New-York tribune., 1922-07-01
Reds Demand
l,6l2 Million
Credit atHague
Conference Halts Abruptly
as Litvinof Presents Mos
cows 'Minimr,m.'' and
tai ilure Is Imminent
Ask $25O,OOO,OOO Cash
Yield if You Desire to
Collect Russian Claims.
wers Are Informed
By Wilbur Forrest

special Cable 10 The Tribune
copyright 1922, New York Tribune Inc.
IRE HAGUE, June 3O.-Credits of
3'224 600, 900 gold rubles (Sl,6l2, 900 .00O)
Is the minimum Russian demand ac
cordIng TO figures presented to the
representatives of the western Euro
pean powers by Maxim Litvinoff. head
of the Soviet delegation, to-day. This
announcement put a check to the pro
ceedlngs of the conference and is
taken to mean either the complete
failure of the meeting or its continu-
ance under more difficult auspices.
The Russian figures were demanded
by the powers several days ago and
reasonable answer was expected from
the Soviets. Accordingly Litvinon to-
day produced the Russian plan for re-
construction with estimates of the
amounts needed for various industries
Litvinoff places transportation first
with more than $780, 100000, agricul-
ture next with more than $45O,OOO. 900,
manufactures 1876, 900 and com
merce and banking $3.50 ,OoO, 900. 1t is
understood that the demands of the
last named are for cash.
Conference in Confusion
These demands brought pointed re-
marks from the French and British
delegates, to which the Soviet dele
gates replied with equal vigor, inform
ing the powers that if they hope to
realize on their Russian claims it
would be necessary to meet the Mos
COW demands.
The conference is in confusion to-
night, being wholly unprepared for
this character of treatment of what
was n widely advertised effort to get
down to practical business for the re
construction of Russia. 1t is doubt
less correct to say that the delegates
are all comforting with their home
governments as to the policy to pur-
sue in view Of the Soviet attitude.
To-day's meeting of the sub commits
sion on credits, where the Russians
presented their demands, ended abrupt
ly when the talk on both sides as
sumed sucn a character that it might
easily have caused the discontinuance
Of the conference. AS the conference
is composed merely of experts sub iect
to instructions from their governments
it was suggested by a British delegate
that the session of the sub -commiss%
adjourn. This was done, but no datH
was fixed for another meeting.
Reds Expected to Stand Pat
From the Russians attitude tonight
it appears they are prepared to stand
on the figures they produced, which,
they declare, were prepared by a spe-
cial commission in Moscow, which re-
duced the original estimates to min
imum. The Soviets also circulated an
exhaustive qucstionnaire covering half
u dozen typewriter pages asking the
powers to put this in the hands of
every one of their nationals who had
claims of any sort against Russia. The
most minute information is required
from each creditor, eading to the belief
that the Sovicts desire to ascertain
whether their creditors are "bourge
or workers" This part of the qucs-
tionnaire is evidently designed to test
the French statement that the ajority
of French holders Of Russian bonds
belong to the latter category. The
move is also regarded as indicating
that the Soviets are preparing to repu-
diate obligations to so-called foreign
CAPITALISTS