The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-10
HAGUE CONF FERENCE. PASSES CRISIS, BUT. OTHERS ARE AHEAD.
Attitude of Soviets Toward Return of Private Property Remains Chief Danger
 Before Farley
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Paris, July 10.-Withdrawa1 of
 French representatives from The
 Hague conference today (Mon-
 day), owing to the attitude of
 the Russians. is declared prob-
 able by this mornings news
 papers. Instructions sent to
 France's delegates yesterday by
 Premier Poincare are said to sup
 port this assertion.
 The Hague, July 9.-The experts conference on Russian problems has held on through a great crisis, but is not yet considered out of danger. All the delegates, as they sit today in their hotels at Schevingen, are unanimous in this view, but their de- pression, which is very evident, un- doubtedly is influenced by the per- sistent absence of sunshine, the equally persistent biting North sea winds and interminable rain.
 The danger arises from the atti- tpde of the Russian delegation to- wards restitution of confiscated prop erty and prominent European repre- sentatives frankly declared today that unless the soviets made many concessions from their policy an- nounced Friday, 1t would be quite useless to continue the conference.
 English Optimistic
 The English delegation remains doggedly optimistie; the Italians also are hopeful. The pessimistic groups think that the Russians do not care whether the conference succeeds or collapses. as they will hope to make advantage out of separate agree ments with different financial groups and, therefore, obtain credits, for which they clamor constantly and which the conference may long post pone, even if general accord is reached.
 Such is a brief summary of the situation as the conference is about to start another week of active nego- tia tions.
 Both sides appear to realize that they have been moving Tn a hopeless circle. In the long run. by taking up seized property under classified head ing, it Is hoped to reconcile the two divergent viewpoints, for it seems certain that Europe will not supply credits without restitution. and the bolsheviki will not grant any form of restitution without getting credits in return.
 Ta Find Compromise
 The immediate problem is to fad a compromise which would save the face" of the communists and satisfy the demands of the western coun- tries, which hold property rights to be sacred. In other words, there is being fought at The Hague a bat.ie between communism and capitalism of far-reaching and tremendous in- pcrtance as relates to the social and economic system of the entire world
 The Russians complained again today of the refusal of the delegates of the non-communistic countries" to grant information asked in their famous questionnaire of 13 points concerning foreign holdings of the Russian debt.
 The European delegates refused compliance. not only because they considered the questions irrelevant if not impertinent, but also because to answer them would necessitate stu pendous international inquiry, w.th nicnths of labor and great expense. Create Alarm
 Some of the questions created con- siderable alarm as indicating desire on the part of the Russian delegation to apply communicate theories in all their dealings in foreign lands. The issues involved are so staggering that the European groups are pe- ginning to realize the difficulties and responsibilities of their task.
 Tt is not so sensational as Genoa, said one delegation leader to the As sociated Press today, but 1t Is vast ly more important to the worlds fu- ture. The western world must take its stand here on inalienable rights in respect to property. We cannoi drift into communism or seem .c favor it. If we cannot reach an ac- cord at The Hague we can certainly prepare a common report to our gov ernments calculated to advance tho settlement of the Russian situation
 Russia must be reopened in ths interest of everybody. It may require another conference to clear things up but we hope to accomplish much here, to build a bridge between Rus. sia and the outside world"