The Washington herald., 1922-04-12
SOVIET ENVOY
Will INSIST ON
PEACE PLEDGES
Tchitcherin Sees Opportu-
nifty to Force Bargain
At Genoa Farley. q
PUTS CONDITIONS
ON DEBT PAYMENT
Lloyd George Ready to
Launch Project Of
military Holiday"

GENOA, April ll.-Russia, not
France. now seems TO be the
stumbling block at Genoa.
Tchitcherin. Soviet Foreign Min
lister and Bolshevik spokesman has
overlooked no opportunity during
the two days the conference has
/ been meeting to raise objections
and precipitate incidents.
On guard at every turn lest the
! Capitalist" delegates put sonre-
thing over" on them. the Bolsheviks
| appear in grave danger OF falling
into an over-critical and DEFIANT
attitude. which. IL persisted in. may
wreck what chances. they had OF
being taken back into the family
/ of nations.
: ence OF Japan at the conference
! served further to arouse hostility
1 toward the Soviet delegates even
among those who came 70 the con-
I ference disposed to he friendly.
Lloyd George ConcIIIator.
Lloyd George is still Vsliantly
trying 10 play the role "f conci,i-
ator. hut the continued insurrection
J
| difficult IL not almost futile
Tchitcherin's willingness 20 sub
side and accept the decisions OF the
other delegates after being allowed
| to air his own views. however. led
to the belief in some quarters that
he is deliberately playing the role
| OF "enfant terrible" at the confer
| ence for the sake % impressing
his constituents at home and that
he will cease to cause trouble once
he has given the Russian masses
the impression that he is lighting
their battle at Genoa
Tchitcherin's attitude has been IN
I noticeable contrast TO that of the
Germans who have made every ef-
fort to do the correct thing and
allies.
Rouses French SUSPICION.
This difference Of attitude was
not lost on the French delegation.
who appeared TO be shifting their
suspicious from Germany over TO
Russia.
Tchitcherin has at least helped
solidify the allied group and his
OPPOSITION has caused the Big Five
to drop ther differences for the
the Bolsheviki driving a wedge be-
tween them.
The keynote Of the Soviet policy
here is that fell de jure recognition
of the Soviet republic must he
granted as the basis Of Russia's re-
entry into Europe's economic ana
political life.
We desire economic cooperation
and the allies also desire. II. but We
shall resist any attempt to make
this economic cooperation take the
form Of economic domination or
Russia" sums Gp Tchitcherin's at
titude.
Have Basis for Bargain.
But there is limit TO the con-
cessions the Soviets will make to
secure this recognition. Believing
that the allied eagerness 10 set
back into the Russia market and
secure Russian raw materials is
just as keen as their own desire t.
|. re-enter European society. the
Soviets are shrewdly bssinc their
bargaining on three reasons. which
they contend are fundamental TO
any re-establishment Of world peace
and prosperity:
1. The economic Importance Of
Russia. Without RusSia's co-opera-
tion. the Soviet delegates point out.
lit Is impossible to regulate the
worlds economy.
.. The military strength Of Rus
sia. without which il is Impossible
to establish a general peace.
;. The political influence Of Rus
sia in the Far East. a factor Of
world significance.
Demand Peace Pledges.
Next to the recognition what the
Soviets desire is pr~mise from
the allies to be let alone They
declare allied intrigue against Red
Russia must cease and that peare
pledges must be Forthcoming also
from the leaders Of the little en-
tente-Poland. Rumania and Fin
land.
The Sovicts say they are willing
TO offer in return a pledge to ab-
stain rigidly from Red propaganda
in these countries.
As for assumption Of the pre-war
and the Kerensky debts the So
viets appear willing to accept a
compromise. II Is possible they will
recognize the principal issues Of the
Czarist and Kerensky regimes if
the allies will fund them over -
long period. or grant a loan to Rus
sia, or both.
Have Counter Claims.
The Soviets. however. are expect
ed to present counter claims 10 the
allies for Identification OF damages
suffered at the hands of the white
armies-which the Soviets claim
were backed by outside powers 49,
and the return of Russian ships and
other property seized during the
Wrangel movement
But as one Russian delegate ex-
pressed it. should Genoa turn into
a European capitalist hailins' meet
ing for the collection Of Russia n
debts" the Russians will offer Wig
orous opposition.
Trouble may develop in this con-
nection when the item on the
agenda relating to guarantees for
establishment OF foreign trade in
Russia IL reached. The allies. led
by France. are expected to insist
that Russia agree to strict pre-
liminary conditions a. the basis for
the exchange OF goods and 4he in
ternal development Of Russ tan re-
sources.
IshH Makes Hot Retort.
.Tchitcherin will reply to any
such proposal that Russia canno'
relinauish one degree her cont I
over foreign trade.
His protest against the prese lce
OF Japan at the conference came