The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-05-18
Administration Indignant
Over Treatment of Amer
lean Prisoners
BADLY TREATED
BY SOVIET MEN
This Country Cannot Send Expedition
to Rescue the Unfortunates - VIII
Actively Oppose recognition of Russia
BY Other Governments.
By DAVID LAWRENCE

{
BY Other Governments.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
| Especial Despatch to The Reformer.
! Copyright 1921.
| WASHINGTON. May lS.-The United
| States government refuses to have any
dealings what -so-ever with the present
Russian government until all Americans
now held prisoners are summarily re
| leased. II
with a degree of feeling and indisna-
ton that conveyed world of msaniug,
the Spokesman of the Washington gov
eminent today outlined their attitude
toward Russia. No government i'm Rus
sla can come even within mailing dis
lance of the United States government
1t was emphatically announced until
| prisoners are given their freedom. Re
| ports to the department of state indi-
cate that the Americans are being badly
treated. Men and women who went to
hussia on business errands wholly
disconnected from politics have been
thrown into Jail and held there practi-
Gaiiy as hostages IN order to compel the
united states to deal favorably with
the Soviet authorities on international
! questions
But if the Moscow government mag
ines that the United States will be in
huenced by such tactics TO think we'll
! OF the Soviet, no greater mistake could
| nave been made. Our government re-
CARDS the tactics of the Soviet as cal
cuiated to ALLEVIATE American public
opinion as to postpone the hour of rec
| ognltlon even though the usual condi
lions necessary to such a step shall
have been formally satisfied
The question is being asked what can
the United States do about it?'' TIL
! idea using physical force to maintain
American rights abroad as Is so Otter
| proclaimed in the halls of congress wit
patriotic fervor is in this case at Ieas
Impractlcable, for an expedition agains
Russia to rescue the American prison
ers IS from military view point co
lossal.
The American government has ON
more than one occasion discouraged a
military move against Russia in com
pany with the allies when the situation
was even more distressing than il is
now. Our officials therefore are com
PEELED To fall back on the Use of moral
force and diplomatic pressure. For one
/ thing, the United States now has q seat
in the supreme council and in the coun-
ell OF ambassadors, and whereas Russia
might have seen the United States and
Great Britain lined up strongly together
IN more or less favorable attitude
towards Russia. "a against the French
and Polish hostility toward the present
Russia regime, the chances are that the
diplomatic representatives. of the
| nlted States will omit no opportunity
to take sides against a recognition of
Russia, or resumption of trade until
the Soviet authorities develop some hui
manItarlan ideas about the treatment
OF innocent American citizens The
American government did not hesitate
under the Taft administration to abro-
gate a commercial treaty with Russia
when that country started to discrimi-
nate as between Jews and non-Jews
who held American passports. and there
are signs of an equally vigorous policy
TODAY. The chances are that the Hard
ing Hughes policy viii not only be an
important factor in allied councils here
after but that upon every occasion
where the influence and sympathy of
the United States is sought on questions
affecting Russia. the Washington gov
eminent will make plain its refusal to
deal with a regime that treats Ameri-
cans as the Soviets have done.
From this time forward the United
states government will deny everv pro
nosal thai = made for the opening of
trade sr governmental relations with
the Soviets and will even decline to
consider any program looking toward
the recognition of Russia until Ameri-
can prisoners have been released and
protection is assured all other Amer
leans who NAV desire to travel in Rus
STA on legitimate errands.