Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-03
PUT.AND.TAKE

from any diplomatist at Genoa was the
sudden rumor Of British triumph in the
general scufle for exclusive oil concessions in
Russia. All Russia's oil may have been
bartered away by the Soviets. The runor
Of a sweeping grant to British capitalists
may be without foundation in truth. But
the announcement Of British victory was
needed to remind the world that war Is
on and that It is not being fought without
intense energy merely because 1t IL being
directed in silence.
The conference at Genoa is, in fact, an
economic conference-directed only on the
surface by statesmen. European captains
Of finance have had more to do with 1t than
any Government, new or old. And it re-
mains TO be seen whether Lloyd George and
his associates were unaware Of the enormous
coup which the British and allied oil men
have been trying to consummate under their
eyes. 1t is seriously to be questioned, too,
whether business men may safely assume
to be dominant factors over the represent.
atives Of government in any great affair Of
international diplomacy. For, even while
the leaders Of the most powerful European
oil combine were congratulating themselves
upon what seemed like an unprecedented
achievement at Genoa, Leon Trotzky was
making an omnous speech at Moscow. He
which is at the present time the most power.
full and spirited army in the world.
Soldiers, Trotzky said. "be ready! ~
Trotzky is not like the nmiable Chicherln,
who has been putting the natural resources
Of Russia up for sale in Europe. He is not
like Lenine. who is a thinking machine,
with a habit Of surrender and compromise.
Trotzky is the hardest boiled radical alive.
And he is commander. in chief Of the Rus
sian Army and man who can do with the
Russians and with the other ruling Boil
shev!sts about as he pleases. The signif-
canoe of Trotzky would not have been lost on
any European diplomatist worthy of his
salt, though the foreign oil barons seem to
be unaware Of it. There Is 10 treaty possi-
bic Of acceptance at Genoa which. IL 1t in
volved Russia. could not be nullted and
scrapped by Trotzky.
Suppose, then. that the British oil men
have cornered Russian oil reserves: or
suppose that they may corner them or that
others may corner them. And suppose that.
after great deal Of real money had been
expended in the development Of Russian oil
fields, Trotzky and his disciples were moved
again to feel that the only decent thing to do
in this world Is to seize private property.
Would the British send an army and navy
to protect British interests? Suppose
the perpetual quarrel between Trotzky and
Lenine leads to split and an internal war
in Russia. To which side must the con-
cession holders look for protection?
The game at which the oil men are play.
ing is but one of hundreds of similar ones
new speeding up at Genoa. Russia is be-
coming to all of Europe what Mexico was to
the United States until the advent of Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Harding put a check upon
the foreign investor bred in the belief that
he may take desperate chances with his
money and yell for the army or the navy to
get him out Of his scrapes. A weak Gov
ernment with enormous undeveloped re-
sources to barter about Is always danger
ous-to its own people and to others.
Whatever Is filched from Russia by head
long opportunists will cost far more than it
is worth in the end. What Russians and
the outside world need is an open door in
Russia. If the economic conference cannot
perceive and meet that need it will be worse
than useless.
The United States is in a difficult position
with relation to the conference. Secretary
of State Hughes is right in his present
course. Without stable and more or less
representative Government in Russia the
Russians themselves and any one who deals
extensively with them will be in danger.
And Washington, refusing to be tempted
into an enormous game Of put and take,
which yet may lead to gunplay and blood
shed, is doing the rational and decent thing.