The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-26
TRADE WITH RUSSIA
IS GIVEN KNOCKOUT
Harding Insists that Lenine
Must First Change His
Is Economics
HUGHES DISPATCHES
REPLY TO APPEAL
Safety of Human Life, Guarantee of
Property Rights, Free Labor Made
Prerequisites Before BOlshevists May
Deal with United States

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The
American government notified the soviet
authorities in Russia yesterday after
noon that resumption of trade between
Russia and the United states could not
be considered until fundamental changes
had been made in the economic system
underlying the soviet regime.
Safety of human life, guarantee of
property rights, free labor and obsery-
ance OF the sanctity of contracts were
among the requirements laid down in a
brief note lby Secretary Hughes as es-
sential if the doors of commerce be-
tween the two countries are once more
TO BE opened The communication
added that convincing evidence Of the
contamination of sucn changes must
be furnished before this government
even cared TO discuss the subject.
These requirements, the note declared
lay at the foundation OF Russian prod
uctlvlty, by which alone the nation
could hope to rebuild her foreign trade
and make herself attractive economic
ally to the nations with which she de-
slres To exchange products.
lie communication was made public
at the state department III the form of
a statement by Secretary Hughes with
the notation that a copy of it had been
sent to the American consul at ReYai
Estronla, TO be handed to Litvinotf. the
soviet representative there.
The note was in reply To the appeal
recently addressed by the soviet regime
to President Harding and congress, ask
ing that trade relations between the
United states and Russia be restored
and proposing TO send delegation to
he United States to negotiate to that
end No mention was made bv Secre-
81 af ha Il t.
delegation to this country
Prior To making final decision. the
Russian trade question was discussed
for nearly two hours by President Hard
ing and his cabinet, taking into account
a vast collection of data on Russian CON
ditions gathered by the state and com
merce departments. In statement af-
ter the note had been made public, See
rotary Hoover declared that the conclu-
sions reached shows the complete agree
| ment of the views OF the whole admins
tration."
Unlike previous official pronounce
ments of the American governments at
titude toward the soviet regime. Secre-
tary Hughes's note dealt solely with
| the economic aspect OF the problem
| and made no attempt to discuss the po-
| htlcal shortcomings of the unrecOgnlZed
| }olShevist government 1t set forth in
a few words the reasons why the United
States considers it poor business to
trade with Russia under existing condi-
tious. but made no indictment against
| Bolshevism as a political system.
Ii was pointed out. however, that
| there was nothing in the note to re
verse or modify the communication to
| Italy in which the Wilson admmstra
ton set forth at length last August
the unwllingness of the United States
to enter into political negotiations with
government based upon the negation
! n honor
faith On the other hand the manner
| in which yesterdays note was made
public had none of the air of usual dip
| lomatie negotiations. being contained in
| the official announcement from the
state department.