The Washington herald., 1922-02-05
Shrewd Soviet Leaders Do
Turn-About States Gibbs
Tchicherin and Raaek, Prior to Genoa Confer
81 ence, Acknowledge Prerevolution Debts
And Communism's Failure.

lCn6CT 1OC uPhcAo. PNOPCIhy
was recognized as a right, and
private trading was restored. The
people were again put on a wage
basis and rationing was stopped ex-
cept among essential Soviet workers
and the unemployed. Those people
who had goods stored up brought
them out into the market places and
sold them. With money so obtained
they were able to buy other goods
and sell those at a profit. So free
trade was starting rapidly and
shops were opening. This modifica-
ton of Communism" Il noticed that
he did not use the world abandon
nent which would have been more
strictly true) has succeeded be-
cause 1t meets the wishes of the
peasants who form So per cent of
the population of Russia and were
never converted to the idea of
VIII Admit Debts.
After a long analysis OF the peas
ant character-not very favorable
or friendly though with a tribute
To the shrewdness of the peasant
mind-Tehicherin answered a ques-
tion which I put to him bluntly.
hardly expecting him to answer. I
said: rs there any possibility Of
the Soviet government recognizing
the old pre-war debts to France
and other nations?" His answer
was without hesitation. and amazed
me. of course" he replied. That
Is the logical outcome of our pres
ent methods. We are ready IN ac-
knowledge the pre-war debts. But
1t will not be much good to an
nounce that decision, as foreign
countries would take 1t as a sign
of weakness foretelling the down
fall of the Soviet government
which is quite untrue" This was
the first acknowledgment made on
behalf of the Soviet government
that the pre-war debts would be
recognized. and 1 think I was the
nrst man to know 1t. 1t is one of
my journalistic regrets that owing
to my service in Russia as an in
Vestigator of the famine on behalf
of the imperial relief committee, 1
was unable to send this news to the
world.
I met another man in Russia.
who is a power behind the scenes,
and will help to prepare the Rus
sian case as it will be put before
the Genoa conference. That is Ra-
dek, a brilliant man of Jewish race,
with an immense range of knowl-
edge in international affairs, and q
perfectly unscrupulous character.
He lived formerly in New York and
speaks English fuently, though
with strong accent He has been
the chief propaganda of Com
munism and the world revolution
in Russia and the outside world.
but when I saw him in the Kremlin
Of Moscow he talked no longer of
world revolution, but Of balances Of
power.
wants Peace with England.
His main idea was the necessity
OF peace between Great Britain
and Russia. both of whom are ORR
entail powers, Gith immense re-
sponsibilities in the Far East. Ra-
dek admitted that Bolshevik agents
had been tanning up trouble
against British rule wherever they
found an opportunity in India, At
hammedan countries. But he said
the time had come to abandon all
that nonsense and make a pact which
would be useful to both peoples
the British and Russian. This man
Radek is an extraordinary type.
with fringe of reddish brown hair
all round his face. He speaks in a
harsh voice and has a sense OF
humor, to which he gives vent in
shrill laughter. He is a family man,
and lives with his wife and small
boy in a barrack-like building in
side the great fortress palace of
the Kremlin. which, with its golden
dome and high battlemented walls,
looks like the scene of an Arabian
Dream" Not being provided
with a pass 1 was arrested three
times inside the Kremlin gates, be-
ing passed on from post to post.
But the name of Radek-which I
am told means 'scoundrel" In Rus,
sian-acted as a magic pass word.
These two men Tchicherin and Ra-
dek. are at the opposite poles of
character. One is cold as ice. the
other-Radek-like a tongue of fire.
But they are both men of consider
able intellectual brilliance. and see
ing now that Communism has failed
they are ready to adopt a policy of
realism" in the hope of saving
Russia. and themselves. by a re-
turn to Western methods of eco
nomic life and International trade.
Copyright, 1s22.)