The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-04-21
SHOULD RESTORE
RUSSIAN TRADE
Lord Cecil, Gives Rea-
sons. for Resumption
..-ot .rof Relations.
by Universal Serylce) :.
(Staff Correspondentl

not be starved, that the economic ar.
arrangements i'm the treaties with Ger.
many and Austria are utterly indie.
fensible, constituting an insane pol.
icy demoralizing the will and energy
4, of the German people, that b the
treaty is the greatest incentive to
German bolshevism and may have to
be amended, that the economic pc.
sition Of Europe is steadily growing
worse, are some of the striking state
ments made to me in an exclusive in
terview by Lord Cecil, one of Eng
lands, leading statesmen, formerly
minister of the blockade and repre-
sentative of the league of nations.
met Lord Robert Cecil ION the
day Of my arrival in London. My
first question was about the league
of nations, but this he declined to
discuss saying:
Il am afraid | cannot speak on
this subject as there is danger that
whatever l say about it might be
misconstrued in America particu-
larly at this moment ..@
l then asked Lord Robert. Cecil
whether there would be a change of
policy toward Russia in the near
future and whether he was in favor
of resuming trade relations with
soviet Russia. He replied:
II have always been opposed to a
policy of military Intervention in
Russia-after the armistice Since
we are not going to fight the soviet
government of Russia, why not trade
with Russia? Even if we disagree
with that government, why should
we starve the Russian people. Such
policy is both unfair and unwise
1T seems to me that trade rela-
lions with Russia will be resumed
before long. In fact already consid-
cradle relations have been estab-
lished with Russia by way of
Esthonia which concluded peace with
the soviet government. England has
not been trading there yet so far as
know, but am told that other
countries including America are
dealing with Russia right now-that
is they are dealing with Esthonia
which is dealing with Russia.
Il can, of course, understand the
embarrassment on the part of some
governments in treating officially
with the soyiets in giving them Of
fetal recognition just now, but |
cannot see why the Russian people
should be made to suffer because of
this
'Do you think there will be any
changes in the terms of the treaty
with Germany" l asked.
Yes, | believe there will be
changes he answered. "Our
prime minister has recently asked
Germany to submit new economic
proposals. and has promised to con-
slider them favorably if at all reason
able. Strangely enough the most
important questions were not those
that attracted most attention at the
peace conference The questions
that were most widely discussed
for instance, as to what shall be done
with Danzig and the Saar valley
were comparatively unimportant.
asked Lord Robert Cecil for his
views concerning the peace treaties
of Versailles. He said:
"The territorial arrangements af-
fecting Germany as stipulated in the
treaty are not SO bad. The territor-
ial arrangements with Austria are
worse of course, but the economical
with each are utter
ably indefensible. 1t is only fair to
say the plan adopted was not an
American plan"
could the United States adopt
sufficient pressure at the peace
.reaty to save Austria from being
n the treaty. / asked Lord |
Robert Cecil answered:
"Of course strong efforts were ex-
,rted, but in the end compromise
vas made"
who should you say, on the |
whole, that you were pleased with
he outcome of the war;" asked. To
his he replied:
"Of course it was better to win the
var than to have been defeated by
Germany"
THAT goes without saying" I re-
marked, what l mean is whether
'ou are pleased with the outcome of
he peace treaty as worked out in
'aris.''
II certainly am not" he answered.
The economic arrangements of the
ierman peace treaty are an insane
olicy. The allies have said to Ger
nany, however, hard you work you
annot count upon reaping any bene-
It's from your exertions. The really
ital matters were economic. The
My sensible way out will unques-
lonably have to be found 1t may 4
e that the PREPARATIONS commission
ill make a drastic use Of it's powers
a modifying the terms of the in
emnity. 1t may be that the treaty
self will have to be amended. But
'hatever is done no time should be