Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-25
Genoa Meeting
Again Threatened

Continued from Page One
decide what claims it considers just
NJ. Chicherin continued.
"There is not the least difference
between my letter to Mr.. Lloyd George
and our proposals Of Monday. 1t Is
obvious that the only serious obstacles
to peace with Russia and to general
reconstruction are the pretentions Of
few former owners.
Russia has gone far in its conces-
sions, but it cannot return to the old
social and economic system. We are
faced with the great work of recon-
aggression. 1t Is only the pretentions
Of a very small body of former owners
Of property in Russia that stand be-
tween us and these aims.
The situation is made extremely criti-
cal by the French Prcmicr's frank warm
ing in his address at Bar-le Due yes
terday that France will withdraw from
the conference If she is unable to see
that the ideas expressed by the French
Cabinet before Parliament can triumph.
These French desires include mainte-
nance Of the war reparations figures,
exclusion of all disarmament discussion
and no changing Of existing treaties at
Genoa. In addition, France insists on
rigid adherence to the Cannes rcso-
lutions. which call for the payment Of
Russia's prc.war debts and the resti.
tuition by the Soviet of foreigners prop
erty in Russia.
Balk at Russian Offer
The conference of experts on the
and adjourned sine die because the ex.
perts representing the Powers found
the Russians new set of proposals abb
solutely In contradiction with the So
Wet note accepting the Allie terms as
basis for future deliberations.
Yesterday the Bolsheviki announced
property because everything was ma.
tionalized in Russia, but in their note
of acceptance they had voiced willing.
ness to restore such property or in.
demnify the owners provided the coun-
try's war debts to the Allies were cut
down and financial help for Russia
forthcoming.
Instead Of accepting the Allies de.
mands for the payment OF war debts,
with the understanding that these debts
be scaled down and the arrears In in.
terest either postponed or remitted in
part. the Bolsheviki came in with an
entirely different proposition. They
asked the complete annulment OF all
war debts.
Ask Thirty. year Moratorium
Whereas they had previously agreed
to the payment of the financial obliga-
tions due to foreign nationals which
are usually referred to as the pre-war
debts, the Soviet spokesnen asked for
moratorium Of thirty years on these
debts and the cancellation of the in
terest, according to the allied version
Of the meeting. This cancellation was
to apply both to the past and to the
period of the moratorium.
Finally, the Russians made clear
that, in refusing TO restore private prop
erty in Russia, this would not imply
any surrender by Russian citizens Of
their rights to hold property in fee sim.
pie in foreign lands, bourgeois coun-
tries" where the right to possess prop
erty went with the bourgeois system.
Such, said the Bolshcviki, were their
terms, but they could only grant them
on condition that the Powers represent
ed at Genoa would first agree to rec
ognize the Russian Soviet Government.
and accord 1t adequate financial help for
its proper economic reconstruction.
"Cannot Discuss Further"
"Under these conditions said Sir
Laming Worthington Evans, chairman
| of the meeting, I'VE cannot discuss any
further. We must refer this matter
to our respective Governments
1t was then decided to adjourn the
/ sittings sine die. All the experts, with
the exception of the Russians, arranged
to meet this morning and 60 over the
entire situation.
The Russians contend that their gen.
| eral attitude as to making a treaty
with the Powers has been misinterpreted
and one of the delegates charged that
tau ty translations had been made Of
their counter suggestions last week.
Despite the serious outlook, the heads
Of the various delegations have not
abandoned all hope. Some. however,
frankly informed the Associated Piess
last night that they saw no possibility
of making an arrangement with the
Soviets unless the latter radically mod :.
!fied their program.
While the Bolsheviki have abandoned
their counter claims for damage
charged to foreign interventions in
Russia, the story went the rounds Of
the delegations last night that they
would hold the United States morally
responsible for the presence Of the Jap
anese troops in Siberia, since the Jap
aneee occupied the territory not only
o-jointly with American troops, but
actually at the request Of the American
Government,