Evening star., 1922-05-12
RUSSIANS FLOUT NATIONS.
Defeat for Lloyd George Seen in
Reply.


BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER.
BY Cable to The Star aud Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1922.
GENOA. May l2-The Russian dele
cations reply to the allied memo
randum is an uncannify skilIful docu
menL
In the words of Louis Barthou. it
Is an Indictment containing curt
REFUSAL When before. the French
ask. were thirty-four nations fouted
by one, and that one ruined by fam
inc, disease and destruction? The
Russians score off the powers at
every point, noting every fnconsist-
ency in previous documents and TAX
ing advantage of the hopeless con-
fusion and divergent views regard
ing Russia which reign among the
delegates in Genoa.
Defeat for Lloyd George.
Undoubtedly the Russian reply is
disappointment and defeat for Prime
Minister Lloyd George of Great Brit
ain, Foreign Minister Schanzer of
Italy and the Germans who had hoped
for a more conciliatory document
which would enable them again to
unite the powers on program. Be-
fore this answer small Emergencies
fade. 1t is no longer a question of
variants to this or that article, but
of the fundamental attitude toward
Russia and toward the conference
The Russian document leaves a small
door open to further negotiations, but
1t is neither categorical nor conciiia-
tory.
The French, Beleians. japanese and
some neutrals-all the conference
wreckers-wince beneath the Russian
sentences, but consider that the Rus
sian move makes a suspension of the
discussion of the Russian question
imperative: they only hesitate as to
what road to take. Thursday night NJ
Barthou talked with Mr.. L1ody George
1t seems that the latter may suggest
turning the Russian question over
to a committee of experts, as the
from the soviet government to re-
spect' the eastern frontiers while the
discussion Is pending. This decision
would leave the conference moribund,
although it might continue to drag
on few days more.
Pledge May He Sought.
Nations that are contrary to a con-
ciffation with the soviet government
are also considering a proposition
that the conference delegates should
sign a pledge engaging not to make
separate agreements with Russia and
multiplying all those made or prepared
during the conference. This would
protect the interests of the wreckers
and incidentally of absent nations,
moral rush to make peace with the
robbers" But 1t is doubtful If any
such agreement would be accepted
by the Italians or by Mr. Lloyd
George, whose authority. despite the
wreckers, Is still the greatest at the
conference.
Russians Take Advantage.
The Russians took full ADVANTAGE
of the division among the other dele
cations to score point after point. The
powers that sent the memorandum m to
Russia had as usual when unable to
agree incorporated all their point OF
view and suggestions. Some of these
were absurd, others were contrary to
the Cannes resolutions and still others
were logically inconsistent. The re-
ply informs the conference that a real
bilateral agreement was reached
April 20 and accuses the powers of
having receded from the position then
taken. The truth is that the French
and the Belgians did not believe that
the Russians would really accept -the
agreement of April 20. and when they
were disappointed in this regard made
the conditions harder. The Russian
reply offers real guarantees by Rus
sia" and dwells temptingly on the
Industrial, mining agricultural and
other concessions" which the soviet
government is ready to grant
Position Strong Legally.
Legally the Russian position Is ex-
ceptionally strong. The note refers
to the fact that many states have re-
pudiated their debts entirely or in
part and protests against the obvious
desire of the powers to make Russia
abandon communism for "capitalistic
individualism." Russia is unconouered
and will make financial sacrifices only
II the powers make equal sacrifices,
and such sacrifices were not mention
cd in the offer from the allies.
The Russians laugh at the idea Of
an ultimatum. They point an accus-
ing finger at the attempt to give a
new Interpretation to the meaning of
the no-propaganda clause, to make
the soviet government subscribe to
matters concerning Rumania and Asia
Minor, and to accept treaties which 1t
had not helped to negotiate. Russia,
the note declares, has plenty Of prec-
edents for not recompensing the for
mer owners OF nationalized property
or making good damages :esuBedr BY.
the revolution. Legally the Russian
note scores on the powers at will