The labor world., 1922-12-09
MANY BIC INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
" URGE TRADE with SOVIET RUSSIA
New York Lawyer Representing Them Abroad Says Communist
Chiefs Admit Failure and Now Recognize Property Rights

maIcOlmn sumner. New YORK
| lawyer who recently returned from
la professional mission to Europe in
behalf of important financial and in
dustrial interests, and. who, while
abroad, met Messrs. Tchitcherin,
Krassin and other Soviet Russian
| leaders, delivered an address on
| THE Russian Evolution" before the
Society of Arts and Sciences at the
Hotel Astor in New York one night
last week.
Mr.. Sumner, in his remarks,
voiced nine interesting observations
made on his European trip, as fol-
lows:
1. BOlshevism has collapsed and
the Communists are steadily losing
ground before the increased power
of the peasantry.
2. Lenin, Tchitcherin and Krassin
| admit failure Of the MARKHAM expe-
| riment and realize necessity Of effec-
tually restoring private property
rights.
3. Russia seeks Americas good
will and cooperation above that Of
all other nations.
4. Trade negotiations need not and
should not wait upon our political
recognition.
S. Initial participation should be
through developing natural resources
instead Of industrial aid.
6. RussiO-Asiatic Consolidated
agreement presages further restora-
tions and concessions.
z. Union with Far East Chita Re-
public restores Russia to balance of
power in Pacific.
8. Soviet's policy respecting Near
East situation is similar to ours and
her delegates should have full par
ticipation in questions before Daus-
anne conference.
8. Soviet leaders are opposed to
League Of Nations. y
| In drawing his word picture of
developme in Russia Mr.. Sumner
said:
! Lenine alone of all the national
leaders who directed the destinies OF
their countries at the time of the
armistice remains in supreme power.
Russia stands out today as the coun-
try of continental Europe which 'ap
pears economically to be growing
strong the most rapidly. The answer
to this seeming paradox is that Eu-
rope has been and still is facing
dramatic changes, whereas Russia
has left it's revolution behind.
The important thing to consider
is not the words, but the substance
and practical effect Of the new Sow
let policy of restoring private prop
erty formerly owned by foreign ma
tionals. Under the proposed Russo
Asiatic agreement, the Soviet1+govI
dored it's policy Of Estate ownership
has proposed granting a 99-Xear
lease with rights equally as effec-
tive as absolute ownership.
There seems no reason why, as a
condition precedent to our admitting
a purely trade delegation, We should
officially investigate Soviet Russia
Through the American Relief asso-
ciation's representatives in all parts
of Russia, which organization Is
headed by Secretary of Commerce
Hoover, our government mas cor
tainly kept itself fully informed, OF
everything probably better than any
other nation and possibly learned
more than could be ascertained by
purely official investigation. Rus
sia has acknowledged that Bolshev.
ism is a failure. She admits her in.
dustries are ruined. Her prayers fol-
succor are a confession that her com:
munistic experiment in agriculture
has resulted in famine. What more
is there to investigate?
Russia's representatives have de.
clared their willingness to welcome
and afford facilities for investiga.
ton to any American interest OF
group genuinely desirous Of seeking
opportunities there for industrial de.
velopment or trade. She is also will
ing to send a strictly trade delega-
ton here for the purpose of discus
sing ways and means for American
interests to participate in Russia's
economic rehabilitation and develop
ment.
Belts for Christmas.