NOTHING DEFINITE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18532, 14 July 1922, Page 5

NOTHING DEFINITE.

SOVIET NOT TO BE PINNED DOWN. IRRECOX ILABLE ATTITUDE. THE HAGUE, July 12. Apart from M. Kr assin's statement, every effort to elicit anything definite from the Soviet or to pin them down to any clear understanding has failed, nor can the information supplied to the Non-Russian Commission be relied upon. The attitude of the Russians is daily becoming increasingly irreconciiaole, and the recent adjournments were apparently the only alternative to an open rupture. M. Litvinoff, the head of the Soviet delegation, has been particularly shifty in his replies to \arious questions regarding credits. Recently M. Krassin (a Russian delegate to The Hague), in an interview with Sir Lloyd Graeme, declared that the official declaration Qi the Soviet delegation might be considered null and void, adding privately that it would be possible to restore !i0 per cent, of the expropriated private property, although the delegation was obliged officially to refuse to admit it. DEADLOCK REACHED. FURTHER DISCISSION ISE LESS. THE HAGUE. July 12. It is officially stated that there will be no use in continuing the conference on the basis laid down by M. Litvinoff to-day. With Sir L. Graeme’s announcement that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the negotiations with the Russians, the conference has reached a deadlock. It is impossible to carry on the discussion as the Russians replying to all questions. regarding restitution and compensation to owners of private property, said: “Give us credits first to restore Russia.” When Sir Lloyd Graeme told the committee he would consult his colleagues and see whether it was worm while continuing the conference. M. Litvinoff replied: "The responsibility for the breaking up of the conference does not rest with us.”

LITVINOFF PETULENT AND BOMBASTIC. RUSSIA READY TO FIGHT FOR TEN YEAK>. Received July 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 12. The Daily Telegraph’s Hague correspondent telegraphs that unless the Russians alter their altitude the failure of the conference is certain. After Sir Lloyd Graeme had spoken, Litvinoff made the usual shifty indeterminate reply, asking petulantly if any information supplied by Russian delegations would be acceptable. bJbofl then uttered a number of Ales, finally admitting, in answer to a question, that if additions were made to the list of properties rhe Soviets intended to restore such additions would be unimportant. In this matter the local Soviets had full

autonomy. Litvinoff bombastically added that Russia had the most stable Government in the world. It had existed for five years without a change. The Russian Government felt sure there was less risk to foreign capital there than in any capitalistic countries in Europe. In answer to further questions. Litvinoff said Russia did not feel obliged to compensate foreign nationals. He commenced a long harangue to the effect that Britain admitted the right of any Government to nationalise property. Sir L. Graeme interjected that if property were nationalised there must be real, effective compensation. The meeting adjourned sine die. Litvinoff interviewed later said the failure of the conference had been a foregone conclusion for several days. The non-Russians will now pledge themselves not to make any private settlement with Russia, but it will be a scrap of paper, as it was impossible to permanently isolate 150 million people. “We fought for five rears and are ready to fight Jo y ten T nore.”