Arizona republican., 1922-05-17
AMERICA YET MAY
AID IN RESTORING,
RUSSIA TO NORMAL
Official Washington Says
Door Not Closed To u.
S. Participation In In
ternational Project

WASHINGTON, May 1e.-There
were intinlations today that admin
istration officials expected early de-
velopments in Genoa or perhaps later
at The Hague which might clarity
the Russian situation sufficiently to
permit American participation in
some international project designed
to restore Russia to productivity.
On what information that feeling
might be based was not indicated.
1t was evident, however. that the
exchange of cabled notes with the
Genoa conference group yesterday
was regarded as having moved mat
ters at least step forward so far
as Russia is concerned. The only
authorized statement going beyond
the terms of Secretary Hughes note
declining the invitation to The Hague
was that obtained during the day at
the White House, that the note did
not close the door to future conver-
sations on the subject. In the light
of that statement, Mr.. Hughes as
sertion in the note at Genoa of the
Willingness of the United States gov
ernment ''to give serious attention
to any proposals issuing from the
Genoa conference or any later con-
ference, took on added significance.
Place Burden on Russia
There was no amplification of the
statement in the note that the Rus
sian memorandum to the Genoa
powers of May II disclosed an atti-
tude on the part of the Russian gov
ernment which, in American opinion,
destined The Hague commission
project to the same difficulties that
were faced in Genoa. With that
statement the American note coupled
the assertion that in America opin-
ion there are reasons for Russia s
economic plight seemed reasonably
clear without further investigation
by experts and that the remedies
must, 'in the nature of things, be
provided within Russia herself"
Secretary Hoover, speaking last
night before the International Cham
Der of Commerce here, treated the
conditions he regarded as precedent
to the recovery of Russian productive
ity and the exchange of messages
between Genoa, and Washington, this
outline from an administration Off
clal, appeared to bring out sharply
the changes which Secretary Hughes
might regard as necessary within
Russia herself to restore her to
trading basis with the world.
Mr.. Hoover quoted an official
American pronouncement on the
point made year ago as still COR
rectly summing UP the Russian
problem.
Production is conditioned upon
the safety of life, the recognition by
firm guarantees of private property,
and the sanctity OF contract and the
rights of free labor" he quoted.
Not Sufficient Guarantee
Mr.. Hughes apparently made it
clear to the Genoa group in his note
of refusal that the United States
government did not regard the Rus
sian delegations memorandum of
May IL as forecasting the establish
ment within Russia OF such guaran-
tees as would invite American capi-
tai to that country or as would war
rant the American government in
urging Russian investment of its
nationals. Further, the summary of
proposal for the double commission
sessions at The Hague. cabled by
Ambassador Child, did not bring into
the discussion any new element as
to Russian intentions which would
serve to make profitable. the Wash
ington government believes, exam
lnation of those economic matters to
which the commissions would be re-
stricted.
There was no development today
to indicate that the Washington ad-
ministration had been divorced in
the slightest from the position it
asserted as to Russia a year ago in
the statement from which Secretary
Hoover quoted. That position, in
view of the more recent happenings
abroad appears still to be that while
the United States is not seeking to
concern itself with political ques-
tions in Russia or elsewhere abroad,
American nationals cannot be ex-
pected to risk, or the American gov
ernment to support. economic ven-
lures on the country where such
conditions prevail as to deny that
security of property rights which the
great majority OF the world holds
to be a. fundamental economic law.