The Washington herald., 1922-04-16

GENOA. April l5.-The Genoa
conference was brought to the
verge of an agreement OF tremend-
Gus importance tonight. through the
initiative. of Premier Lloyd George.
The agreement. which, II effected.
will be. Nthe most far-reaching
Europe has ever known since the
Versailles conference. involves Rus
sian recognition OF prewar debts,
and paves the way for allied recos
milton of Russia.
Lloyd George cast aside the un-
wieldy machinery of the confer
ence, and gathered about him the
interested.
The question was to find a basis
for readmission OF Russia into
Europes family.
Cuts Gordian Knot.
After several days pickering in
pIenary sessions and in matters of
the political committee. the sub
division of the parley which deals
with recognition of Russia. Lloyd
George cut the Gordian knot that
was slowly being entangled by
Ftench and Russian opposition and
summoned leading statesmen of the
parley to meet with him at his
island chateau yesterday afternoon.
At this meeting a basis for agree
ment. 1t was reported. was found
Considerable concessions were said
to have been made both by France
and by Russia. Lloyd Georges per-
sonality overcame many difficulties.
1t was reported iatly that Russia
agreed to recognize her prewar
debts, but in the light of later
events it appeared this announce
ment was premature.
Russia on CommIssion.
The question OF these Czarist
debts was put up to Tchltcherin. as
well as the allied viewpoint that
recognition of them by Russia con-
stituted a sine qua non of allied
recognition of Russia. At the end
of the session. it was learned that
opposing viewpoints had been
brought together.
The matter was placed in the
hands of experts this morninc in or
der that they might develop work.
ing formula. Russia was granted
membership on this expert commits
sion-a distinct concession.
These experts put into concise
form the agreements reached at
the Lloyd George private conference.
Lloyd George. Barthou. Tchit-
cheIin, SchanZer and Jasper of Bel
Gium met this afternoon to give
formal agreement TO the formula
1t was said TO be IN four parts:
|. Agreement by Russia to recog-
nize Czarist debts.
.. A suggested method for han
ding the question of war debts and
Russian counter claims.
3. Liquidation, of Russia's past:
that is. the slate upon which Bolshe-
be wiped clean.
4. A statement that satisfactory
settlement of the above would pave
the way for recognition of Russia.
The little conference broke up a
brief session. One report had it that
the conference had reached COM
p1ete agreement"
Statements from various delega-
tions at first confirmed this. but a
later announcement said that while
agreement had been reached upon
many points" the complete agree
ment" reported had not yet been
reached.
1t was authoritatively disclosed
mere tonight that LLOYD Georges
plan for a pam European agree
ment of nonaggression is similar to
the four-pOwer pact signed at
Washington.
The British delegation insists
that Lloyd George has no inten-
tion of broaching the subject of
limitation of land armaments, to
which France objects. at Genoa,
but that 1t is hoped this may fol-
low later.
Russia, in conversations this af-
ternoon, offered to recognize the
Czarist debts, but stressed the i'm
possibility of payments at the pres
emf time.