New-York tribune., 1922-07-11
Powers Unite
Against Soviet
Property Plan
Moscow Proposal Displeases
European Delegates, Who
Agree to Present Specific
Questions on Restitution
Parley Fate Up to Russia
Envoy Offers Limited Grants
and Rail Concessions, but
Under Rigid Restrictions

TIE HAGUE July 10 (By The AS
.aeiates Press The European dele
,x,ss st The Hague, under instruc-
siass from their governments, decided
.a.day TO adopt united front on all
s.sst;ons before the Russian confer
,sce. more particularly on the treat.
rant Of confscated property. 1t has
hau agreed to put specific questions
"a the Russian delegates relative to
che restitution Of property, on which
mir sttiiude is declared to be unsatis-
ssrtory. Upon the answers depends
xhs,her the conference can continue.
The French delegates say there is no
c,,ssicn about their withdrawing for
ssa present. Sir Philip Lloyd Greame,
hsaa Of the British delegation, said to-
night:
ave must bring about settlement,
NJ. falling that, must obtain a com.
plete exposition OF the facts as to why
settlement is impossible. Obviously
We cannot continue indefinitely, and
there are issues on property Of which
vs cannot procrsstinate."
Krassin Makes Attitude Clear
Lsonid Krassin, the Soviet economic
EXPERT gave such frank answers to the
western European powers questions
concerning the Use of credits that even
tAe French representative, who was de-
elared to be ready to withdraw, thanked
him for the "clear and logical nature
Of his exposition"
Krassins statement was in answer
to series of questions put by the
European experts concerning credits
for transport and agriculture. He ex-
plained that Russia wanted credits to
repair such railroads as would take
care cf about half of the transport
carried or before the war. In gen
ersl, he said, Russia was not prepared
to accord concessions for existing
railways, but was ready to grant con-
cessions for the construction of new
lines, but trunk lines must remain in
the hands of the government.
For agricultural purposes the gov
eminent was ready, he said, to grant
concessions aggregating 100000 hec-
tares. 1t was already in negotiation
With foreign companies, and some four
agreements were practically complet-
ed, one for 100000 hectares. The du-
ation of the concession, he said,
- S,,1 h.
and which it was proposed to concede
was fertile and near the coast, so as
to make transport by sea easy
Against Absolute Free Trade
With regard to foreign trade, Kras-
sin declared that for the present he
could not admit the resumption of alb
solute free trade with foreign coun-
tries, as he was bound to protect his
country, which is suffering from de-
pleciated exchange. This did not mean
hat the state must control absolutely
all foreign credit, he continued. They
had centralized the system of pur-
chases in foreign countries, thereby
gaining in prices and quality. and they
had adopted the method of centraliza-
ton for the sales of exports. He could
not change this system until the rela-
tons with foreign countries became
normal, but meantime there was moth
ing to prevent foreign capital from
participating in mixed societies repre-
senting Russia abroad
The new customs tariff, continued
Krassin, was based on the same prin-
elrle which existed before the war and
before the revolution, and the hgures
were about the same. Asked if con-
csssions for maritime transport were
possible, Krassin replied that the gov
ernment was anxious to attract foreign
cap'tai for this purpose, and he be-
ieyed that concessions were possible,
eoth for maritime and river transport,
% the system of mixed societies with
.ne russian government as partner,
of With the concessionnaire paying
psreentage on the goods transported.
russia needs a vast quantity of
transport material, such as locomotives,
cars. rails, bridges, telephones, tele-
graphs, machinery, spare parts and
sseei. For river transport she requires
boats, especially for oil. and spare
pAres for existing ship workshops. Rus
saa proposed to inaugurate a motor
transport service from the chief rail-
way centers to facilitate the trans
por1 OF raw material, cereals and tim
seE Agricultural credits were needed
.If irrigation, drainage, seeds and ma
sA.hery, which last is. for the present,
most urgent necessity. 1t was also
"eeessary, he continued, to create a
1I:5,stem OF elevators and coal pockets
ae those in the United States and
nanaoa In order to facilitate the ex-
po'' OF grain and for coal storage.
France Offers to Assist
me French delegates said that
rance heartily desires to participate
a. X me reconstruction of Russia, and
aat .ney believed the transport recon
a;et,on would attract private French
NJ. tsp.'si, but they expressed the opinion
saae 1urther informr tlon seemed nee
sos,yy asslyy as to what use private capital
ns aiu De put to, what amounts are
cr., eu, the nature of the security and
hties which would be forthcom-
s ana what special advantage would
aNeiy TO accrue to investors.
e,n.oH n.lyinoH submitted list in writing
Plalhlng ten questions to the nom
stood tian =. commission, it being under
~ ny ~ that any agreement to be reached
sa.;ss e same would be conditional on
aronactory arrangements concerning
wvgsrty ws.o and debts. The questions
goye,d se aimed at establishing what the
woI.ulhents wo"I. represented at The Hague
tba tbia De able and willing to grant in
49, VI way OF credits-in what amount,
siteT dr. 1t would be in the nature of
nent .oans to the Russian govern