New-York tribune., 1922-04-11

made distinct impression on all the
| delegates
Tchitcherin made no mention of the
| question Of Russa's pre-war foreign
/ debt, but he went surprisingly far in
expressions of Russia's Willingness to
/ cooperate with the rest of the world.
Lloyd George leaned forward in his
chair trying to catch the Russian
! spokesman's every word There was no
applause, when the Bolshevikk delegate
I finished the first speech ever made by
a Communist in gathering of western
European statesmen.
GENOA, April 10 (By The Associated
! Press When Georg Tchtcherin made
his statement that Russia was ready
70 support any proposal that would
/ avoid war or tighten the burden of
armament Barthou Immediately pro
tested and declared with some heat
that France absolutely would refuse to
discuss the question of disarmament at
this conference.
( Lloyd George hastened to intervene,
and IN his contention that disarmament
could not be taken up certainly not be
fore peace basis had been reached at
( Genoa, ne was supported by Signor
/ Facta.
Eventually the discussion on this
/ point ceased. after M. Tchitcherin said
the Russian delegation would bow to
the collective will of the conference
Incident Is Regretted
Disappointment is felt at Tchitchcr-
ms pressure on questions outside the
Cannes agenda, because Frances oppo-
/ s!tion naturally was aroused, and
threatened the gathering at the very
outset
British and Allied diplomats admit
that Lloyd George rose not moment
: too soon TO dissipate the menace by
appealing u common sense. His ap-
, peal was the more effective because
he refused to take the head of the
Russian delegation and the threatened
deadlock seriously. His remarks en-
/ tirely restored good humor, and on re-
turning to his villa he received the
congratulations of delegates of various
nationalities. The Italian delegates
went so far as to say that Mr. Lloyd
7 George saved the conference. and the
british delegation pays tribute to
( Premier Facta's tact and resolution.
which had a remarkable effect.
After paying tribute to Signor
Facta's address, Premier Lloyd George,
in his speech before the conference,
said;
This is the greatest gathering Of
/ i'us sopedn hauohS Whlch mas ever as
scmb!ed on this continent. and having
regard for the magnitude of the as
+ somblY the character of its reprcsen-
taton and the Importance of the. topics
we are here 20 discuss, the results of
( the conference will be far-reaching in
their effects. either for better or for
worse. upon the destiny not merely Of
! Europe but the whole world
Meet on Equal Terms
I'VE meet on equal terms. provided
we accept equal conditions We are
not here as allied and enemy states.
We are not here as belligcrents or neu-
trails. We have not come together as
Z monarchiSts or republicans or soviet
sts. We are assembled as the repre-
sentatives Of all the nations and peo-
pies Of Europe to seek out in common
the best methods for restoring the
shattered prosperity of this continent.
SO may each build up in his own land,
each in his own way. better condi-
tion Of things for the people than the
world has yet enjoyed. But if we meet
on terms Of equality it must be because
wc accept equal conditions.
These conditions inviting the pow
ers were laid down OF Cannes. They
apply 10 all alike. They are the con-
ditions which heretofore have been ac-
cepted by all civilized communities as
the basis Of international good faith.
They. in themselves, are honorable.
They are essential to any intercourse
between nations. They do not derogate
the complete sovereignty of the states.
We fully accept them ourselves. They
are the only conditions on which we
can consent to deal with others | will
summarize them in two or three sem
tences.
THE first is. when country enters
into contractual obligations with an
other country or its nationals for value
received that contract cannot be re
pudiated whenever the country changes
its government without returning
value. The second is. that no country
can wage war on the institutions o.
another. The third is, that one nation
shall not engage IN aggressive opera.
tons against the territory Of another.
The fourth is that the nations of
one country shall be entitled to i'm
partial justice in the courts of an
other.
Compliance Insisted On
"lf any people reject these elemen-
tary conditions Of ,iyilized intercourse
between nations they cannot be eX-
pected 10 be received into the comfy
of nations,
"These conditions were laid down at
Cannes; They we're incorporated in
tho invitatio0 to this conference. They
are Tho fundamental basis of its pro
ceedngs and all those who accepted
The Invitation must be presumed tc
have accepted the conditions and
ave every reason TO believe that this
S the view which every nation rep
rcse7ted in his assembly s prepared
% adhere to in letter and in spirit
Europe undoubtedly needs 2 com
non effort to repair the devastation
wrought by the most destructive wa,
ever waged in this world That wal
came to an end three years ago
Europe exhausted with its fury, with
the loss OF blood and treasure it in,
voVed. Is staggering under the
colossal burdens Of debt and repara
tion it entailed. The pulse Of com
,nerco is beatin" teebly. In some lands
artilcia! activit is stimulated eithe,
by demands f0" repairing the ravages
of war or by generations Of thrift BY
The frugal and industrious nong the
} people. But legitimate tra le. com
merce and industry are everywhere dis
organized and depressed
There is unemployment in the West
there is famine end pestience in the
East The peoples of all races and all
classes are suffering some more, some
less, but all are suffering, and unless
some common effort by all the nations
or Europe is made. and made mmedi-
: steiy to restore European efficiency,
"a