The Hague Conference came to an end on Thursday, July
20th, without having done anything at all. Its members—apart, of course, from the Bolsheviks—congratulated each other on the complete unanimity which had prevailed among them. Com- mander Hilton Young expressed the belief that the Bolsheviks were beginning to see the folly of asking for credits without first gaining the confidence of Europe. The delegates then decided that their Governments ought not to assist their subjects " in attempting to acquire property in Russia which belonged to other foreign nationals, and had been confiscated since 1917," without the consent of the owners. It was announced that America would adhere to this policy. But the resolution was made subject to the approval of all Governments, whether represented at The Hague or not, so that it has no binding force as yet. The Report of the non-Russian members, which was published on Wednesday, shows that there is no prospect of coming to terms with the Bolsheviks in their present mood. The Prime Minister, speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, could only express a pious hope that the Bolsheviks were being educated by these conferences. He is a firm believer in talking as a political and economic panacea.
