The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-05-18


Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, May IS.-Although
on the surface it may seem as if the
United States has again refused to CO
operate with European powers, the truth
is the government here is not only ready
but anxious to participate in confer
ence on Russian affairs.
From the White House itself comes
the information that the American gov
ernment stands ready today to send
representative to The Hague or any
where else to discuss the Russian ques-
ton and that if the powers will modify
their proposal so as to remove the fea-
ture Objectionable to this country
American cooperation can be assured
President Harding feels that the door
is open for American help and wants it
clearly understood. The department of
state significantly enough went into de-
tails today IN explaining what appeared
to be a discrepancy between the in
formal statements OF Ambassador
Child in Genoa and the action of the
American government in declining the
invitation TO The Hague conference.
Cablegrams have reached the British
public as amazed at the American re-
fusal because Ambassador Child was
reported as having promised American
cooperation. The truth of the case is
! that when the powers approached Am
| bassador Child they told him the plan
| was to form a committee to study the
| Russian question. Mr.. Child asked the
| department OF state what would be its
| attitude and received a reply telling
| him the government here was sym
pathetic with the proposal and to send
| more information. Before he could do
| so the invitation of the powers with the
| specific proposals concerning The Hague
conference were cabled. This, of course
| looked merely like a shifting of the
Genoa conference itself to The Hague
| and again the American government felt
| that it would be involving itself in po-
/ litical controversies.
| Consider 1t Economic Matter.
Both President Harding and Secretary
| Hughes believe much can be accom-
| plished if the Russian question is treated
as an economic matter and If the Rus
| SLAMS viii respect private rights anC
property and thus afford a basis fol
economic dealings with other nations
The American reply is intended as
piece OF moral sIasion, it being hopeC
that the powers viii be able to persuade
the Russians that the giving of Ameri
can help would be seriously considered
| IN Washington Just as soon as an Geo
nomic basis can be arranged, which vii
warrant the United States in extendin.
its hand. This accounts for the speed
with which American reply was dis
Matched. The powers in conference a
Genoa were expected to use the Ameri
can note as q medium for further nego
tiations with the Russians. In oficia
quarters here it is fully realized tina
the United States can exert a powerfu
influence on the direction of European
affairs at the present moment and tn
responsibilities of the United States il
the circumstances are by no means re
earded with Indifference.
First Affirmative Action.
The readiness of President Harding t,
participate in conference of the DOW
ers on Russian matters is in itself tn
first indication of an affirmative actor
| IN European question. The Unite
States does not wish to dictate the con
ditiOns and had hoped that tho mower
would reach an agreement to recogniz
Russia and that the United States woul
follow suit The desire of France t
follow America and no oaoerness of tn
powers to have America express he
oujnlon Is fully appreciated and tn
significant thing is that the Harding ad
ministration saws puhli0lv II
Il conference under certain conditions
These terms it is supposed viii not b
difficult to arrange and unless the Rus
slams maintain an unalterable position
the prospect may be said to look brigh
for American co-opprof ion after all