The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-16
U. S. ANSWER
LEAVES DOOR
OPEN, REPORT
American Note Declining to
Participate in Proposed
Hague Meeting Paves Way
for Further Conversation.
GENOA IS DISAPPOINTED
dRy Associated Pressl


WASHINGTON, May 16-The Amer
lean note of yesterday declining TO
participate in the proposed meeting at
the Hague next month for discussion
of Russian conditions was intended to
leave the door open for further con
versation it was said today at the
White House.
Beyond this confirmation of the
state departments Interpretation of
the communication placed today by
Premier Lloyd George no comment on
the situation at Genoa or the Ameri-
can attitude toward participation of
discussion of economic conditions in
Russia was made
Officials here waited with interest
the next move of the powers attend
ing the Italian meeting.
Impartial observers at Genoa have
been unanimous recently in stating
that only the hope of securing the at
tendance of the United States either
at Genoa, or at the proposed confer
ence at The Hague had prevented the
arising of an impasse. This hope was
definitely removed in the reply, dis
| patched by the state department last
night to Ambassador Child to formal
invitation preferred through the
French delegation at Genoa.
Cannot Participate.
This government is unable to con-
clude that it can helpfully participate
] in the meeting at The Hague" Secre-
! tary Hughes cabled the American am
bassador 'as this would appear to be
a continuance under a different no.
menclature of the Genoa conference
and destined to encounter the same
| difficulties if the attitude disclosed in
| the Russian memorandum of May II
remains unchanged"
The United States, Mr.. Hughes con
| tinued maintained its original view
that the ultimate question, to be con
sidered in connection with European
| economics would be found in 'trestora
tion OF productivity in Russia, the es-
sential conditions of which must be
provided with Russia herself"
GENOA, May 16-Prime Minister
Lloyd George does not feel, it was in
dicated this afternoon, that the Amer
ican refusal to participate in the COM
mission to sit at The Hague on Rus
document indicates great American
interest in Russia's economic recon
struction, and the reply is regarded
as one forming a basis for further cor.
respondence.
Foreign Minister Schanzer of Italy,
on learning today that the United
States would not join the proposed
commission on Russian affairs at The
Hague, expressed great surprise, es-
pecially at the rapidity with which a
decision was taken, which may have
great influence on the further discus
sions at Genoa.
Express Disappointment
Great disappointment at the Amer
lean decision was expressed generally
/ in conference circles, as the belief had
. been gradually forming here that the
Il United States was ready now to join
| the other powers in dealing with Rus
sian economic problems
This was reflected, for instance, in
, the newspaper Caffaro this morning
which had a front page headline
streamer reading: United States oil
| America Participates at The Hague
The surprise caused by the declin
alton was accentuated by reason of q
statement the Italian press attributed
to Ambassador Child, quoting him as
saying to Foreign Minister Schanzei
that the United States probably would
accept an invitation to The Hague OF
condition that the powers bind them
> selves not to conclude separate agree
, ments with Russia while The Hague
. commission was sitting and that the
, decisions of the commission be de
: ferred to the respective governments
for final action