The New York herald., 1922-02-14


With TIE British Cabinet at its
meeting to-day considering the French
request for postponement of the
Genoa conference, all kinds of rumors
are being spread here of the posi-
bilities of grave disorders in Italy if
the Soviet delegation reaches Genoa.
While these rumors can be traced
! largely to the conservative element
| here, Which is fighting to secure a
postponement, if not an abandonment,
of the conference, yet some substance
is given to them by the latest develop
ments in Italy.
According to one report, the Fas-
cisti, under their chief, Signor Mus
solini, have decreed a sort of mobili-
zation in expectation of a big Red
manifestation, to signalize the arrival
of Nikolai Lenine and his colleagues.
This is limited at in Signor Mussolini's
paper, TIE Popolo dItdlia, which is
carrying on a campaign against any
contact with the Bolsheviki.
Fascist Already Active
In Bologna and the industrial regions
or northern Italy bloody encounters al
ready are taking place between the
Communists and the Fascist Lenine is
reported to be bringing in his retinue
no less than thirty followers in addi-
ton to the members of the delegation.
One report here is that he may come by
a Russian torpedo boat destroyer, fly
Ing the Soviet flag, and land in the
style appropriate to the birthplace of
Christopher Columbus. 1t is plain that
such reports already are beginning to
excite the opposing elements in Italy.
The italian Government is understood
to have prepared itself for further even
tuaities. 1t is expected that Premier
Bonomi, in Ministerial declaration.
viii explain away the fears on this
i score. The conservatives here, how
! ever. are making the most extreme
predictions. advancing them as reasons
why TIE Genoa conference should be
! postponed and the scene changed to one
of the large capitals of Europe.
The preparations for Genoa are so
far advanced. however, that this is un-
likely. A conference of societies for
the protection of private properties In
Russia, in which twelve nations, in
Guiding the United States. were repre-
/ sented, decided to-day to demand that
| the Genoa conference should not grant
either political recognition or credits 10
! Russia until her debt is acknowledged
ana her guarantees of private property
can be made actually effective under the
control of some sort of competent COM
mission. declaring this to be 'the in
! dispensable condition for the efficacious
collaboration Of foreign labor and can't
tai toward the rehabilitation of Russia
Expert Conference Likely.
Premier Poincare to-day, after con-
ierring with the Cabinet, decided TO send
another note to England immediately In
| connection with the suggestion of a con-
Terence Of the allied experts In connec-
ton with the program of Genoa. AL
though himself refusing 70 comment
upon his intention, THE NEW YORK HER
/ AID correspondent was informed that tho
Premier, in the note, will accept the pro-
! posal and point out the fact that the
| French Foreign Office already has spe-
clal committees at work, under his
! direction. certain members Of which can
| be held in readiness to coliaborate with
/ British experts Either in London or in
I Paris at the end of this week.
1 The Premier had long conversations
with DIR. lcduard Benes. the Czecho-Slo-
/ yak Premier, twice to-day, bearing on
/ the attitude of the Little Entente toward
4 the Genoa conference. Tonight he ex-
pressed his satisfaction that the Little
| Entente would insist upon the main
! tenance of treaties and reparations
I schedules. as their budgetary problems
are allied closely with those of France
and Belgium.
The official silence OF the latter Gov
I ernment. however. is causing some sur
prise here. Usually Belgium is prompt
in rallying openly to the French point
OF view, but so far no official conversa-
tions have been reported. or notes re-
ccived. It Is rumored that the French
have a definite understanding with the
Belgians on German and Russian issues.
however. probably arranged when
mutual economic and military pledges
we're given several months ago. IL Is
thought that Quai d'Orsay intends to
remind Belgium of their pledges Of mu-
tual solidarity. in an aide -memoirc TO be
sent as soon as the French experts work
\ Is little further developed