The daily times., 1921-08-02
COME INTO THE FOLD
But Russia Must Have Respect
for the Rights of Private
Property and Release Amer
lean Prisoners. Government
Brought to its Knees
Through Necessity.
(By David Lawrence.
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily

Times
Washington, Aug Russia. out
cast among nations, has an opportln-
1ty now to come back into the fold
starvation and disease, more potent
than arguments about tie relative
merits of bolSheviSm a1d capitalism.
are altering the attitude o. the Rus
sian authorities to tie extent that
they no longer declare themselves
independent of The outside world and
they are willing to accep; sid from
nations which hold to the economic
theory of private property as a basis
of wealth.
Our government is waiting patient
ly for the release of all American cit
liens who have been held prisoner.
Until that is assured, there will be nc
comment as to the conditions under
which the United States will enter in
to closer relations with the Russian
authorities. But even then, the gov
ernment here is reluctant to issue
pronouncements on the subject of
American recognition at a time when
misery and famine is sweeping Rus
sia and every humanitarian instinct
is for relief rather than legal dis
cussion of formulas.
So far as trade with Russia is con-
cerned, however, there is no change
of view here. Until the Russians pro-
duce something on which a basis of
trade can be arranged, there will be
no trade relations. Russia's supply of
gold has been depleted. She has very
little that the outside world can buy
She needs external aid to stimulate
her manufacturing and commercial
enterprises. This outside capital is
barred from Russia by the soyiets
who have been steering their own
economic course without regard to
the effect on the economic practices
of the rest of the world. Bolshevism
has failed to convert the world to it's
cause and the inevitable answer is a
surrender to the established methods
dation a respect for private property.
1t seems certain that the United
point Information here is to the
effect that the British and other ma
tions which have kind of trade rela-
tion with Russia are disappointed
with the results There will be no
trade agreement therefore until
America can see a practical basis
which will permit of quid pro quo
among the merchants of the world.
| But the plight of Russia's s people
is entirely apart from the problem of
dealing with the Russian govern
ment No obstacle stands in the way
of whole-hearted relief. Every en-
couragement is being given by our
government to a relief program. 1t
so hapuens that the American Relief
Organization is an unofficial BODY
and that Herbert Hoover is its exc
cutive Mr.. Hoover's action as execu-
tive of the relief organization was un-
official and non-governmental. But
since Mr.. Hoover is also member of
the Cabinet, he has the opportunity
to consult with President Harding
and Secretary Hughes and thus to OBJ
tain the moral support of our gov
ernment for the relief project.
Such money as will be raised for
+bo ro1iof of the RusSianS will not
come out of the governments funds
here but will be sought from the
American people who have never
failed to relieve distress in any part
of the world. The American Red
Cross has a remarkable record for
help extended in the flooded areas OF
China and the earthquake regions OF
Italy. The disaster in Russia is said
to be even worse Millions of persons
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