The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-30
Not Reconstruction but
Part Soviet Will Play,
Germans Think, Is AL
lies Chief Concern.
REDS ARE CONFIDENT
Feel That COnsortium Plan
Is Exploded and Know
Washington Opposes 1t.
FEARS FRENCH EXPANSION
Alliance of Paris and Moscow
Would Mean Hegemony
of Europe.
FRENCH EXPANSION
Special Gable to THE NEw York HEzALp.
oni,faht. Io2e. bu TIE NEw YoRK HEHAI.p.

Special cabr. 10 THE NEw York HEzALD-
Copyright 1922. b. THE NEw YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin, March 20.
German and Russian political experts
here agree that the Genoa conference,
Judging by all present indications,
will be merely a political .onference
behind facade Of economic dogma.
1t is expected that numerous eco
nomic commissions will be appointed
to keep up the appearance o. the con-
ference being engrossed in questions
OF reconstruction, but the real work
the delegates are to tackle Is the Rus
sian question. BY that is not meant
Russia's reconstruction but the role
Russia is to play in European poll
tics. In fact nothing looms on the
horizon to suggest that Secretary
Hughes's note declining the invita-
tion to the conference would have to
be revised IL written to-day.
Russians are apparently optimistic
over the chances Of the Soviet Cow
ernment. One paramount danger
from the Russian point OF view has
been the united front Of England and
France. That was conceivable while
BRAND was Premier, but is consid.
cred improbable now, as 1t is believed
the policies of Great Britain and
France have drifted apart since the
Cannes conference.
Dubious About Germany.
The Soyiets also are confident that
the international consortium already
is exploded as feasible plan to regu-
late the reconstruction OF Russia. and
know that the State Department in
Washington is against it. Russians
here believe that Germany also will
be forced into position OF inferior
importance. The only possibility for
Germany to get a hearing. they be-
lieve, will come IL DR.. Walter Rattle
nau. the Foreign Minister. opens a
breach in the French opposition and
succeeds In gaining consideration OF
the complaints against the imitation
of reparations.
Germans, in anticipation of the con-
ference, admit that the chief issue IL
what to do will. Russia. They believe
that one OF several eventualities can
be counted upon. First, that either
Russia or France will proceed with
the diplomatic threads already spun,
in which case France will gain enor-
mously in power in the Near East:
second, that the possibility that
France is not ready TO risk any kind
OF close cooperation with Russia az
present thus leaving the field TO Eng
land. third and most unlikely, that
Russia will retire. finding the terms
OF England and France too severe. and
fourth. that England and France will
agree to a mutual solution.
Fears France and Russia.
or these possibilities Germany most
fears the covert alliance OF France
and Russia. for that could open inn
mediately the way to securing power
over the Continent such as Francs
has not welded since Napoleon. This
is not only feared but half expected.
Prime Minister Lloyd George. as q
guarantor OF continental equilibrium.
has lost much prestige In Germany In
the last few weeks. TX Is felt that he
proved much less OF wizard recently
than was the case in past conferences.
IL France and Russia should find
themselves in agreement. the Ger
mans believe England will have to
strengthen her ties with America ana
the two together begin to build Up
Germany.
The conference which Soviet dele-
gates 70 the Genoa conference are hold
ing with Baltic statesmen in Rika are
not regarded here as an important
factor. but looked upon as n tactical
move on the part OF the Sovlets to re-
mind the Baltic States OF the interests
they have IN common. II is a counter
move 70 the attemp. ny Poland and
Rumania TO unite aii the frontier
countries into solid barrier between
Germany and Russia.
/ DR.. Walter Rathenau FOREIGN Min.
ister. addressing the Reichstas to-day.
announced that Germany already was
dealing with Russia independently Of
the Allies and would continue at every
opportunity. This. formally at least :
break In the traditional stutude q
the Government. which has been tnN'