New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-20
Aid for Russia
InPaying Debt,
Says Premier
Continued from page sns>

CONTINUED from page sns}
But it was discussion in an atmos-
phere of calm and quiet
"For the first time Europe has faced
that difficulty and not shirked it, Half
your troubles vanish the moment you
face them, and the other half disappear
il you continue TO face them. That is
what We have decided to do We have
decided to face this problem in order
to struggle through, and that is the
most courageous decision taken by
this conference.
"With full knowledge Of the magni-
tude, of the complexity and the perils
surrounding this problem, wo have de-
cided deliberately to do our best to
struggle through. That is a decision
worthy of a great conference Of ma
tons. We have not gone as far as the
most sanguine OF US expected, but we
have gone further than the doubtcrs
ever hoped or wished US to go.
Have Month for Reflection
"There is no goal worth reaching
which is as near as it appears to the
hopeful nor as remote as it seems TO
the timid, and that is equally true o.
this objective the discussions 10 he
resumed in different place, under
different conditions, in different man
ner. and, hope, with different results.
I'VE have month for reflection on
the difficulties we have had in this con-
terence before we resume those discus
sione. I sincerely hops that month
will be utilized with view to discover
ing and suggesting solution for those
difficulties.
~ should like to say one word in that
respect upon the Russian memorandum.
We make no reply to it. but we cannot
allow it to pass without one sentence.
] do SO not in order to prolong the
controversy, but because the last thing
wish to do is to end these proceed
ings on controversial note.
Soviet Note Disastrous
Il do not know what the effect OF
that memorandum was in Russia. but I
know the effect outside Russia was
disastrous. 1t produced reaction
against the spirit OF settlement, and if
it were the last word to be uttered by
the Russian government ! should really
despair of accomplishing much at The
Hague. / am referring to the memo
rardum of May II.
Europe and the world need the
and Russia needs the accumulated
wealth and skill which the world can
place at its command. Russia cannot
recover for generation without that
! help.
Europe is more and more filling up
the gaps left by Russia. Russia needs
more and more OF the help which the
world can give and is anxious to give
Either from pride or prejudice we have
not in the course Of these discussions
referred to this fact. Even at this
moment there are millions Of people
in Russia, standing ON the brink OF
/ famine and pestilence, who may perish,
without help II Russia needs help
she can get it. But will this Russian
! delegation allow ME in friendly spirit
! to say one word?
! "If Russia is to get help Russia must
not outrage the sentiments-if they
| like, let them call them prejudices-ot
! the world. There is real sympathy for
her condition.
Prejudices Russia Must Overcome
What are these prejudices" I will
Just name one OF two, because they
were ell trampled upon in the memo
/ we have in western Europe is that il
you sell goods to man you expect t.
get paid for them The second is this
If you lend money to man and h'
promises to pay you, you expect hi
Will repay you. The third is this: I.
you 60 to man who has already LEM
You money and say. Will you lend ms
more" he will say to you, DO you pro
pose to repay me what l gave. you I? ant
YOU say, No, it is matter Of principle
with me not to repay There is {
most extraordinary prejudice in thu
Western mind against lending more
money to that persons 1t is not mat
ter Of principle.
/ - Lrcw the revolutionary tempel
vsry we'll, and the revolutionary TEN
per never acknowledges anybody whe
has got principles, unless he is a revo
lutionary. But these prejudices ART
very deep rooted, they are rooted i.
| the soil Of the world, they are in
| herited from ages, and you cannot teal
! them out. When you are writing {
letter asking for more credits let nj
give one word OF ADVICE to anybod!
who does it. Let him not in tina
letter enter into an eloquent exposi
tion Of the doctrine Of reputation o,
/ debts. It doesn't help you to ge
/ credits. 1t may be sound, very sound
but it isn't diplomatic.
/ Code Of Honor Essential
Europe is anxious to help. Europe
can help, Europe will help: but Russit
must in her dealings with her sccept
the code Of honor which is an inheri.
tance, which has come to US from cen
turtles of generations of hard working
honest people and which has struck
deep in the soil of the world Not
even the Russian tornado has split
one fiber Of single root of those
p-ejudices upon which our system de
ponds, and, as friend Of Russian
| peace, as friend Of cooperation with
Russia, as one who is in favor OF