Evening star., 1922-07-27
Failure at The Hague Only What
Was Expected.

With the Hague conference "on
the rocks" there is a, disposition on
the part OF many American editors
to suggest that the time is ripe for
hands or policy to be adopted
in connection with Russia. 1t is
argued that the failure of the soviet
delegation to agree to the principle
of private property rights has demon
strated that Russia is not ready to
resume her place in the economic
fabric of world affairs However.
believe that both at Genoa and at
The Hague politics controlled. and
they suggest, notably the Brooklyn
Eagle. that the time may be ripe
for the United States initiating a
conference from which politics would
be barred and in which only eco
nomic matters could be debated.
Some will say that Lloyd George
is too old statesman to require
any lessons" says the Buffalo Times.
But he has had two, both admin
istered by the harsh schoolmaster,
Experience. at Genoa and The Hague.
will profit by them. Even now 1t is
not too late to retrace his steps,
although he cannot repair the dam
age done by the dual f1asco at Genoa
and at The Hague" But because OF
the magnitude of the task of recon-
CLING the conflicting elements the
Detroit News believes little surprise
can be felt that the result was fail
ure, although it says while ut 10 too
soon to predict with any certainty
Hayt1
take, the future will be awaited with
interest and not little apprehen-
sion." Then, again, tho conference
of necessity had ito end in words.
the Baltimore Sun points out. because
the inherent difficulty OF the settle.
fact that 1t involves the surrender
of either capitalism or communism.
Neither is willing to surrender yet
and the conflict goes on"
The finish of the negotiations is
not yet. in the view Of the New York
answer lies in the fact that the tend
of the conference at The Hague is
not the end of the conference. Both
sides have been testing each other's S
staying powers. The nom Russians
have the better of it. Russia now
badly she desires credit. When she
desires it badly enough she will find
a way of agreeing TO what the pow
ers demand" While this may be so,
however, the Louisville Courier Jour
nal points out that until the reds
learn and practice the lesson of
simple. morality which was read to
them by Lloyd George at the close
of the Genoa conference their chances
of obtaining economic recognition,
to say nothing of political friend
ship, are decidedly remote" Echoing
1os-
suggests that "by this time probably
even Lloyd George is convinced that
the French judgment Is correct, and
that democracies cannot find any
common ground with bolshevism for
doi.lg business or for cooperation for
mutual advantage"
This likewise seems to be the view
>of the Grand Rapids Press, which
asserts that nations are like indi.
viduals. They must grow, they
must learn by experience. commit
errors and suffer for them. Only
thus can they become strong. Amer
lea has the kindest feeling for Rus
befriending the real Russia, which
today is suffering intensely. 1t may
appear harsh treatment to keep hands
off, but in the end that kind of treat
ment will be the kindest. One of
these days the Russian people will
luc poAohSvAceo, 40 ShCy
overthrow the csar. Then. and only
then, can the period Of renewed hope
begin. And let us hope that day will
come soon."
Because Russia was impossible" !"
the st. Louis Globe Democrat is con-
vinced there could be no agreement
reached, inasmuch as there could be
no hope of success, either at the &C.
noa or Hague conference, unless all
the delegates were amenable to rea-
son and sincere in their efforts to
come to a settlenNnt OF the problems
that confronted them. The Russians
ignored every reasonable proposition
from beginning to end and they were
directly responsible for defeating
their own interests in both confer.
ences." However, the Rochester
Times Union thinks that the Russians
feel that in all negotiations with the
western powers they have the whip
hand They believe that sooner or
later the world will have to do busi-
ness with Russia on Russia's terms.
Will the influence. of western govern
ments prevent individual bargainings
between the capitalists of the west
and the Russian government? That
Is a question which only time can
definitely answer" There are. how
ever. conversations for the failure,
in the belief Of the Mobile Register.
because had the conference succeed
ed in loanine money to Russia 1t
would have failed moro ab5ectly than
q a <krrs n