Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-30
Soviets Refuse Guarantees

Soviets Refuse Guarantees
Whether talking about trading with
Russia or equipplng her for economic
restoration, the first requisite is that
the traders and outfitters know-as
the French prOverb says-un which
foot they are dancing. If private prop
erty is not effectuallv guaranteed then
commerce and enterprise is impractic-
able. But the ~soviets refuse the gnar-
antees. There is no doubt about this
issue. ANY formal agreement reached
cannot sffect this fundamental dis
agreement.
Therefore. Genoa economically is
dead. The soviets are disappointed and
Lloyd George more so. 1t means that
his great idea has collapsed and his
predictions are wrecked. This is the
compelling reason for his anxiety tn
save the face of things and substitute
some sort of political result for the
dead hope of economic achievement.
Instead of admitting that the confer
ence has failed because the real OBJ
lect of the soviets was misunderstood.
1t Will be said that it was sabotage by
the policy of the French. This ex-
plains the great press campaign. the
echo of which already has reached you.
U. S. Knows Sovie, Purpose
From the very first day of the con-
ference this campaign began. First it
was said that France would withdraw
from the conference. but she STAYED.
Next they declared that France would
withdraw because of the Russo-Ger-
treaty. She remained. even though
her withdrawal would have been amply
justified. Later they insisted that
France would leave because of differ
ences growing out of the proposed
Lloyd George non-aggressive pact.
Every day they have tried to make
France responsible for failure whose
only cause has been the inability of the
British premier to understand the
soviet purpose. although the United
States has conlprehended them all
along.
This latest Lloyd George proposal
for a non-aggression pact is substan-
what the United States senate
virtually rejected when it adopted the
reservation to the Pacific
The purpose is to substitute
it In a calm. unobtrusive manner for
treaties. There has even been
thought of extending it by providing
during the 10 years covered no
penalties shall be imposed even on ac-
count of violation of existing treaties.
short. it is disarmament, but of a
special kind: disarmament of those who
their signature for the advantage
Of those who violate theirs.
Soviets Disrupt Conference
Amidst all this, Premier Poincare's
has served only To redouble the
fury of a certain section of the British
To we Frenchmen. the prin-
ripal fault of this speech is that il
to repeat word for word. what
BRAND said last year in private. that
would send a policeman if the sher-
III failed to collect. etc. Lloyd Georges
papers call it provocative. We call it
Intellectual and say that il plays the
of our opponents. But that is an
that need have no serious con
The Franco-German prob
ems won't be settled AT Genoa.
For myself, | want to say that
.;enoa dies its economic death through
fault of the s~oviets. and not as
many papers would try 10 have you be
ieve. through having been as~sassinated
politically by France. | think | have
proven this. and that is my whole pur-