New-York tribune., 1920-03-12
Union League
Against Plan to
Recognize Reds
Committee on Bolshevisn
Condemns Trend Toward
Russian Plea, Fearing So
cialist Danger to u. S.
No Value in Concessions
Report Sent to President;
Hope of World Revolt
Not Dead, Is Verdict

The Union League Clubs committee
on the study Of Bolshevism, the mem
bers of which are Archibald E. Steven
son, Robert c. Morris and Theodore F.
Sanxay, made report yesterday con-
demning the trend toward recognition
of the Russian Soviet government
Concessions offered by that govern
ment would be Of no real value, it was
said, and the peril to the world of an
unhampered "Red" Russia was set
forth in detail. Americas danger
would be acute, it was said, as Ameri-
can Socialists were communists. Copies
of the report are to be sent to Presi-
dent Wilson, the State Department and
members of Congress.
"The PROGRAM outlined by the Mos
COW manifesto" the report says, Gin
cludes the overthrow of the govern
ments of all democratic countries, the
substitution therefor of a class govern
ment controlled by and for the benefit
of the so-called proletariat. This in
wolves the appropriation of private
property. the seizure of mills, mines,
banks and all instruments of produc-
ton and distribution, the reputation
of corporate and government obliga-
tions. 1t is this program which has
won the approval Of and has been
adopted by the Socialist party of
America, even to the reputation of the
Mt doh 80 y,;& ;&o
although for the purposes of expe-
diency their national executive COM
mittee has deleted this clause from the
published platform of 1917 to avoid
prosecution for violation of the espion-
age act
"The purpose of bringing to your at
tention these facts is that, although
Soviet Russia in exchange for recogni-
tion may agree to abandon it's interna-
tional revolutionary propaganda and
may make promises of good behavior,
the Russian Communist party, which
created and controls that regime, has
established at Moscow an instrument
for the continuation of that interna-
tional revolutionary propaganda under
the direction and control of Lenine,
Trotzky and the other signers of the
manifesto.
'ln other words, the recognition Of
the Russian Soviet regime amounts to
inviting the setting up of an organiza-
tion within our boundaries, clothed in
lsrge measure with diplomatic mmuni-
ties, which is committed fundamental
to the proposition of overthrowing our
government and destroying our in
stitutions.
"Your committee feels that those
charged under our form of government
with the duty of determining our inter-
national policies should not be STAN
pedcd into the recognition of Soviet
Russia by the demands of revolution
aries or by the sentimental pleadings
of their liberal sympathizers; and we
feel that the business and commercial
interests of this country should recog-
nize that the prospect OF temporary
gain through trade with Soviet Russia
is more than Offset by the inevitable
labor difficulties which unquestionably
Will follow in this country if the Sovie !
regime is permitted to set up in our
industrial centers an organization of
diplomatic and consular representa-
tives whose sole appeal is to the
workers, urging them to organize for the
purpose Of seizing the power Of govern
ment and by continuous striking and
demands for inordinate wage increases
to compel the surrender Of business en-
terprise into their hands"