New-York tribune., 1922-05-13
Peace, Pending Definite
Boundary Adjustment,
Proposed to Powers at
Genoa as Failure I.ocny.
Russian Reply Held
Idle Propaganda
Allies, However, See III
Britain's Plan Probable
Basis for Negotiations
By Arthur S. Draper
By Cable to The Tribune

Copyright. 1922. New York T-@sr.s E~.o
GENOA, May l2.--The establish
ment of a sort Of European truce,
lasting until frontiers are definitely
established, is all that can be hoped
for from the Genoa conference. Pre-
mier Lloyd George admitted to-day
that he would be satisfied with this
when it became evident that all pros
poets Of q. general agreement be-
tween Russia and the Western pow
ers had vanished and pan-Eu-
ropean aggression pact probably
could not be concluded Immediately.
The political questions foreseen by
President Harding, in his refusal to
send an American delegate to the
conference, have not only material
lzed, but have made the Genoa eco
nomic gathering huge disappoint-
ment, if not colossal failure. The
British still hope to salvage a non
aggression pact out of the wreckace,
but even that is dependent upon the
attitude of the Bolsheviki. Lloyd
George, falling short of the goal he
/ had set, now will content himself
with some kind of temporary truce. =.
After twentyfour hours study of
the Russian reply handed Yesterday to
the Allies, the British, along with other
delegations. have concluded that il
offers no hope of making terms with
the Moscow government. They see,
however, a possibility that it may serve
as the basis on which to negotiate q
general truce, and they will reply to
1t in that light The political sub
| commission of the conference will be-
gin its detailed study of the Russian
answer Immediately, although no i'm
mediate answer to it is expected
Idle Propaganda, British View
The view expressed by the British
day was that the Russian memoran-
dun was full of silly, idle propaganda,
but Lloyd George is not ready to let
this stand in the way Of the establish
menu OF peace IN Europe.
Sir Edward Grgg, private secretary
to the British Premier, said:
$50 far as helping Russia is con-
cerned, the Bolshevik document ur-
doubtedly has delayed and made that
more difficult, but that is the affair o.
the Russian government We are quite
prepared to accept their suggestion
that the questions of credits, debts and
private property be referred to mixed
commission to study them in detail ana
report eventually to another gathering.
That seems to be practical way Of
carrying on the study of the Russian
problem, but it is much more dilatory
than we had considered necessary. Rus
sia will now have to wait much longer
! for credits.
"As to the question of European
peace. we think that the document
gives us satisfactory basis for nego-
| tiation To break this would mean
that all the border states about Russi:,
would be exposed to the danger of wf<.
and the peace OF Europe would b.
fundamentally disturbed.
Basis of Proposed Truce
"The Russian government declares
| its readiness to enter a non-aggression
pact, but we are not prepared to ap-
point representatives on commission
to study the Russian problem unless
| definite guarantees are given to re-
frain from propaganda while the COM
mission is working. Guarantees must
be reciprocal. If Russia guarantees to
refrain from aggression all other
states must give similar guarantees.
We think that a -nor-aggre sson pact
cannot be established for long period
of years, until frontiers have been
recognized definitely.
eve shall propose that truce be
established on the basis Of existing
frontiers until the commissions at
work on boundaries have finished their
Russians has been made. We shall
propose this truce ON the basis Of de
facto frontiers"
The Italian delegates said that they
were in perfect sympathy with the
views of the British, while the Bel
gians and French were equally pleased.
Lloyd George spent most Of this after
| noon in private conferences with the
heads of nearly a dozen delegations,
among them many of the neutrals. All
expressed satisfaction with the pro-
posed truce, although Premier Bra
tiano of Rumania said that his country
could not consent to discussion OF
the Bessarabian question in arranging
such an agreement.
Three Commissions Urged
The British view is that, following
up the Russian suggestion that joint
commission be appointed to study
financial differences between Moscow
and the Western powers, three such
bodies should be named. These would
:; deal with the subjects of credits, debts
and private property rights.
} Premier Rakovsky of Ukrainia. 4
!, member of the Boishevik delegation,
when he heard informally of this sug-
gestion. said that the Russians would
. not agree to this commission scheme
) until they knew who would sit on these
} bodies, what questions would be re-
ferred to them, under what terms they
! would act and where they would meet
, When it was suggested that one COM
mission sit at Prague, under the chair