheated atmosphere, which appears
to be unfavorable for the settlement
of the myriad of questions arising
from the Russian situation
England regards the reply as mod
erately conciliatory. so also does Italy.
The italian foreign minister has been
working day and night to prevent a
break which seemed imminent through
the opposition of France and Belgium
TO the settlement of the property
question, which Great Britain and the
lesser powers will approve.
France expresses great dsappoint-
ment at the reply, and Belgium Is far
from satisfied, NJ Barthou, head of
the French delegation, declared after
an examination OF the text that the
reply did not get anywhere and was
really not an answer at all TO the
allied proposals. Consequently ii will
not be certain until after he has
conferred with the government In
Paris whether the Russian people
will be accepted by the French as a
basis for continuation Of the discus
sion.
In the meantime the future Of the
conference is highly uncertain. Some
close preclpitately, or perhaps IL would
be truer to say that they hope II will
Other delegations predict that II will
last six weeks longer and go into the
Russian financial tangle in great de
tail. The latter seem TO be in the
majority, and indications last night
we're that the conference may be pro
longed indefinitely.
The Russians and all the other del
egations are saying many things for
home consumption, which 1t is be-
lleved they do not really mean, and
underneath there Is undoubtedly a
general desire to reach some agree
ment which will make Europe more
peaceful. The Russians have appeal
ed strongly to Premier Lloyd George
and the peace craving populations OF
the world in their support of the non
aggression pact and their illusions 70
disarmament.
on the other hand they flatly re-
fuse to accept the All'ed proposals for
the treatment OF nationai2ed property
and reject the proposed mixed arbi
tration commission to pass upon the
claims Of foreigners against the So.
Wet government
In other words, the Russians have
sustained the basic principle of com
munism, and desire to have further
discussions on the subject OF nation
alization, stoutly insisting that the
Bolshevik government may maintain
any social system and any system OF
property-holding which It desires, and
cannot consent to anything which may
be interpreted as limitation Of It's
sovereignty