Evening star., 1922-05-07
BY HENRY W. BUM.
II HE following is brief summary OF
the most important news of the world
for the seven days ended May 6:

the most important news of the world
for thesseven days ended May s:
The Genoa Conference.-The subcommittee
of seven, having listened to the Russians tail
talk long it could stand 1t. excused
them from further attendance and set to WORK
\on a new set of formal proposals to the Rus
SLAMS. The full text of these proposals has
not been made public. but the press has pub
lished what purport to be the more important
details The creditor allied governments
reaffirm their old requirements as to acknoWl-
edgment by the soviet government OF RUSSIAN
debts, public and private, OF whatever Rus
sian regime, to return, where posslple'
of property in Russia formerly owned py
foreign nationals and since nationalizeo' ana
as to compensation for damage or loss IN
respect thereof" The allied governments do
SO reaffirm, but with two extremely important
notifications:
First, as to return of conhscated property.
The new note does not, like the old, demand
absolute restitution-i e., the return OF prop
erty under freehold tenure-but II proposes
it's return under leasehold tenure, the leases
to run, presumably. matter OF ninety-nine
years so
Second, apparently the soviet government is
to be permitted quitting its own interpretae
ton upon the expression where possiolel IN
any and, indeed in every case to choose be-
therefot.s %s The. Importance of this latter modi
ication is at once seen in its relation TO on
%oqs m bnnznr IN farieusy Gt may be
marked here that oil seems destined. sooner
or later, to have the whole world by the earso
The note repeats the former offer to write
down" Russian war debts and to consider
postponement of interest payments and even
proposes a machinery of mixed commissions
of several sorts to determine methods OF
n tionsS, to % decide how War far war debts shall be
scaled down (having regard to Russia's war
HHss Claims Of foreign fore ,e nationals. ] e, etc pass
The note shows in detail what aid the pow
ers are prepared immediately to extend to
Russia. il she will accept their terms, of which
aid old friend. the s120.0oo.o00 interna-
tional consortium. would be the most promi-
nent instrument
.- ** * x
The committee of seven had no difficulty in
agreeing the other terms of its note to
the Russians but against the two modif1ca-
tions of the old conditions. above discussed.
the French and Belgans held out AT last
the French were won over and on May the
note to be signed Except by the Bel
g1ans) and dispatched. But at the last
moment Poincare telegraphed to withhold
French signature. Before reaching a decision
he must consult NJ. Barthou, head of the
French delegation. then en- route to Paris.
Apparently the Belgians had appealed to Poin-
with NJ. Barthou, the French cabinet decided
to stand by Belgium. Meantime. Lloyd George
fearing or protesting to fear. that further de-
lay might mean complete breakdown of the
Russian negotiation. the note, without French
Belgian signature was sent to the Rus
SLAMS. this action greatly complicating a situ-
alton already sufficiently awkward. 1t seems
likely, however. that an amendmsnt to the
and the signatories, will be evolved, Or that
in some other way concert of the powers re-
specting Russia will BE brought about.
The Russian negotiation. far concert
of the powers is concerned. is in a delicate
condition, but not hopeless one. On the
other hand there are the Russians The note
mislikes the Russians, not 80 much for what