Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-28
Mr.. LENlNE GOES SHOPPING
FOR AID AND RECOGNITION
The Hughes Note Shows That There Are
stu a Few Things That Cannot
Ne Purchased for Money

under the mask OF trade NgrpeUlCHlS' lHe
seeds OF an idea that has devastated Russia.
1t Is cheering to know that such minds were
in Washington.
The weird structure OF Russian boil
shevism Is wnvering Its supports are fnl-
ing away. It has to have new braces, new
props. The appeals to the United States,
to Britain, to Italy and the rest of the
world were thrown out like anchor lines.
Len!ne struck for what he believed TO be
the weak place in the scheme Of western
civilization. He appealed directly, in
mood Of frank cynicism. TO the cupidity Of
mankind, TO the acquisitive instinct which he
believes to be dominant over all philosophy
in every democratic government.
BolSheviSts have boon taught to believe
that other people will do anything for
money and that for a price they will ignore
any obligation. SO the spokesmen for Mos
COW advanced into the open to wave strings
of jewels. to Jingle gold that doesn't belong
to them, TO dazzle business men in Europe
and America with promises of loot. From
Washington they received an answer that
must have amazed them. Isn't this the land
of the almighty dollar, where all men think
only of money!
The price Of Russian rradc-which in
itself is still an unknown Qunntity-has YET
to be fully reckoncd by the governments
which in this crucial instance decided 10
pay il. All people who are able to discern
the inner truth Of foreign news know that
the whole scheme of Bolshevist government
is disintegrating in Russia. Yet the ex-
pertinent directed from Moscow certainly
was thorough.
No one was spared. None Of the restraints
common alike to individuals and governments
elsewhere in the world was permitted to
temper the enthusiasm of men who sought to
reform an empire and make It good by the
simple exppdicnt of enslaving il and denying
the right of any individual 70 think, act or
hope without the prior consent Of council
of fanatics.
The cost TO the Russian people Of this
experiment has been stupendous. Their
sources OF production have been dried up.
Individual initiative has been paralyzcd.
The life of a whole empire is stagnant and
there is serious doubt of the ability of the
population to provide for itself even the bare
necessities Of life.
To bring such n blight upon great and
active minded peoples elsewhere accustomed
to live and find safety and happiness by
means of the deliCately CO. ordnated mechan-
sms OF commerce and industry would. OF
course, be to commit an unforgivable crime
| and invite n whole series of unprecedented
disasters Yet the effect Of the decision Of
! the British ministry virtually TO recognize
the Sovicts will be TO establish in England
| and elsewhere something Ike q new belief
| in boshevism and to cause millions of
| people TO feel that sovict!sm has proved its
utility. No matter what Lloyd George may
| say, no matter what the British Board of
! Trade may say. the masses in England will
| feel that bolshevism has scored a triumph
| that would not have been possible If it were
really unworkabe as u theory Of life and
government.
| Similar reaction Of mass psychology will
| be apparent wherever the representatives Of
going governments appear ready to deal with
! the Moscow regime on anything like equa'
terms or 10 appear 70 condone the OUtrageS
Of Soviet practice by temporarily ignoring
them,
1t ought always 20 be remembered that
! Ienine set out to dictate 10 the world. 1t
isn't like him to appeal for anything that
he could get by force Without the aid that
he has been seeking and the shado"y rccog-
nition implied in agreements such as have
lust been negotiated in England and Italy,
ne couldn't have lasted another six months
! and no one knows this better than he.
To say that a trade agreement with Russia
is not governmental recognition is 70 say
what is not in any practical sense true
! Trade in Russia now is not like trade in
any part of the world, 1t is nothing more
or less than a monopoly Of the Moscow Gov
ernment, or, rather, q monopoly of the
energetic 800 900 active Reds who have i'm .
nosad tLeir vI,l and their theories on the
! 80 600 600 oeopIc Of Russia.
7, y,ju ho argued Of course. That the re-. .
o.,ab,isbr,ont of international trade and The
,nonjn, W. ~ rho chonnoIe ~ commerce in
L!,,rn,,e a.. nccas.ary nrc,iu,inarics to onv.
thing like settled pence and removed
,,,i,urinr, IN rho CnrriucDt md elsewhere
,r, ~, - ,r,,s Rr, Rus.la' conrot troIn IN
,'"' ,,,rrIoI ,yoy ,ybiIr tnr land +. under irs
.a,,, ",', ,1ictotnre Tho world that ro,,Id
tonoft hy Trade with Russia needs things
,ticb Rnssia has nor got, II needs food
,I,o ,bo rou r,a+SrioIs for Stamina
m,,i .ho Mo VIM Teninc ofrrr, :, 10
,,orI orL in,ycIy GIchcI from. rho noIacos ~
,hp aristorrncy. Kps~!a is not productive,
- - Nv, i5;u;I,-aI ,,.oo dost,orod ,,ndo. =
VI N' '"''''''' 49,"