Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-25
RELATIONS With
SOVIET RUSSIA WILL
DEPEND ON CONGRESS
Opinion Divided as to Propriety
of Treating With Present
Government.
DOUBT AS TO ANY PROFITS

uOn-IeCoEnluOn ol CtNItl AN"H''''N'
departure from THE idealistic policies
of Wilson, opposed to upholding the
hands OF the Reds, or resumption OF
,rade relations with Russia rich in raw
,,ateriaIs are the two sides of the |
question now brought officially TO the /
United states to decide through the !
formal proposal Of Soviet Russia
while il is generally predicted that
President Harding. after a thorouhh |
ANALYSIS Of the proposal ana ali tha'
IL will mean. will reject the suseeS'ioii,
vet IL is known there is a strong ueh'ah"
from farseeing American business men
g.. o,.ori,,e unon trade relations with
pnssia This demand is increasing In
s,s iusistenCe and is founded soiely
mon the necessity for the United states
- have a trade outlet and keep IN
the van with other progressive govern
,,onts such as Great Britain.
since England has resumed relations
,,.,,h Russia and Germany is about
road,- to sign a commercial treaty the
,1e,iists' contention that resupmton OF
trade would be a recognition OF the
soviet government and not in accord
,,-ith our past international policy mas
became less tenable.
The basis for Americas retusai 10
anter into trade agreement with the
destructive Soviet rule OF kussla mas
heen the national conviction that such
violations would inevitably lead 10 for-
nal recognition of the Soviet govern
mont That conviction is strengthened
nv Secretary Hoover's statement 10
the effect that there can be no nope
~ profitable trade with Russia uhoer
the present government and that
trade agreement becomes rather pohtical
IN nature AS against such an ars u
mont is the contention presented by
So-,.oy Rorah and others that England
has seen fit to conclude trade ar
r,nrement and unless the United states
follows a similar course England VIII
,,ononolize tho trade and the United
states will be left on the outside.
The Important Question.
Rut tha more important question be-
f,re this government is beyond the
dollar aspect II is. shall the united
states which has fought against the
snrcad ~ Polshevism at home and
abroad lend its influence. the most
now,rful of any country in the world
,o backing up a government when mas
come 10 its present position through
murder. plunder and excusable eXcesses
against property and person ne
svster, of government in Russia is held
now fast approaching the position where
-be peas asants are demanding that us
rreni.es be fulfilled and If left alone
70 uallow in its folly and anarchistic
theories will soon disappear 10 be fol-
lowed hy a government having some
resemblance Of representative honesty
There are those who question the Wis
sor, Of Fncland's action taken in OPP
r,osition 10 the view Of France and the
United states. But IL is apparent that
,he time is here when the commercial
var has started before the ink is dry
on the peace treaty.
%o indication can be obtained as 10 the
attitude Of this government but II is
fair 10 say that President Harding IS
warming" up 10 the subject and may
surprise the country by sudden de-
ci.ion 10 follow in the footsteps OF
England
II is known that large commercial
interests in this country have become
,,,eosv over Great Britains progress
toward resurning trade relations with
Puss,a and are fearful that she will get
an advantageous start over United
states business in this supposedly rich
field.
Division of Opinion.
There lis a strong division Of opinion
unor how rich this field is. Testimony
r-iven before the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs at the last session
quoted distinguished authorities as cast
ing doubt upon its opulence and the
rrsct,cability OF exploiting it. Business
,nsr here however. have jumped to the
conclusion that there must be some
thing there or Great Britain would not
I've so earnest in going after 1t.
France still remains dubious about
dealing with the Russians although
she NAV be led 10 take advantage OF the
terms offered England. which can hardly
he rnonopolistic especially as the United
states is also invited 10 share them.
But the question is a big one to de-
eide and IL is announced that the mat
yer will not be disposed of hastily by
the State Department In fact, II Is
believed that President Harding made
the note from Lenine public so as 70
have a thorough public discussion of
the matter and thereby learn the views
Of the people through the comments Of
the newspapers OF the country.
VIII Await Congress.
Nothing will be done until Congress
reassernbles and the members, coming
hack fresh from the people. will be able
20 throw an Illuminating light upon the
problen. whether trade relations shall
he made with a government for phan-
tom commercial advantages, whose sys-
TEN we have fought as one inirnical to
organized government and Of decent
civilization.
This is only one Of the many embar-
RAISING problems that have come to
this and other governments as the re-
suit of the war. and. If solution is based
entirely upon possible profit and is not
founded upon right and policy we may
ind ourselves establishing q. precedent
which will break down all our traditions
and lead to endless embarrassment and
greater problems. Those who have
studied the international situation say
that the United States can safely delay
entering into trade relations with Rus
sia until our policy as to entering upon
political arrangement with Europe
.las been settled
T'ntn a plan of cooperation is de-
rmined upon TO take the place Of
5 League Of Nations il is believed that
fety OF our institutions rests with
.n-recognition of sovietism and re-
sal 10 do business with the enemies
decent government.
~