Milford chronicle., 1921-10-14
AND NOW COMES RUSSIA
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Having
saved western and central Europe with
billions OF loans and the gift of hundreds
OF millions in fOodstuffS and other sup
plies, while those people remainded in
comparative idleness and the highest of
prices prevailed in our own country, we
are now to repeat the process with Rus
sla, If reports are not misleading" says
the Republican Publicity Association,
through its President, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr. Senator France has spent a
few days in Russia as the guest of the
Soviet officials, and has become convinc-
ed that a loan of about $4,OOO,OOO,OOO
from the American Treasury will put the
Russians on their feet again and enable
the Russian government to demonstrate a
continued ability to function. From an
other source we are informed that under
certain conditions America will send
foodstuffs to Russia to tide the people
through a winter made deSolate by a
miserable government and an unusual
drought The condition is that the Rus
sian government release few Americans
who were foolish enough to enter that
country and tempt fate.
why is it that the United States must
Hy ~ thS an VI CNN4J NOuillly VI lllC OlQ
World that insists on destroying its sub
stance by rushing recklessly into war or
experimenting with forms of government |
that centuries of experience have demon
strated always bring ruin in their wake? |
The World War and its distressing af-
termath was due solely to the refusal of .
the people of Europe to assert themselves
and proclaim freedom from self-appoint-
ed rulers who sought to exploit their
subjects for personal glorifcation. The
situation in Russia can be blamed only
on the absurd government that prevented
the people from accumulating a surplus
to tide them over unusual weather condi-
tions that have prevailed this summer.
"There may have been some satisfac-
ton in extending reconstruction aid to
central Europe, as the peoples of those
countries were in the throes of breaking
away from their traditional rulers and
setting up governments of their own.
There was some prospect that, once re-
lieved of their present distress, they
would see to it that unprovoked war did
not come again and that they would busy
themselves with peaceful pursuits. But in
Russia there is no suggestion of change
in government. Senator France expresses
the conviction that the soviets are mere
ly passing through a process of logical
evolution; in fact, the four billion loan
that he proposes is to be made to that
very government to enable it to keep its
hold on the country. The Russian peO-
pie have been impoverished while the
Russian government has made war upon
about every nation within reach, and
carried its 'communistic propaganda and
sent its agents of revolution into every
in the world. A loan from Am
erica would be nothing less than re-
to Russia for money and sup
plies expended in that way, and doubtless
much of it would be spent to continue
those programs of bloodshed at home
and organized discomfort abroad.
"Has anybody estimated the cost to the
allies and to the United States OF Rus-
,ia's detection during the war? 1t is
Iuite possible that the war would have
,nded without the entrance of this coun-
ry had not the soviet government com
,elled the withdrawal of Russia, and the
United States might have been saved
he expenditure of $4,000 lives and $780,
100 100000. Now we are asked to perpet-
late that same government with huge
Oans of cash and enormous gifts OF foods
md supplies? 1t is too much for even
American altruism.
"The United States demonstrated its
ffection for the Russian people in the
read famine of 1891 when millions were
aved from death by food sent them
rom America. We are ready to repeat
nat contribution, but one of the condi-
ons thereto should be that the soviet ar
lies be disbanded, the soldiers returned
productive occupations, and stop put
the requisitioning of food supplies to
,ntinue war against the Poles, the over
wing. of the. Armenians, and war-like
reats in Siberia"