The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-30
NOTED BANKER
URGES STUDY
OF RUSSIA
Frank A. Vanderlip
Thinks Insight Would
End R e d
Myths
LIFT CURT AIN
Advises Sending of
Mission to Study
Conditions
Copyright 1920 by. International
News SerYicel.

Copyright 1920 by international
News Service).
NEW YORK.-"Let us lift the
Russian curtain and see for our
selves what is going on in Rus
sia."
This was the positive treatment
suggested by Mr.. Frank A. Wander
lip, world-famed financier, when
asked by the. International News
Service to comment upon the Rus
sian situation which has been baf-
fling the world.
There is a tremendous ignorance
in this country of what is actually
going on in Russia" Mr.. Wander
lip stated. ''It is needless to say
that I'm not Bolshevik," he add
ed, laughingly. I'm fact, the great
majority of Americans are not Boil
sheviks. There is a wide ignorance,
/ believe, as to what Bolshevism or
Communist Socialism means.
1--WE cannot understand Russia if
we try to look at her through cur
tain"
Mr.. Vanderlip suggested that an
American mission, either official or
unofficial, but Enthusiastically impair
tial, might do this country a good
service by visiting Russia just as
British labor and other European
delegates have done-and reporting
to our people the actual conditions,
problems and needs of Russia, mi
nus propaganda trimmings.
"Of course, it might be that the
Russian soviet government would
not permit survey of the country, ="
said Mr.. Vanderbilt.
There Is no sentiment of conse-
quence in this country toward assist
ing anything of communistic-so-
cialist trend which clashes with
American ideals, but we ought to
find for our benefit Just what the
present situation in Russia is.
Il do not think we should make
any move in regards to Russia But
to work in the dark, as at present,
seems absurd"
What do you think of Secretary
OF State COlby's Russian note which
sought to drive wedge between the
Russian people and their Moscow
government" he was asked.
II think 1t will prove ineffective"
Mr.. Vanderlip declared. with
most of Russia illiterate and the
Bolshevists controlling all the print
ing presses, l fear it will be diff
cult to drown the Bolshevik regime
with stream of words from Wash
ington.'
do you think Frances Russian
policy is dictated by a desire to
safeguard thirty billion francs worth
of Russian bonds held by French
menu was the next query.
Eyes" =.
Mr.. Vanderiip was asked whether
hS believed the allies were genuine
ly interested in making the league Of
nations an effective and full-grown
organization to keep the world
peace and to shoulder important in
ternational burdens within the next
five or ten years.
"The allies" said Mr.. Vanderlip.
"by their own actions recently have
shown they do not intend that.
There are unmistakable signs
that the allies are more interested
today in garnering the fruits of VIC
tory and enforcing the peace trea-
ties than in establishing an effec-
tive league of nations.
"The league provides a certain
definite machinery-or specifications
for machinery-for keeping the
worlds peace. but may I inquire
whether the leading European ma
lions are today actuated by the; NOR
al principles and spirit so essential
to operate such machinery?
Are they not more interested at
present in furthering their own ends
and ambitions than in establishing
those things intended by the league
covenant?
Gas see it, England, France and
Italy have no intention of letting
slip from their hand the enforcement
of the peace treaties. They are not
willing today to delegate the en-
forcement to any league other than
themselves.
THE league covenant is like a fire
engine. Efficiently operated in the
right spirit and with cooperation of
it's crew, fire can be quelled. But
when each fermentation has a diff
ferent idea as to what the fire en-
CINE is for, or how 1t should be op-
Grated. and when it should he start
ed in the business of putting out
fires, it requires no little hesitancy
on the part of any thoughtful man
as to whether he will be fireman
on that engine"
Asked whether the United States
could remain out of the league of
nations, just as long as the league
is kept ineffective by the allies, with
out injuring the American world po-
sition seriously, Mr.. Vanderlip said:
eve have injured our foreign
status already about as much as is
conceivable. Standing out will not
furt ,Is