The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-20
STAND READY FOR
ANY ADVENTURE
Leading British States
man Says He Believes
There VIII Be Changes
In the Pact.
Bv HERMAN BERNSTEIN.
Copyright 1920 by Universal
Service.


London, April 10. - That
.rade relations with Russia
should be restored IN order that
The Russian people shall not be
starved. that the economic ar
engagements in the treaties with
Germany and Austria are ut
.erlv indefensihle, constituting
an insane policy demorallzing
the will and energy of the Ger
mar people. that the treaty Is
he greatest incentive to Ger
man Bolshevism and may have
10 be amended, that the eco
nomic position OF Europe IS
steadily growing worse, are
some Of the striking STATEMENTS
made to me in an exclusive in
-erview by Lord Robert Cecil,
one Of England's leading
statesmen. formerly minister
If the blockade and representa-
tive of the league Of nations.
met Lord Robert Cecil on the
day Of my arrival in london. My
arst question was about the league ef
nations but this he declined 20 dis
cuss, SAYING:
Il am afraid cannot speak on
this subjec. as there is danger that
whatever say about IT might he
fnisconstrued in America, particu-
larry AT this moment
then asked Sir Robert Cecil
whether there would he change
uf policy toward Russia In the near
future and whether he was in favor
of resuming trade relations with
soviet Russia. He replied
APPROVED BY INTERVENTION
Il have always been opposed TO q
policy Of military intervention in
Russia---after the armistice. Since we
are not going TO fight the Soviet gov
eminent Of Russia why not trade
with Russia . Even If We disagree
with that government. why should
wc starve the Russian people, Such
policy is both unfair and unwise,
1T seems 10 me that trade rela-
tons with Russia will be resumed be
fore long, IN fact. | understand
hat considerable commercial rela
lions have already been established.
with Russia through Esthonia,
which concluded peace with the soviet
tsoveryrnent England raS not Yet
been trading there, as far as | know.
but l am. told that other countries,
including America, are dealing with
Russia right now-that is, they are
iealing with Estonia, which is deal
ng with Russia.
~ he.
difficulty and embarrassment on the
part of some governments in treat
ing officially with the soviets in Civ
ing them official recognition Just
nows but ] cannot see why the Rus
sian people should be made TO suf-
fer because of this. We have no
quarrel with tho Russian people"
asked Lord Cecil for his views
concerning the terms of the peace
treaty OF Versailles. He said:
The territorial arrangements af-
fecting Germany as stipulated in the
treaty are not so had. The territorial
arrangements with Austria arc of
course much worse. I5ut the eco
uomic arrangements with both are
utterly indefensible. 1t is only
light to say that the device adopted
the underlined indemnity--was not
IN American invention"
could not the InileG states lnen
exert sufficient influence at the peace
conference to prevent this device
from being embodied in the treaty."
| asked.
Lord Robert Cecil replied,
"Of course, strong efforts wcre Elk
erted, but in the end compromise
was made.
Where YOU say that ON the whole
YOU were pleased with the outcome Of
The war; | asked.
To this he replied:
cot course it was better to win
The war than to have been defeated
by. Germany"
That goes without saying" /
remarked What meant was
whether you are pleased with the
outcome Of the peace as WORKED out
In Paris"
NOT PLEASED WITH. OUTCOME,
Il certainly am not" he answer
I'd THE economic arrangements of
the German epace treaty are an in
sane policy. In effect the allies have