At Genoa last week Mr. Lloyd George's efforts to devise
a formula acceptable to the Bolsheviks caused the Belgian delegate to refuse to sign the joint memorandum. He declined to admit that the Bolsheviks had any right to confiscate Belgian property in Southern Russia and then to lease it to other foreigners. The French Government took their stand beside Belgium. They were prepared to sign the document if it required the Bolsheviks to compensate foreigners for the private property of which they had been deprived. The French offered also to accept the Prime Minister's proposed " Pact of Non- Aggression" if the Bolsheviks would accept it, and if existing treaties were respected. The French were not, however, prepared to attend a meeting of the Supreme anmeil until after May 31st, when the ultimatum of the Reparation
Commission to Germany expires. They regard it as useless to discuss the question of reparation until they see whether Germany will make a serious effort to meet her obligations.
