The New York herald., 1922-03-26

for Russia and the rest of the worlt
States-must have it. On the other
hand, they need our trade, for they
know that without 1t 1t is hopeless to
attempt the serious economic recon-
struction Of Europe"
| saw Lcnine on Sunday for the first
time in many weeks and had a long
talk with him. l found him vastly
changed. He is tired and sick mar.
He looks worn and unhealthy, and
obviously is suffering severe nervous
and physical strain. But the mans
indomitable energy being his control;-
ing spirit. apparently he is as deter
mined as ever to go to the conference
himself.
THE man chiefly want to meet
face to face is Lloyd George. He has
shown repeatedly that he Is realist
and that he will not allow what on.
might call snobbishness to interfere
with the attainment of practical ends
! feel that with him an understand
ing is possible. Again lot me say that
] do not expect political understand
ing. That is impossible between q
Soviet republic and a bourgeois state.
What mean is a business under
standing"
Asked If political agreement would
not be necessary preliminary to trade
agreement, Lenine replied:
Probably there must be some meas
ure of mutual political liberation at
first. without that TO trade agree
ment could be either valid or lasting.
But there is no reason why that should
not be possible with Great Britain
Lloyd George is we'll aware that we
already have arrived at working
business agreement with several
States
He knows too that the number of
Russian commercial undertakings In
which foreign capital is taking part
is steadily increasing. He is too much
of a realist to allow British capital 10
be frozen out Of the future economic
development Of Russia Moreover, he
is quite an accomplished artist at 1e-
vising formulae.
There Is no disposition, according
to kilograms from abroad, to create a
smoke screen around Genoa. We are
told the bourgeois governments are
In stste of uncertainty over their
programs, and hints are given out that
a whole series of as yet udefined con-
ditions will be presented for Russia's
acceptance before the practical busi-
ness conference is tackled. We are
not impressed by such maneuvers. If
people imagine they can take us by
surprise they are mistaken.
I'VE know how TO bargain. There is
In all bargaining an element OF blum.
We are accustomed to bluff, too. IL
threats are tried they will not impress
us either. We are used to threats
and can afford to smile at them. We
have survived worse threats than any
that can be made at Genoa. There
was time when bourgeois threats
took the form of artillery fire. / dare
say European diplomatists have lively
memories Of the end of that particu-
lar experiment. They are not likely to
seek to renew 1t In hurry.
If they do we are ready for them.
Trotzky made that quite clear the
other day in his speech, which was
not incompatible with the views I have
Just expressed. On the contrary, il
shows a clear understanding of the
situation. For my part, I ascribe no
undue Importance to sententious tele-
grams, even when inspired by diplo-
matists. Tho bourgeois States know
perfectly well that to attempt to treat
Russia as vanquished State, upon
which conditions can be imposed.
would be worse than folly-it would
be useless.
I'm afraid tho bourgeois govern
ments do not understand our present
economic policy. 1t will be my task
to explain It to them. The long eco
nomic retreat OF Russia is at an end.
From now on we are ready TO advance
once more. In saying this I'm not los
Ing sight OF the difficulties facing US
they are enormous. The time has not
yet come when we will be able 70 look
into the future with serene confidence.
The danger Of war is not yet complete
~ averted, but the danger from Inter-
nal economic conditions is far more
imminent and serious.
"Still. I can say, on the eve OF the
Genoa conference. that Of all the views
en- the economic state OF Russia the
panicky view Ia th- one which answers
least to the facts Of the situation.
Therefore, I am hopeful Of Genoa"