The New York herald., 1922-06-22
LlTVINOFF BELIEVES
HAGUE CONFERENCE
IS DOOMED TO FAIL
Useless as Far as Russia Is
Concerned Unless France
Changes Attitude.
OUTLINES SOVIET PLAN
Moscow Stands by Note of
May II Refusing to Re-
turn Property.
REPORTS LENINE BETTER
Bolsheviki Would Cut Army
One-half if Border States
Do Same.
REPORTS LENINE BETTER

RIGA, June Il (Associated Press).-
Maxim Litvinoff. who Is chairman Of
the Soviet delegation to The Hague
departed tonight for The Hague, ac-
companied by M. Sokolnikon. Assist
ant Commissar of Finance. Leonid
Krassine and NJ. Rakovsky both have
been delayed In Moscow. They intend
to start for Holland next week.
Litvinoff said he was hopeful that
an understanding would be reached at
Tie Hague. This would be possible
II the other side was willing to meet
the Russian delegates half way and
make no attempt at insisting upon a
change in the present Soviet regime.
The Soviet still stood by its memoran-
dunn of May II.
Tie principal task confronting the
Soviet delegates at The Hague would
be to find a group willing to grant
Russia credits. If this problem was
solved, goodly portion Of the pur-
pose for which the conference was
called would have been accomplished.
Litvinoff believed the stumbling block
at The Hague as at Genoa. probably
would be France.
Failure at Hague Predicted.
Unless France had changed her atti-
tude. he declared, 1t was foregone
conclusion TIE Hague meeting would
be failure as far as Russia was con-
cerned.
Regarding Premier Ienine. M. Litvi-
noff said he was able to be about and
was reading and writing a great deal
various parts of Russia. Litvinof
tho Premier had not been to Moscow,
but he Lad read a letter Lenine person
ally had written Turing the last few
days saying he would continue to rest
for several months and would visit
various parts OF Russia Liavinoff
added that there was no intention on
the part Of Lenine to visit other coun-
tries as had been reported.
Discussing commercial affairs in Rus
sia, NJ. Litvinoff said the foreign trade
monopoly had been reorganized by tha
Government. whicn retained control only
Of exports and imports. In consequence
of this step private concerns and CO.
operative societies now were allowed I,
export or import goods at will simply
by holding Government permits. For
eign companies of friendly nations wers
permitted under the now ruling to es-
tablish branches in Russia. to impor.
goods and sell merchandise and to erect
warehouses;, providing such concerns re-
ceived Government permits for the
transaction of business.
Would Cut Red Army in Half.
Offers to reduce Russia's army by
half will be made by the Soviet rep
resentative at a conference suggested
by the Moscow Government of dele
gates representing the States bordering
on Russia, providing these neighboring
countries agree to do likewise, said
Ldtvinoff. He declared that the Soviet
Government was willing to discuss a
reduction In arms, regardless OF the
attitude Of France and Japan. and de
spite the fact that our neighbors In the
Far East from time to time are caus-
ing us more or less trouble"
IAtvinofr said the proposed conference
had no connection whatever with the
Hague gathering. but was suggested ow-
Ing to the fact that at Genoa Tchitche-
rims disarmament proposal had not
been acted upon. and therefore Moscow.
desiring to show It's sincerity regard
ing disarmament. had decided to ap-
proach her neighbors direct.