Evening star., 1921-03-30
Editorial Digest
Hughes mo, Thanks to Lenin.

The Hughes note to Russia hit the
nail on the head" says the Buffalo
Commercial independently, and the
Secretarys statement to the efrect
that lit is idle to expect resumption
OF trade until the economic bases OF
production are securely established
meets the approval of the Majority of
American newspapers. Comment to
this effect is supplemented by some of
the friends of Woodrow Wilson with
an expression of satisfaction that, as
the Louisville Courier-Journal tdemo-
cratic) puts it, there has been no re-
versal of Wilson's sound Russian pol
icy
The New York Times independent
democratic). despite its political faith
is enthusiastic over the Hughes note.
1T will reassure the country" Il says.
''as to the administrations clear un-
derstanding of present conditions In
Russia and of the futility of entering
into any formal trade arrangement
with a country which by the crimes
and exceSseS of it's lawleSs govern
ment has cut itself off from the op-
portunities of commerce"
The fact that the note does not
lock. bolt and bar the American door
on the Russian people" but does re
fuse to open the door to agents OF
lawless tyranny makes the docu-
ment exactly what it should be- in
the opinion Of the New York Mail
independently, and the New Orleans
Times -Picayune independent demo-
cratic) considers that the administra-
conditions as they actually exist in
Russia and not with theories as to
Lenins change of heart and reform.
To this the Mobile Register demo
cratic) agrees: Even in modern days
We perceive that when leopard
changes his spots he is nevertheless
leopard under the skin. Some more
deep-seated change in the Russian
leopard is necessary before our con-
fidence is won that the transmutation
is genuine and permanent"
The New York Post Independently
likewise is satisfied that in making
his bid to this country "Lenin's chief
concern has not been to export plat
mum and import machinery, but to
export propaganda and import pres
To this sort of trade the administra-
tion refuses to lend itself"
The Evansville Ind.) Courier (demo-
cratic) thinks that When a typically
republican administration and a typi-
cally democratic administration. both
presumably cogniZant of the real truth
concerning conditions in Russia. pur-
sue the same course in dealing with
the situation. it is taken for granted
that that course represents the best
thought and wisdom OF our states
men. regardless of party afffliation."
Among those who praise the attitude
taken by Secretary Hughes are
number of writers who emphasize the
similarity of his attitude with that of
President Wilson. The Buffalo Times
the remarkabl developments of the
time" and the Charlotte News (demo-
cratic) remarks that 1.-The Harding
administration is doing noble in at
least one thing; without the dottinS
Of an or the crossing of a T. they are
President Wilson for the recognition
of Russia This is another in
stance" the Lynchburg News demo
cratic) declares. of the vindication of
the Wilson foreign policies"
Comparing the Wilson documents
on the Russian question with the
Hughes note, the Youngstown Vindi-
Gator (democratic) finds Mr.. Will
sons position based on broader
grounds of craftsmanship than Mr..
Hughes" for the latter dictates what
the economic organization of Russia
shall be before he will deal with it,"
while Mr.. Wilson's requirements were
limited to political changes. The
Providence Tribune independent re-
publican) finds that the present stipu-
dtiOuS So liltI lild1t tHOSt HDdue De-
fore, and farther than some will
think prudent to go at this time" for
Ito demand an economic revolution in
Russia is to demand what cannot very
well be substantiated as basis for
commerce"
Indeed, the New York Globe Gnde-
pendenD goes so far as to say that 1t
is as though the United States asked
the British government to depose the
king. abolish the house Of lords and
give representative government to
India and Ireland as n preliminary to
friendly relations" This "to some"
the Globe believes. will sound pre-
posterous and hypocritical," but adds
that there is another Interpretation"
to Secretary Hughes words.
This is that he is we'll aware that
there are changes taking place in the
soviet government, and that he means
to say that when these changes have
proceeded so far that lives and prop
erty of Americans who go to Russia
are demonstrably safe the American
government will be glad to consider
trade relations"
The New Haven Journal Courier
Gndependent is not altogether salts
fed with a continued curtailment Of
relations with Russia. Shall we take
counsel" it asks, mot from our aver
sion 10 Lenin and his junta of butch
ers, but from the resources. suppress
ed ambition. latent capacities and am
Pile good will of the Russian people?"