The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-25
CBy Associated Pressl


(By Associated Press)
GENOA, April 25.-The Genoa con-
ference is drifting toward the rocks
again. Whether it can be kept from
wreckage depends upon the possibility
of adjusting the new demands of the
Russian soviet delegates with the posi-
ition of the allied governments who
declare they will steadfastly stand
by the resolutions adopted at Cannes,
on which the conference is founded.
The situation Is made more critical
by the French premier's frank warn
ing in his address at Bar-Le-Duc yes
terday that France will withdraw from
the conference If she is unable to see
that the idea expressed by the French
cabinet before parliament can tri-
umph
Those French practical demands, in
clude maintenance of the war repara-
tons figures, disbarment of all dis
discussion and no changing
ST existing treaties at Genoa In ad-
1ition France insists on rigid adher-
ence to the Cannes resolutions which
call for the payment of Russia's pre-
war debts and restitution by the So
Wet of foreigners property in Russia.
Find Contradiction
The conference of experts on the
Russian question broke up yesterday
and adjourned sine die because the ex-
perts representing the powers found
the Russians newest proposals abso-
lutely in contradiction to the soviet
note accepting the allies terms as a
basis for future deliberations.
Yesterday the bolsheviki announced
their declination to restore private
property because everything was ma
in Russia, but in their note
of acceptance they voiced willingness
to restore such property or indemnify
the owners, provided the country's
war debts to the allies were cut down
and financial help for Russia forth
coming
Instead of accepting the allies de-
mands for the payment of war debts,
with the understanding that these
debts be scaled down and the arrears
in interest either postponed or remit
ted in part, the bolsheviki had an en-
tirely different proposition They
asked the complete annulment of all
war debts.
What They Demand
Whereas they had previously agreed
to the payment of the financial obliga-
tions due to foreign nationals which
are usually referred to as the pre-war
debts, the soviet spokesmen asked
for moratorium of 30 years on these
debts and the cancellation of the in
terest according to the allied version
of the meeting. This cancellation
was to apply both to the past and to
the period of the moratorium.
Finally the Russians made clear
that in refusing to restore private
in Russia, this would not i'm
ply any surrender by Russian citizens
Of their rights to hold property in
fee simple in foreign lands, "bour-
geoise countries, where the right to
possess property went with the bour-
geoise system.
Such, said the Bolsheviki, were their
terms, but they could only grant them
0n condition that the powers repre-
Sented at Genoa would first agree to
recognize the soviet government and
accord 1t adequate financial help for
heir economic reconstruction.
Under these conditions" said Sir
neutrality-suspicious., chairman of the
meeting, 1--WE cannot discuss any fur
her. We must refer this matter to
our respective governments" It was
hen decided to adjourn the sittings
sine die. All the experts except the
Russians, arranged to meet today and
go over the entire situation.