Evening star., 1920-01-18
EHhu Root Says America
Has DefQuHed TO Russia
Declares Assurances of Friendship Are Empty
Except for Language Used in Making
Pr0nises---Sp0ke at Private Dinner.

NEW YORK, January II (by the
| Associated Press). The American
people are In default to Russia, In the
! opinion of Elihu Root, chairman of
! the mission sent to that country by
| President Wilson. Assurances OF
| friendship have been empty except
| for the language used in making
! promises he contends. The views of
| the former Secretary OF State on the
perplexing Russian question were
voiced in an address at private din
| ner of the American RUSSIAN Cham-
| ber of Commerce In this city Decem-
| Der 90, at which no reporters were
| nresent At the request of members
of the organization Mr.. Root con-
| sented to having his remarks made
public.
After denouncing the 'horrid group
of cutthroats and assasslns now IN
control in Russia, Mr.. Root de-
cIared they could be fought most eff
fectively by supplying 'the self-sac-
rif1cinp men who are now trying TO
save their country" with munlt/ns or
war. shoes and clothing and money to
| pay their troops. .,-. j.,
would like to say" Mr.. Root said.
aC1ne is that we are in default as to
Russia: the American people is In de.
| fault We have given assurances OF
| friendship. We have made promises
we have used the strongest words In
the English language. ! don Know Know
whether there are any stronger words
! in Russian. But if there are. and we
| had known them, we probably Wouio
have used them, because We have mol
Gated that there was no limit 70 tne
friendship which we were reaay u
/ show toward Russia, and we nave
shown no friendship so"aio AN"'
except in words.
Skies would BE Bright.
MANY opportunities have come anu
have been allowed to pass. Many s'e'
uations have arisen in Russia "here;
| if the American people had mace soou
one-tenth of what they declared they
were ready to do, the skies would De
bright in Russia today. ihey nave
been allowed to pass without actlon'
We have never been ready "heh ~
occasion has come. ana we nase 80 ,,o
nothing. There are many Things we
might have done. ;.;o;ss am
Going to assume that our goVernfneht
had good reasons for not actlns upot,
all the favoring occasions 1,nIF
seemed to challenge acton IN .hara
of Russia; am going to assuhie ti,eg
were good reasons for not ac.iie se
NJ we have not acted. 1t is a shi1t-
inc scene. 1t looks pretty DARK .ien
Nv hut it will shift again; ana ul.
ins" We do something to prepare "
act when the next occasion comes {
shall not be ready. and there Will oe
no action. ;s 70 he any
oot;on 70 make good our assurance |.
Rnssia. the American people musI -
heb;nd the words that nave oeen
snolxen in their behalf, and can lor a. -
! tion. This is how we got INTO Inc vi We"
We did not get in until lne % pe1p,r ,,1
Of the United States were Waheu ul
To the imminent occasion LOT ae.nol
and with their mighty driving poMs
nut our country into acton 1nehi
seIyes Let us do something now, II
we can. to be ready when the next op'
.srhe next thing I wish to say
that now is the time to lay the fouh-
dations, to take the first steps 10 es
tablish the relations necessary iot
the friendly and useful intercourse VI
trade between the United states aho
Pmssia. One form of activity whicn
carries no condescension on one side
nor humiliation on the other. which
is beneficial to both parties, IS IAN
trade. >. MI,
Canadians are doing it, the Japanese
are doing it, the Germans are doins
it: many others. We alone, Win al
our enterprise, with all our lnltia-
tive. with all the habits and the tradl-
tions and the capacity for affirmative
and vigorous and progressive actlon
built up in the course Of the last cen .