The Washington herald., 1921-09-18
SEPTEMBER 1S. 1921.


perity and until Europe prospers trade will anguish
in the rest of the world That may not seem obvious
10 many people. II may seem fantastic and absurd
TO people in Canadian and American towns. Never
theess it is grim fact of life which is clear as
sunlight those who understand the tides and cur
rents of commerce and industry and international
finance. Nm''
WYE MUST save Russia for the sake of our own
w souls, to say nothing of our own storachs To
there is something frightul in the squabbe now go
ing about the political side of various relief schemes
While 2o,oooooo to 100000 people are sick unto
death with hunger governments exchanging notes
proposing commissions for Investigations and playing
politics with the Bolshcyisi.
Personally respond to DIR. Nansen's way of argu-
>ment which is to get with the rescue work Get
food to the starving people and demand nothing from
the Soviet except the safeguards that
lief officers shall be helped and hndercd and the
supplies shall be used for starving peasants, and NOT
for the Red armies The work of the Quakers, which
has been going quietly for many months shows
that such methods are successful
have been severely criticised for suggesting that
Soviet organizations should be used locally provide
for transportation and assist in distribution. There
Gems to me to be no alternative except to let the
starving millions die Ii is the only organization that
exists and could be smashed only by great war
which is inconceivabe, and nothing be done With
out it, IT'S
This opinion of mine, which hesitate to put for
ward because minds it may to favor sup
port to Bolsheyism for which have use at ALL is
confirmed by Brig. Gen. Birdwood Thompson who
has just come from Russia and has allowed me to pub.
lsh his conclusions from personal observations
They run counter to most things published in the
European press which he accuses of sensation monger
ing for sinister purposes and which have contributed
in small measure to the unemployment of 100000
men and women in England, -,
Russia" he says, "is now living the last RENE
nants Of her prewar industrial system. That system
had been built largely by British and American ener-
prise and technical skill The Germans built her man-
ufacturng centers -Four years Of for which Gar
is Russia of all the European states least pre-
pared, began the undermining process Then came
the blockade and four successive nvasions Now famine
raging in the fertile districts It is more than
probable that other country except America could
have survived so many ordeals each of which dealt
heavy blow to Russias industrial life and their
lative effect may prove fatal
SSDY FATAL is meant that Russia may cease to
= ID produce for the European market, and will re-
lapse into the economic condition which prevailed In
the Seventeenth century. The loss to many elements
of Russian population will be great but will be far
greater to the States of Europe. especially to
Great Britain" &
Gen. Thompson will surprise most people outside
of Russia when he that although the Communists
have modified some of their economic theories their
political position is stronger than In his opinion
even Lenins most bitter opponents admit that Russas
present rule alone caabple of carrying out the tasks
OF reorganization and reconstruction That fact he
says must be faced before any practical policy can be
framed ioT dealing with the grayest of aI ipterna-
tonal problems at the present time
Such policy SHOULD be free from greed and should
. -