The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-02
NO RUSSIAN AID
TILL CAPTIVES
ARE RELEASED
American, People VIII
Raise Big Famine
Fund.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)

washington, Aug Russia, out
cast among nations, has an oppor-
tunity now to come back into the
fold. Starvation and disease, more
potent than arguments about the
relative merits of bolshevism and
capitalism, are altering the atti-
tude of the Russian authorities TO
the extent that they no longer de-
clare themselves independent of
the outside world and they are
willing to accept aid from nations
which hold TO the economic theory
OF private property as a basis Of
wealth.
Our government is waiting pa
tiently for The release of all Amer
lean citizens who have been held
prisoner. Until that is assured
there will be no comment as to
the conditions under which the
United States will enter into closer
relations with the Russian authori-
ties. But even then, the govern
ment here is reluctant to issue pro-
nouncements on the subject of
american recognition at a time
when misery and famine is sweep
ing Russia and every humanitar-
ian instinct is for relief rather than
legal discussion of formulas.
SO far as trade with Russia is
concerned, however, there is no
change of view here Until the
Russians produce something on
which a basis of trade can be ar
ranged, there will be no trade rela-
tons. Russ!a's supply of gold has
been depleted. She has very little
that the outside world can buy. Sne
needs external aid to stimulate her
manufacturing and commercial en-
terprises. This outside capital is
barred from Russia by the soviets,
who have been steering their own
economic course without regard to
The effect on the economic pra actices
OF the rest c1 the world. Bolshey-
ism has failed to convert the world
to its cause and the inevitable an
swer is a surrender TO the estab-
lished methods of business which
have for their foundation a respect
for private property.
L. S. Firm.
1t seems certain that the United
States will remain adamant on tn-s
point. Information here is to the
effect that the British and other
nations which have kind of trade
relation with Russia are disap-
pointed with the results. There will
be no trade agreement therefore
until America can see a practical
basis which will permit of a quid
pro quo among the merchants of
tho world.
But the plight of Russia's people
is entirely apart from the problem
of dealing with Russian govern
ment. No obstacle stands i'll the
way of whole-hearted relief. Every
encouragement is being given by
our government to a relief pro-
gram 1t so happens that the Amer
lean Relief organization is an IN
official body and that Herbert
Hoover is its executive. Mr.. Hoov-
er's action as executive of the re-
lief organization was unofficial and
n-governmental. But since Mr.
Hoover is also a member of me
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.
VIII Ask People
Such money as will be raised for
the relief of the Russians will moi
come out of the governments funds
here but will be sought from the
American people who have never
: