The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-08-19
AND NOW COMES RUSSIA


Washington, Aug. 18-"Having
saved western and central Europe
with billions of loans and the gift
of hundreds of millions in foodstuffs
and other supplies, while those peo-
pie remained in comparative idleness
and the highest of prices prevailed in
our own country, we are now to re-
peat the process with Russia, if re-
ports are not misleading" says the
Republican Publicity Association,
through its President, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr. Senator France has
spent few days in Russia as the
guest of the soviet officials, and has
become convinced that a loan of
about 100000 from the AM
erican Treasury will put the Russians
on their feet again and enable the
Russian government to demonstrate
a continued ability to function. From
another source we are informed that
under certain conditions America will
send foodstuffs to Russia to tide
the people through winter made
desolate by miserable government
and an unusual drought. The condi-
tion is that the Russian government
release a few Americans who were
foolish enough to enter that country
and tempt fate.
"Why is it that the United States
must fly to the aid of every country
of the Old World that insists on de-
stroying it's substance by rushing
recklessly into war or experimenting
with forms of government that CEN
turtles of experience have demon
strated always bring ruin in their
wake? The World War and its dis
tressing aftermath was due solely to
the refusal Of the people Of Europe
to assert themselves and proclaim
freedom from self-appointed rulers
who sought to exploit their subjects
for personal glorifcation. The stu
alton in Russia can be blamed only
on the absurd government that pre-
vented the people from accommodating
a surplus to tide them over unusual
weather conditions that have prevail
ed this summer.
"There may have been some sat-
isfaction in extending reconstruction
aid to central Europe, as the peoples
of those countries were in the throes
of breaking away from their tradi-
tional rulers and setting up govern
ments of their own. There was some
prospect that, once relieved of their
present distress, they would see to
it that unprovoked war did not come
again and that they would busy them
selves with peaceful pursuits. But in
Russia there is no suggestion of
change in government. Senator
France expresses the conviction that
the soviets are merely passing through
a process of logical evolution; in
fact, the four billion loan that he
proposes is to be made to that very
government to enable it to keep it's
hold on the country. The Russian
people have been impoverished while
the Russian government has made
war upon about every nation within
reach, and carried its communistic
propaganda and sent its agents of
revolution into every country in the
world. A loan from America would
be nothing less than a reimburse
ment to Russia for money and sup
plies expended in that way, and
doubtless much of it would be spent |
to continue those programs of blood
shed at home and organized discon-
tent abroad.
"Has anybody estimated the cost
to the allies and to the United States
Of Russia's detection during the war?
It is quite possible that the war would |
have ended without the entrance of
this country had not the soviet gov
eminent compelled the withdrawal Of
Russia, and the United States might |
have been saved the expenditure Of
$4,000 lives and $30,000,000,000.
Now we are asked to perpetuate that
same government with huge loans of
cash and enormous gifts of foods and
supplies? 1t is too much for even
American altruism.
1.-THE United States demonstrated
its affection for the Russian people
in the dread famine of 1891 when
millions were saved from death by
food sent them from America. We
are ready to repeat that contribution,
but one of the conditions thereto
should be that the soviet armies be
the soldiers returned to
productive occupations, and stop put
to the requisitioning of food supplies
to continue war against the Poles,
the overawing Of the Armenians, and
threats in Siberia"