The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-02
|U. s. CAN'T RECOGNIZE 1 PRESENT GOVERNMENT
 |OF RUSSIA HUGHES
Political Recognition Must Await the Establishment ot Sound Business and Social Conditions, Says Secretary of State
By Associated Press

N Washington, May 1.-The Ameri- tan government stands unshaken in its determination that Russia must put her own house in order before I she can expect political recognition by the United States.
 Making his first statement of poii ty regarding Russian affairs since
 the subject came to the fore at Ge- noa, Secretary Hughes today told Edelegation of women at the state de- #partment that before any outside &power could resume full relations Nwitih Russia she must herself adopt Ia policy of sound internal recon struction. He added that the Ameri- can people were anxious to do all they could but would not attempt to extend credit where there was no sound basis for credit.
 | No particular form of government was cited as desirable or undesirable by the Secretary, nor did he mention Tiny of the developments which have Influenced the fortunes of the soviet I3ance the Genoa conference began. Ie did suggest. however. that the |principle of self-government in Rus fsia was somewhat complicated" by sthe efforts of some soviet officials to finterfere in the domestic affairs of other nations.
 N The delegation to which the Sec jretary addressed his pronouncement the International League flor Peace and Freedom, and had 2 brought to the state department Ipetition for full political recognition i |of the soviet regime. Secretary Hughes reply follows:
 America's stand Given
 Tt is a great pleasure to meet you land to hear you, and 1 appreciate deeply the interest that you mamie st ! in this important problem It Is {hardly necessary to refer to the con | |cern that we all feel with respect to the welfare of the people of Russia. ! Our interest in the people of Russia Ihas been manifested in the most un- Imistakable manner. and do not fthink that 1t requires any statement Hat this time to indicate how anxious {we are for the full restoration Of the Economic power of the Russian peo- Hple and for their well being in every &way. There is no disposition to in- |terfere with the Russian people in working out their own destiny. Where is no desire to interfere in their internal affairs. The principle that is involved is one that we cher ish here It's application has been 3somewhat complicated by the organ Iized efforts on the part of the soviet |reaime to interfere in the domestic kaffairs of other peoples.
 No Legal Obstacle.
 with respect to intercourse, it Is S9uite evident that you are under a serious nisaprreh cnsion. There is no legal obstacles to trade with Rus Isia The obstacles that exist to trade , with Russia are due t9 the situation nin Russia Some time Dago I pointed but the essential conditions for a re- turn to productivity in Russia. That was not formula: that was not an Artificial conception; that was simply Jcredt, but it is idle to expect credit 'lunless there is basis for credit. ItThat basis for credit cannot be sup Solied from the outside. That basis For credit has got to be supplied in- bide of Russia
 V Political recognition follows the h Sblishment of sound basis for
 Scourse Political recognition g
 ndent upon the existence of a
 cnment that is competent to dis
 se and shows a disposition to
 large its international obliga-
 b This whole matter is in the vol of those who dominate the fpA. lrs of Russia. We are most de-
 Bus to do what we can to aid Rus
 &s recuperation, but they must es-
 tlish the basis for such recupera-