Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-04-01
TRADE WITH
RUSSIA MAY
BE RESUMED
Secretary of State Hughes
Asks Soviets to Define
Guarantees
BY PAUL HANNA

sesasrafed Press STAFF Correspondent
WASHINGTON. March %. = Nego.
....ta,s between Russia and the Unit
4 states were opened today by Sec
sstarv of state Hughes.
Hughes smashed straight through
a. dinlomatie blockade of Russia es-
.Hhlisbea by President Wilson and
sa,t cable 10 Moscow. asking the
sayie, government to define the guar
sa+ses n is prepared 10 give foreign
sani,ai saa as a basis for the trade It seeks
with America. Mt. -,
In framing his note to Russia the
secretary of State made generous con-
qessions in language TO that faction
within the Harding cabinet. led by
Herbert Hoover, which contends that
The material poverty, as well as the
ethics of Russia under Communism.
make trading insecure or not worth
while But the whole burden OF his
communication is an invitation to
Isnni to show that Hoover is wrong
when he says Soviet Russia cannot
trade with the capitalist world
aThis government will be glad to
have convincing evidence" that trade
: nossible, Mr.. Hughes writes. The
note was sent forward today 10 the
American consul at Reval. with di-
reetions that he hand II to Maxim
Titvinoff. representing the Russian
foreign office The note reads textally:
"The Government of the United
states views with deep sympathy and
grave concern the plight of the peo-
ME of Russia and desires to aid by
every appropriate means in promoting
nroner opportunities through which
commerce. can be established upon
sound basis. II is manifest to this gov
ernment that in existing circumstan-
ees there is no assurance for the de-
yelopment of trade, as the supplies
which Russia might now be able to OBJ
tain would be wholly inadequate to
meet her needs and no lasting good
can result SO long as the present
causes of progressive impoverishment
continue to operate.
at IL only in the productivity OF
Russia that there is any hope. for the
Russian people and it Is idle to expect
resumption of trade until the eco
nomic bases of production are securely
established Production is conditioned
upon the safety Of life, the recognition
by firm guarantees of private proper
ty, the sanctity of contract and the
rights of free labor
IF fundamental changes are con-
templated, involving due regard for
the protection of persons and property
and the establishment of conditions es-
sential to the maintenance of CONNER
ee, this government will be glad to
have convincing evidence OF the con-
summation of such changes, and until
this evidence is supplied this govern
ment is unable to perceive that there
is any proper basis for considering
trade relations"
Anti-Russian propangandists have
insisted that the lives and property of
foreigners within Soviet Russia and
the validity of contracts would never
be safe. So it is clear that Hughes
pointed references to these subjects
apply entirely to the lives and prop
erty OF foreigners and not to the ma
uonalization of property formerly
owned by Russian citizens.
1t was made clear at the State De
partment today that this administra-
uon does not balk at any theory or
practice of government within Russia
SO long as they give protection and
oner profit to the foreigners with
whom Russia is asking trade and
friendly relations. IL Russia can
give the right answers to these que
fles, this government will be glad"
TO receive them
secretary Hughes specifically de-
chhed to be drawn into philosophi-
cal discussion of Communism, holding
lhat practical solution of practical
pfoblems is all that the United States
interested in and trying to find. He
Is Wiling that newspapers discuss the
aheged hidden meaning of his note
until the Russian government makes
it plain.