The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-04-01
REJECT RUSSIAN
SOVIET TRADE
Secretary of State Hughes Lays
Down Requirements for Com
merCe With United States.
REFORM ECONOMIC SYSTEM
Sending of Note to Russia Via Ameri-
can Consul at Reval Avoids Ac-
knowledging Lenne Gov
eminent.

ngton.-Anlerica' reply to So
Wet Russia's proposal of a trade agree
ment is as near fiat refusal as diplo-
matte language permits
Secretary Hughes made public a
message he was sending to American
Consul Albrecht, which the consul will
hand to Litvinoff, the Bolshevik envoy
plenipOtentiary at Reval, Esthonia. In
brief, the message informs the consul
that until convincing evidence is fur
nished this country that there have
been radical changes in the Soviet
system there is no use talking about
trade relations.
AS the changes in question are speci-
fled to be safety Of life, guarantee of
private property, the sanctity of con-
tracts and the rights of free labor, it
Will be seen that the Bolsheviki have
long road to travel before this country
will even discuss a commercial rela-
ton with them.
This method of answering the bid
for recognition involved in CONNER
cial arrangement deftly avoids even
constructive acknowledgment that the
Lenine-Trotzky regime is government
In the diplomatic sense, such as would
be implied by direct communication
AT the same time 1t leaves the door
open for further exchanges, so that
should the progress of Russia toward
democracy continue the negotiations
may keep pace with that progress.
Either by coincidence or design,
there is sentiment expressed in the
note reminiscent of Woodrow Wilson's
communication when he was letting
the German people know that getting
rid of their autocracy was a neces-
sary precedent TO our considering
peace proposals.
The note, the issuance Of which fol-
lowed promptly on the meeting of the
cabinet at which it was almost the
sole topic discussed, is as follows:
"The government of the United
States views with deep sympathy and
grave concern the plight of the peo-
pie of Russia and desires to aid by
every appropriate means in promoting
proper opportunities through which !
commerce can be established upon a
sound basis.
ut is manifest to this government |
that in existing circumstances there is |
not assurance for the development of |
trade, as the supplies which Russia /
might now be able to obtain would be |
wholly inadequate to meet her needs
md lasting nnn1 ro
as the present causes of progressive
impOverishment continue to operate.
1t is only In the productivity of Rus
sia that there Is any hope for the Rus
sian people, and 1t is idle to expect
resumption OF trade until the economic
basis of production are securely es-
tablshed.
production is conditioned upon the
safety of life, the recognition by firm
of private property, the
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 essen
Lldl 10 lIt VI tblillntINt, |
this government will be glad to have
convincing evidence Of the consumma-
Hon of such changes, and until this
evidence is supplied this government
Is unable to perceive that there is any
proper basis for considering trade re-
ations"
The essence Of the note is its con-
Guiding paragraph. While this gov
eminent is not concerned with what
ever form of political philosophy or
theory the Russian people
may elect to entertain, 1t will not do
business with them except on the
terms on which business is founded
the world over.
The cablegram does not specifically
refer to the delegation which the re-
,ent message from the All-Russlan
Executive stated would lie sent to this
country.