Evening star., 1931-12-13
BY WILLIAM HARD.

Inc Unlted states Is going 10 be nat
up against the problem Of the recog-
milton OF Russia at the World Disarma-
ment Conference at Geneva month
after next, If 1t wants the conference
| to be a success.
Our State Department has long aban-
doned the idea that our delegates at
the conference will be asked to discuss
only armies and navies and air forces.
II has long perceived that they will be
asked TO discuss also every political
maladjustment on the face OF Europe.
The prospective welcoming speech Of
Europe to our delegates at the confer
ence might be paraphrased as follows:
"You are here because you want dis
armament What prevents disarma-
ment? Quarrels. So we will now frst
discuss the quarrels."
That is why the principal European
governments are renting whole hotels
at Geneva for the conference, and it Is
why even the remote japanese are pre-
pairing to occupy 100 hotel rooms while
the conference attempts to change all
the WOrluS y QudIIelS lIlGO aCCOiilAuoaa-
tions and understandings
In the course of this process the
abiding quarrel between France and
Germany will rise to the top first but
it now seems extremely likely that the
unsettled relations between Russia and
the countries along it's western boun-
Diary in Europe will for the United
States occupy position Of final and
supreme difficulty.
The roots of the difficulty are these :
/. Germany has plainly intimated
that 1t will come to the end OF it's par
ticipation in disarmament projects and
perhaps to the end OF its participation
in the whole Organization of peace"
unless a genuine and substantial re-
duction of armaments is accomplished
for all its neighbors, including Poland.
2. Poland, before accepting such a
reduction, demands better under
standing" not only between Russia and
the other neighbors of Russia on Rus
sia's western boundary-Finland, Es-
thonia, Latvia, Rumania.
3. Rumania, for its part, feels that
such an understanding" should in
clude definite REIMBURSEMENT by Rus
sia of its claims upon the Rumanian
province of Bessarabia. 1t then addi-
tionally declares that meanwhile, "in
view Of its geographical situation" 1t
is actually already reduced below the
level of the armaments necessary for
its security"
4. The United States, by one Of the
queerest quirks in its diplomatic history,
has never technically recognized the
remuneration OF Bessarabia from Rus
sla TO Rumania and even today main
tains for Bessarabia separate "immi-
grafton quota" from the one which it
maintains for Rumania.
Thus, IN the Bessarabian quarrel, the
United States Government, oddly
enough, is, in sense, on the side OF
Russia. A decade ago our Secretary of
State, Bainbridge Colby in a large out
burst of anti-Bolshevik energy, de-
clared that the Soviet government of
Russia could not ALLEVIATE any of the
territories OF the ancient Russian en-
pire. The Bolsheviks, according to Mr..
Colby, were misrepresentation of Rus
Sla and could not lawfully dismember
RUSSIA. Ihus we acquired the policy
OF the territorial integrity OF Russia"
since that time we have receded from
that policy in several instances along
the Baltic, but not, apparently in the
instance of Bessarabia. We still in o,r
immigration quota" regard Bessarabis
as somehow vaguely different from the
rest OF Rumania.
The Russians strongly concur. They
annexed BesSarabia by war in 1912.
Ihey declined to accept its re-annexa-
tioh 10 Rumania in 1918 and 1920,
tnough that Remuneration to Rumania
was at BessaTabia's own request, Thsy
oec4are that they will not fight to re-
gain BeSsarabia, but they refuse TO sur
render their political claim upon IL,
IN the disarmament conference at
Geneva, accordingly, the chief Russian
delegate, Mr.. Litvinov, and the chief
American delegate whoever he NAV be
VIII seemingly have one point in com
mon. That point will be the most
quarfelsome armaments point In Eu-
ropes entire eastern region: The legal
title to BeSsarabia
1t would seem to follow that the chief
american delegate and the chief Rus
sian delegate will have some COW con-
VeISatlonS. Wholly seriously, there is
not the slightest doubt in the world
that conversations and negotiations be-
tween our delegates and the Russian
delegates at Geneva will proceed
privately with just as much fullness and
intimacy as If Russia were publicly
recognized by us in Washington.
Ihe outcome Of those negotiations can
De readily forecast. The chief Ameri-
can delegate-let us say, Mr.. Fletcher
Wlll call in the chief Polish delegate,
Mr.. zaleski, and the chief Rumsnian
delegate, Mr.. T1tulescu, and the follow
ing exchange Of ideas may ensue:
Mr.. Fletcher: Gentlemen, Mr.. Hoo
yer expects me to disarm you all. I
now address myself TO the Polish and
Humanlan delegates. I have the honor
10 inform you, sirs, that Russia again
0ders as ia tie nat n ,.x x.~a. H..