The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25

CoHftnted froM rage OSS.
oficials and red soldiers. The last
suspicion il utterly unjustihed. as.
have absolute evidence for say
ing. but IL is still widespread. II
believed, therefore. was speaking
in behalf OF an unpopular cause,
and II was only my remembrance
OF the Russian villages deep in
snow 5000 miles away from Eng
land. where / saw families of hne.
splendid peasants waiting for
death, weeping over the hunger OF
their children. with empty cup
boards, and no chance OF life. but
foreign charity slow in coming.
which gave me courage to speak.
Audiences Uaenployel.
My audiences were made UP of
people whose business 10 nearly or
quite at a standstill, whose futures
in a tragic way are uncertain. and,
among many young men of the la
boring classes. who hnd IL hard to
get any kind Of Job. But after
hearing the facts told them about
Russia. they made astonishing re-
Spouse. The very unemployed of
Liverpool opened a fund and sub
|
the Russian peasants whose pow
erty is greater than theirs. Women
put their rings into the plates,
where others put silver. The Liver
pool corn exchange. which i ad-
dressed for Ave minutes, immedi-
ately opened a subscription; the
Liverpool Rotary Club decided that
each member should put a box on
| the Christmas table for a family
donation.
So IL was at Birmingham. In spite Of
those 100000 unemployed. Young
undergraduates Of the university have
taken the lead in raising funds among
their own fellows, while all classes
are contributing according TO their
means, which frankly are very small.
In Manchester. where trade condi-
tons are serious. 10000 were sub
scribed. All that is TO my mind
wonderful. splendid, for the Russian
tragedy has happened after the world
has had a surfeit OF tragedy. and
at a time when England herself lie
soreiy tried. and only by great wis
dom and great luck has escaped a A.
naneial calamity.
But apart from these proofs Of
private charity. what impressed me
!
American readers. perhaps most Of
all. is the general recognition among
business men with whom ! talked.
and among workinemen themselves.
that Russia can no longer be ignored
and forgotten. that the world will not
recover economic health until Russia.
with her $4,000. 600 people. her i'm
mense natural resources. her former
buying power as a stimulus for manu-
features. 20 per cent OF which she
used TO import in return for grain.
timber and other produce. Is brought
back to health and normal intercourse
Realise Plain Facts.
They also understood that 80 long
as Russia maintains her red army
there can be no certainty OF peace
in Europe. that this army will be
maintained until there Is recognition
Of her present government or some
modified government giving guaran-
tees Of good faith according to the
usual code of civilized peoples. This
realization of plain facts by plain
folk amounts to the good will every
where growing from the urgent de-
mand of democratic majorities in
many countries, including Great Bri-
tain. for a new policy. a plan likely
to lead to more certain peace and
normal trade. which I'm my judgments
is the best hope we have. Those
who guided the Washington confer
ence TO successful conclusion need
have no timidity in following that
first step by others equally designed
TO secure a period OF peace and re-
construction. The whole reconstruc-
ton. united with the problem OF land
disarmament, which cannot he sep
/. arated from that discussion At the
present moment British statesmen
with Washington well in their minds
and with its spirit as an inspiration
behind them, are discussing the cen
trail problem OF European recovery. 1t
Is with France that these discussions
are in progress and the main question
TO settle at the moment is Germany's
default in reparation payments
l have been strongly of the opin-
ion for the two last years, and at
some risk OF disfavor have not
hidden the opinion that in the long
run II would be necessary to make
drastic revision OF the terms i'm
J posed on Germany. for our own
sake more than for hers This
: view is now held strongly by ma
jority opinion in England. by all
! the financial experts. and IL is a
stark. staring fact that IL in spite
J OF intensive industry the German
J mark continues falling in value so
she IL able TO export goods at cut
throat rates and unable to buy
from foreign countries; there can
be no recovery in Europe. especially
in Great Britain.
France Ready for Deal.
Even France is beginning to un-
derstand this is plain arithmetic,
though II has taken a long time and
: much agony OF spirit to reach such
conclusion. Frace under BRAND.
who is more reasonable than many
think, is willing TO make a deal
with England. whose business is
more touched by Germany's export
and import trade than her own.
BRAND is willing to give Germany
chance for economic recovery by