New-York tribune., 1922-05-16

and France had struck a bargain with
Lloyd George. whereby he had to fore
go consideration of these problems in
return for their adherence to his Hague
proposals.
Lloyd George was not in the least
happy when he answered questions re-
garding separate agreements with Rus
sia. Sweden, italy and Cgecho -Slovakia
| have commercial agreements under
way with the Soviet government, and
Lloyd George said there "ias nothing to
prevent them from concluding these
arrangements while The Hague confer
once was being held. The object of
the conditions that no separate treaties
be concluded until after The Hague
commission had reported he explained,
was TO preclude another Russo German
incident which almost wrecked the
conference"
Aim to protcc: property
Although it would be impossible to
! prevent governments from making rri-
! vatc agreements with the Soviets, he
! said they would exert their influence
/ 70 prevent any agreement which would
/ injure any foreign nation whose peo-
pie held property in Russia.
I GENOA, May Is (By The Associated
Press>. Lloyd George announced that
| he had handed TO Richard Waahburn
evening. copy of the proposal for
the commission to sit at The Hague
to discuss Russian affairs. He said
this had been done so that the United
| States would be fully advised in case
Russia accepts. These proposals pro
vide that an invitation to participate
be extended to the United States.
Lloyd George expressed the hope
that the United States would see fit
to Join the mixed commission.
When pressed for ait expression OF
opinion whether this dual commission
plan was in reality a compliance with
| the Russian request for mixed com
mission, the British Premier smilingly
replied:
"The two commissions will meet sep
| aratcly to discuss their individual af-
fairs. and will meet together when it
is necessary. They will mix fast
enough"
Lloyd George made it clear that the
proposal submitted to the Russians was
| the maximum the Genoa conference
! could offer He said that, in his opin-
/ ion two commissions sitting at The
| Hague and frequently meeting together
( complied in effect with the Russian
suggestion Of a commission to discuss
! financial affairs.
When asked if the conference would
reply to Foreign Minister Tchitcherin's 8
| letter saying the Russians were not
/ being treated as 'els, Lloyd George
said the letter EVIDENTLY was based on
misinformation regarding the plans for
the commissions.
In answer to questions as to whether
tho clause in the agreement against
making separate agreements while The
Hague negotiations are pending would
prevent individuals or corporations of
the various nations from entcring into
business agreements with the Rus
slams. Lloyd George said there was no
power on earth which could regulate
, all the activities of its citizens.
Merely Question Of Influence
A question was asked about the re-
ported agreement Of the Shell oil in
terests with Russia, and he replied that
no government could check such agree
ments, but that it was definitely un-
derstood that all the governments
would use their influence to prevent
property in Russia which belonged to
the subjects Of one government from
being transferred to the subjects OF
another
The British Premier said it was un-
derstocd that the nations now having
commercial agreements pending with
Russia would not be prevented by this
agreement from completing them.
Mr.. Lloyd George said he would not
60 himself to The Hague.