The New York herald., 1922-02-05
Border States May Disband
Armies, Relieving Cares
of France.
OPENING GREAT MARKET
Revival in Russia Would Help
to Restore World Com
merce. .,~. ...s.
by SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

tives of Soviet Russia are given a
hearing for the first time in discuss
sion of world affairs at the Genoa
conference unless such an invitation
is vetoed by France and ether coun-
tries. have already told readers why
I think the problem Of Russia must be
dealt with by other world Powers
especially by the United States and
Great Britain-as one of the keys to
the solution of international peace and
European recovery.
Briefly stated again. it Is that in
return for economic recognition and
based upon the development Of the
immense natural resources of the Rus
sian Empire, now lying untouched be-
cause of the utter breakdown of her
Industrial life. the great Powers can
demand, and enforce. the demobiliza-
tlon of the Red army, the abandon
ment of revolutionary propaganda and
the establishment of less tyrannical
system of government. BY such a
compact, under drastic conditions, Eu-
rope will be relieved of military
menace which totally obstructs the
progress of peace Conditions. with
the rehabilitation Of the Red army
there will be no pretext for Poland to
maintain her large standing army or
for the Let's and Lithuanians.
VIII Tighten Europe's Burdens.
That will ease the financial and mill
tary burdens OF France, to whom Po-
land looks for support That viii
make France less aggressive in regard
to German reparations and will make
her friendly relations with Great Brit
ain more assured. At the same time
the resurrection Of Russia from her
living death will give back to the world
n great market for manufactured
goods. Before the war Russia bought
Is per cent. Of all the manufactured
articles used by her people. For some
years to come she will need to buy 95
per cent. ia teturn for her grain, tim
Der, furs. oils. minerals. fax and other
produce.
A rising tide Of trade in Russia
would undoubtedly do a great deal to
restore the buying and selling energy
of the whole world. not rapidly but In
gradual and healthy way. We can
not ignore the possibility. Russia her
self must submit to any conditions to
obtain it or die out of civilization.
Upon her representatives at the Genoa
conference 0f they actually get there)
and upon their good sense and good
faith will depend the outcome OF this
chance to secure a renascence of Rus
sian life.
Their chief representative undoubt-
cdly will be Tchitcherin, the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs. He is t;ieir most
highly educated diplomat, their most
respectable Minister. In Moscow a
few weeks ago I had long talk Will,
him and was able 20 make a study of
his personality. The history of the
man might make the theme OF Rus
sian novel. A young man belonging
10 the aristocracy OF Russia. he became
many years ago ans Intellectual Com
munist-long before 1enine was known
py sinister reputation.
Proves Sincerity.
He proved certain sincerity q,
idealism by going to England after n
complete abandonment OF fortune and
family privilege. and working in one
of the trade unions. When his father
died no inherited a great estate. but
refused to accept the Inheritance. He
was one OF the intellectuals behind the
revolutionary movement or 1906 when
the old Czarist regime was seriously
threatened. and whom the great revo-
luton happened after the war he AL
He'd himself with the extreme Com
munist groups who overthrew tho
moderate men under the leadership of
Kerenslsy.
When / mot him IN Moscow he
see ned to me n most moody. gloomy
and disillusioned man as he ga, in a
barely furnished room in the dirty old
building used as the Foreign Oflcc
which Is inhabited by swarm Of
Soviet officials and guarded on every
landing by young soldiers Of tho Red
army. Here in a couple Of rooms
Tchitcherin lives an austere life. wait
Ing upon himself, with an old woman
10 cook and clean. and carrying his
own messages from room 10 room
rather than depend upon other mems
service.
People say that Is merely an ar
fcctcd pose. but 7 fancy the man is
sincere in his desire for simplicity and
self-depcndence. But watching him
closely and listening TO his manner OF
speech as I sat facing him, believed.
and still believe, that Tchtcherin is
haunted by sense OF ghastiy fnilifrc
and by "a conviction Of SIN" as The
old ccclesiastics used ~ say. which sits
heavily upon his conscience.
He IS a gentleman and an inteiloc-
tual aristocrat, but for tho sake Of n
i-untical idea he allied himself with
h1 and yilA usn anA sup portsd