Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-03-31
TRADE RESUMPTION
PUT UP TO RUSSIA
MESSAGE TO SOVIET REPREsEN
TATIvE, SAYING CHANGE
MUST BE ASSURED.
MAKE NO SPECIFIC REPLY
Establishment Of Conditions Essen
tiaI To Maintenance OF Com
merce Will Be Required.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of trade
relations with soviet Russia will de-
pend on satisfactory assurances that
fundamental changes are contemplate
ed, involving due regard for the pro-
! lection of persons and property and es-
tablishment of conditions essential TO
the maintenance of commerce" Sec
rotary Hughes says in message sent
to the Russian soviet representative
at Reval.
The message was in reply to the
recent appeal of the soviet govern
ment at Moscow that the United States
again trade with Russia and that 1t
negotiate with delegation to be sent
to this country for the purpose by the
soviet authorities. The note was
transmitted through the American
consul at Reval, as the original mes
sage from the soviet government was
received from the soviet representa-
tive here.
The state department is known to
take the position that there was no
OCCASION at this time to reply specitl-
cally to the proposal of the bolsheviki
that trade delegation be received
by the American government.
Sufficient opportunity, it is held, Is
given to the request of the American
government for assurance from the
soviet government of a change in heart
as effecting their communist1c prlncf
pies and the rights of private property
for later consideration of the question
of the reception of soviet delegation.
It is known that no intimation of the
recognition of the soviet government
was meant to be contained by the state
department in the reply to the soviet
message. 1t was made plain, however,
that the American government was not
disposed to question the holding by
Russia of any political philosophy
which she pleased, but was concerned
principally and solely with the ques-
ton as to whether the underlying basis
of rade were to be respected by the
Soviety government.
"The government of the United
States" says the communication,
'yiews with deep sympathy and grave
concern the plight of the people or
Russia and desires to aid by every,
appropriate means in promoting prop
err opportunities through which COM
merce can be established upon SOUND
basis 1t is manifest to this govern.
ment that in existing circumstances
there is no assurance for the develop
ment of trads, as the supplies which
Russia might now be able to obtain
would be wholly inadequate 10 meet
her needs and no lasting good can re-,
suit as long as the present causes OF
progressive impoverishment contlnue
to operate. 1t is only in the produc-
tivity of Russia that there is any nope
for the Russian people and 1t is ldle 10
expect resumption of trade until the
economic bases of production are Sc
curely established. Production is con-
ditioned upon the safety of life, the re-
cognition by firm guarantees of private
property, the sanctity of contract, ana
the rights of free labor. In fundamen-
tai changes are contemplated involving
due regard for the protection OF per-
sons and property and the establish
ment of conditions essential to the
maintenance of commerce, this gov
eminent will be glad to have convinc-
ing evidence of the contamination OF
such changes, and until this evidence
is supplied this government is unable
TO perceive that there is any proper
basis for considering trade relations.