The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-05-18

By America
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyrisht BY The InteI"Gence0

Washington. May i7.--Nthoush on
bc surface /; may seem as 4 the Cni'e1
~;ateS has again refused 20 co-oporaSe
Nth European powers. the iru'n - She
government here IS no; only ready out
..pxlOuS to participate IN conference
II Russian affairs.
From the White House has como Cne
.rrormation that the American govern
.ucnt stands read? to-day 10 SEND rep
sentative 70 The Hague or anywhere
'Sc 10 discuss the Russian queStion
nd that II the powers Will mod!ty theIr
n-oposai so as 20 remove features 90
I"ctionablr 20 this country, American
cooperation can be assured.
President Harding feels that the door
.T opNa for American hep ana wants
early understood. The department. OK
tate significantly enough went into DE,
llils to-day IN explaining what appeared
q, be a discrepancy between the lnIor-
NAL statements OF Ambassador Cn'Id IN
;epoa and the action OF the AmeriSIan
government in declining the Invitation
. The Hague conference. CaoleSramS
ave reported the British public as
rrazeL at the American refusal because
ambassador Child VAS reported as nav
- promised American operation.
Ehc truth of the coSe IS that when the
t.pwcr$ approached AMBASSADOR Child
.ney told him the plan was 70 FORM
. nmmlitce to study the EuSSlan queS-
on. MIR Child asked the department
e
rcceived a reply telling him the govern
.rent here was sympathetic with the
.,-opoSal and to send more Information.
Eefore ne could do so tn" Invitation or
'nncerning The Hague conference were
aoled. This, OF course. looked merely
i1e a shifting ot the Genoa conference
self 20 The Hague and again the
american government relt that Il would
e" Involving itself III political contro-
%CTSleS,
Can Accomplish Much
But both President Harding and Sec
~ntary Hughes believe much can be ac-
.nmplishcd II the Russian question -
-eated as An economic matetr. and II
ne Russians will respect private rights
nd property and thus afford basis ror
"or ofaTc- dealings with other nations.
he american reply is intended as q
r,ece OF mora suasion. Il being hoped
nat the poweAs will be able 10 persuodo
ne Russians Nat the giving OF Ameri-
an help will DE seriously considered In
,asls can be achlLved which win war
ant the United States in extending Its
oand.
This accounts roC the speed with
which the American reply was dispatcn-
d Tho powers In coSterence at Genoa
we're exrccetd 70 use the American note
= medium FOR further negotiation
g.. ith the Russians. In official quarters
ore II Is fully realized 1hat tne Gnlteo
.tatcs can exert 4 powerful influence
N the direction OF European affairs At
ne present moment and the responsioili-
les OF the United States in the circurn-
stances are by no means regarded with
difference.
The readiness OF President Harding TO
~ a conference oS the pow
IS On Russian matters Is In itself the
'rst indications OF an affirmative &C
on In European question. The United
states does not wish 10 dictate the con-
gtions and had been hoping that the
overs would reach an agreement 10
~scognize Russia and that the United
states would follow suit.
The desire OF France 70 follow Amer.
ca and the eaGcrness OF the powers to
ave America express her opinions Is
ally appreciated and the significant
hing Is that the Harding admtatStra-
on says publicly u will enter con-
-orence under certain conditions. These
erns Il is supposed will not be ditti
alt 70 arrange and unless the Russians
maintain an unaltsraole position the
respect may Re said 70 look 5riSh. Tor
\mcrican cooperation AFTER all.