Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-08
THE MATTER OF RUSSIAN BONDS

THE MATTER OF RUSSIAN BONDS
The writer of a pamphlet devoted to opposition to
the league of nations in principle and in practice makes
the charge that one Of the principal purposes behind the
movement for the league Of nations is to insure the
wealthy bond holders of the United States and some other
countries of payment of the Russian bonds which they
held. This. it is held; is the, only thing which accounts
for the presence OF Allied troops in Russia. The purpose
is to use the organization of the United States. Great
Britain, France and Italy to wiring from the poor peo-
pies of Russia billions of rubles which may be trans
formed into francs, sovereigns and dollars SO that our
capitalists, already too rich, may have more. billions
added to their ilgotten wealth.
No intelligent person entertains such an idea for a
moment. The entire purpose behind the movement for
the league of nations is to establish human existence
upon a plane of safety and security which will make pos
sibe the realization of each individual of the just result
Of all his effort for progress and development. One. con-
dition essential to the contamination of this purpose is
the prevention of war between nations. The security of
the individual can not exist where war is present or prob
able. Another condition also essential is that there
shah be established throughout the earth governments
which exist for the benefit of the governed, and in ac-
cordance with their we'll considered desires.
The prevention of war is an International principle.
One with which all nations must deal; one which no ma
ton can solve, by and for itself. United action is neces-
sary and unavoidable. The establishment and mainte-
nance of governments is a more local and national mat
ter. In the very nature of things the government of a
nation must be established by the people of that nation.
Except in the case of barbarians government is not to be
imposed from outside, but it is the concern Of all civil
lied peoples that in any great nation there shall be a
government. The existence of the government is pre-sup-
posed in the existence of the nation. 1t is not noush
to meet the conditions that there shall exist in a country
a thing, a species of organizations which calls itself a
government. To remove from human society at large
the menace which the existence of a state of anarchy
in any part of the earth involves there must be in each
country a government which is realized as such by its
own people. reasonably responsive to their will, and to a
reasonable degree obeyed and respected by thin.
In order to be recognized as a reasonably safe citi-
gen and a reasonably desirable neighbor, the individual
must be known to be in the habit of meeting the obliga-
tons which he incurs. He must carry out his promises.
and this has been so thoroughly recognized that in all
established communities measures have been created to
compel those persons to fulfill their promises who might
otherwise fail to do so. Among the things required from
an Individual in ordr that he may qualify as a safe
member of society is that he shall pay his debts. The
Importance of this is so we'll recognized that no argument
is needed to sustain it, and similar obligations exist with
respect to nations. The other nations advanced immense
sums of money to Russia when Russia was in need. The
alleged government which has seized control has re-
pudiated the promises which were made for the repay
ment Of these loans and has in this given a further DEM
onstTaticnf of its utter absence of right to be considered
a government. Without question the government which
shall ultimately be established and recognized in Russia
will recognize the validity of this monetary obligation
and will show a willingness to do whatever is possible
toward. repayment. This is not the thing for which the
other nations are contending, but they are contending
for the establishment OF a real government in Russia and
a real government does what it can to pay its debts.
One may inquire in passing who are the bond holders
who hold. these Russian obligations. Some of them are
the peasants Of France who advanced money to their
government on its promise to pay in order that their
government might advance to the Russian government
on ig promise to pay. But those who have accumulated
. greater part OF this credit. during recent years are the
plain people of the United States who have bought bill
lions upon billions of dollars worth Of Liberty bonds in
order that the American government to which this money
was loaned might in turn loan it to the impoverished
government Of Russia. Therefore those who are plead
ing for, or attempting to Justify reputation Of the Rus
sian debt, are asking that the money involved be taken
forcihly and. outright from the pockets of the plain peo-
pie q the United States and its ~neishbors.