The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-09
MORE HOPEFUL
OUTLOOK TODAY
FOR AGREEMENT
Prospects Seem Brighter
for the Reaching of an
Understanding Regard
ing the Settlement of
the Russian Question
by Genoa Conference

by Genoa Conference
Genoa, May 9.-(By the Associated
Press. English and Italian delegate&
to the economic conference met to
day with members of the Russian del
egation and began working out a new
formula concerning the restoration OF
foreign property in Russia, said an an
ncuncement this afternoon by the
French delegation. The announce
ment said it was hoped to devise a
new clause in the Russian memoran
Ndum which would satisfy Belgium
pnd, therefore help settlement
yium, although not participating
1T in touch with these informal
negotiations. The essence of the new
suggestion is the insertion of a clause
which would contain the general dec.
laration that property Of foreigners
would not in any event be turned over
to third parties by the Russian gov
ernment thus meeting the main Bel
gian objection to the present docu-
ment.
The French representatives this af-
ternoon admitted that they were more
optimistic than they were two days
ago.
Awaiting Soviet Reply
Genoa, May 7.-(By the Associated
ss.)-Genoa today was eagerly
awaiting the Soviet reply to the eco
nomic conferences memorandum on
the Russian question, with the fate of
the conference largerly dependent up
-
Ii the reply is essentially conciliatory
it is argued the French and the Bel
gians will have difficulty in maintain
ing their opposition to the memoran-
dun but if it should prove highly non
conciliatory, prime minister Lloyd
Georges position will become unten-
able and the conference will be in
danger of immediate disruption. For
eign Minister Tchitcherin and his as
sCciates insist that the reply is con-
ciliatory, but the Soviet conception of
a conciliatory attitude, it is felt, may
differ radically from what the French
or even the British would characterize
by this term.
DR.. Wirth, the German chancellor;
DR.. Walter Rathenau, the foreign min
lister, members of the German dele
cation, displayed activity today in an
effort to induce the Russians to give
the memorandum from the Allies such
an answer as would not justify France
and Belgium withdrawing from the
conference. Such a withdrawal, the
Germans argued, would only serve
interests of Russia's enemies.
During the afternoon some doubt
developed whether the Russian reply
would be forthcoming today. 1t was
reported in one quarter that the de-
livery of the document had been post
poned until tomorrow.
NJ Tchitcherin this afternoon ad-
dressed a note to Signor Schanzer
asking whether the French govern
ment had yet approved of the memor-
andum and if not what governments
had approved it.
The correspondent for the Evening
News, of London, said he had learned
that M. Tchitcherin had received
wireless instructions from Moscow in
sisting that the Russian reply must be
so framed as to cause an immediate
breaking up of the conference.
0CFCi al TSCiiuS VI ESSSiIi'ouis
Genoa, May 9.-(By The Associated
Press Genoa awoke today to an
other day of uncertainty, with Pre-
mier Lloyd George optimistic that
the conference be saved, but with un.
mistakable pessimism prevailing in
most quarters.
Belgium is the center around which
turns the fierce controversy over the
Russian question. 1t is Belgiums'
objection to clause seven in the AL
lied memorandum to the Russians
behind which France is standing in
her opposition to the memorandum.
Consequently all eyes in Genoa are
on Belgium and on Jaspar, foreign
minister and chairman of the Belgian
delegation.
1.-The question raised by Belgium
about clause has two aspects" M.
Jaspar said. "On one side it is a
question of principle concerning re-
spect for and protection of private
property abroad. The other side
concerns the economic restoration of
Russia by reviving the industry Of
that country"
OGlS lunl llf0ot6u lWO anu OhC-Adih
billions of French gold in Russian in
dustry and possessed 361 factories,
including blast furnaces, glass fac
tories, electric street railways, cloth
mills, water work and electric light
plants. We used to produce in Rus
sia before the war AZ per cent of
the foundry output of the entire coun
try, As per cent of the steel rails, rs
ner cent of the chemical products,
so per cent of the glass tableware
and 80 per cent of the window glass.
mo other country is so prepared
as is Belgium to restore Russia If
the latter returns to the former Be-.
gian proprietors their old locations
Money will again pour into the hands
of the Russians. Belgian financial
interests already have a billion francs
laid saide to restore their old indus.
tries here.
In clause seven, Belgium admitted
a formula which allowed for nation
alization of property in Russia on
condition that itsl use should be
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