New-York tribune., 1921-03-27
Wholly Admirable

VnOuy <A0llaAI3OIe
The new Administration has made
no boast of its writing ability.
Il cherishes no ambition to gain dis
tnction by epistolary achievement.
Yet the succinct reply Of Secre-
tary Hughes to the recent play-with-
ne, come-into-my -parlor Invitation
If Russia's Soviet government shows
that, so far as concerns note writing,
be need not fear comparison with
the most illustrious Of his predeces-
sors. Setting forth why the present
IS not an opportune time to consider
trade relations, Mr.. Hughes re-
marks:
ut is idle to expect resumption OF
trade until the economic bases of
production are, securely established.
Production is conditioned upon the
safety Of life, the recognition by firm
guarantees Of private property, the
sanctity Of contract and the rights Of
free labor J,
Here in briefest form is at once a
statement of the facts, an argument
and an unacceptable conclusion
drawn therefrom. Every word i'm
pales Lenine. The whole business is
anlnled up with lucidity land q
simplicity which sophistry viii vain
Elbor te answer. - s
Life in Russia is not safe, workers.
sanoI secure IN the possession OF
Afruits of their toll, contracts are
waeened binding, and labor is not
te With terrible directness Sec
Hary Hughes diagnoses Russia's
alsease, and so doing prescribes the
say possible remedy.
american public opinion will over
sAshningly sustain the Russian pol
icy thus announced by the Admins
ration. This country refused to
tumpromise with kaiserisnl, even
|
though it was not charged with
'hrottSing production. It's political
SSenses sufficed to justify demand
tor its end.
Leninism, having established a
aspotism worse than that of kaiser
y car, has added thereto gigantic
@nomic crime. 1t has reduced the
aasslan masses to abject misery by
progressive impoverishnent, to use
he phrase of Secretary Hughes,
which is directly traceable to the
iorced imposition Of Bolshevik prin-
siples.
Y is childish to say Russia suffers
salefy as a consequence of the war
rom which she dishonorably with /
afew more than four years ago. The
worst days of her war disorganizA-
a0n Were perioa of plenty com
pared to the present. From the hour
u the Bolshevik revolution there has
'een constant retrogression.
lenlnism. no matter what its alias
= "nat mask it puts on, must go.
any one who holds to the. contrary
must De deemed foe of. the. Rus
s'sn people and of mankind. Many
pporsnnities to save Russia have
0sn oiiered in the past, but s,nhap-.| !
r,y sney were not seized. The mis-
AAe q hitting softly was committed |
" naturally did harm, and the |
WE Tor intervention is probably !
ss,. 80 the Russian people must
sssA 0ut their own salvation and rid |
'',mselves of their tyranny.
oue this negative attitude By no !
4ssns implies that aid should be |
s sssa % their enemies. We don't |
's 70 De on Lenine's side because |
move no troops against him. We.l
Rs 81 = least accord the oppressed
l.. ss'ans an even chance, and to en-
s, & 'nso 2 treaty with Leninc ON q
&, s excuse 3. would plainly be to help
This is now acknowledged in I
~ sss Britain, where it is no longer
!. ,'slded ) : that the trade agreement
ss., : aeip trade-where it IS appar- I
AoNitted in the Housr az Coma.
~. 81 eng confirmed BY the Bolshevik
q, as on the outside that the trade
& seent ss,' y nothing in itself-that
Ky ~ purpose is to pave the way
l.,;'s s POLITICAL recognition which
a'as hopes will save him.
Iosa s. some occasions Americans ii /
s'ss sa have not been altogether
Ss sa as they tried to defend the
ss pursued by the recent vii
nistration. But there IS
se.ae evening Of the score. Al |.
~ nat ssashamed when