The French Government, replying on Sunday to-the memoran- dum, reminded
Mr. Lloyd George that there were "profound divergences on Many important points" between the Allies, and that the. experts at The.Hague ought to oome to an agree- ment before meeting the Bolsheviks. As to-Trivate: property, the Bolsheviks could not pay compensation. They' had--agreed with Italy not to expropriate. Italian concessions, and . they might. make similar promises to the other Allies if the Mimi were united in defence of. their rights. France must insist on the need for a full inquiry. into Russian economic conditions if anything.serious were to be done for Russia: She could not cancel her loans to Rucaia before or during the War. -In conclusion, the French Government said very plainly- that; if the Allies represented at The Hague could not agree beforehand on some governing ideas, the meeting would be no more successful than . the- Genow Conference. Having made this protest, the French Government decided on Tuesday to- send- a "mission of inquiry" to The Hague. If, however, the French experts are not satisfied- with. the way in- which the negotiations regarding Russia aretobeconducted, they- will retire before tho,Bolsheviks appear on June 26th.
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