Evening star., 1923-03-23
RECOGNITION NOT
RUSS CURE-ALL
Secretary Hoover Points Out
Necessity for Economic Re-
construction of Nation.
PROBLEMS OF RELIEF
Four-Fold Candidates to Be Faced
by Those Who Would
Aid Population.
PROBLEMS OF RELIEF

Four entirely different problems
face the relief workers in Russia,
Secretary of Commerce Hoover de-
clared today, replying TO a letter
from c. V. Hibbard Of the Young
Mems Christian Association asking
for information on tho possibilities
Of united American effort for relief
in Russia.
These problems. the Secretary of
Commerce outlined as the great fam
inc. caused by the failure of the har-
lean organizations combined to save
the lives of 11.00O,0 900 Russians; dis
ease. poverty and reconstruction.
The first phase of the problem. Mr.,
Hoover said, will be over with the
next harvest The other forms of re-
lief. the Commerce Secretary added.
will deservedly pull upon the heart
strings of charity for many years to
come and offer an ample field for
those who can devote themselves TO
such work. for the terrible sCfferings
of great people cropping for freedom
from centuries of wrong must enlist
the sympathy Of every well thinking
person
Recognition Not turP-AH.
The simple act of official recogni-
tiou of the Russian soviet govern
ment by the government OF the Unit
ed States will not send flow or for
! eign savings, business or skill into
! that country, Mr.. Hoover pointed out.
! cilaracterizlng such situation as a
! hopeless illusion" Indeed. there has
/ been no appreciable investment in
! Russia from the several countries
! which have extended recognition. al
though some of them are exporting
! capital in other directions, he said.
THE question of restored produc-
tiyity to large industry rests on other
fundamentals, such as the security
and freedom of initiative, ana these
can ONLY be secured through the in
stitutions of Russia herself" said the
Secretary. All that charitable relief
can hone to do is to lift special
groups from utter destitution up to
the level of the general poverty and
thus TO prolong life for the future.
! Some Recovery Noted.
The economic retreat from COM
munism undertaken two years ago
has resulted in impulses to recovery
in certain directions. 1t has restored
a large measure of individualism and
! initiative in agriculture, small trades
and small industries. The agricultu-
raj population cover 30 per cent or
! the whole) in some measure shows a
of the division of the old landlord
! lands The establishment of limited
right of inheritance, the fiXation of
taxation with graduated percentage
! in kind and the freedom to market
j any surplus have all in some measure
! restored primary self-interest in pro-
/: duction.
/ Progress in recovery has been re-
! tarded by the great famine from the
! 1921 crop failure in the Nolga valley
and the southern Ukraine, from the
| loss of animals, from the decreased
; output of agricultural implement fac
| tories over many years and from the
! plaques of insect pests Fundamental
| recovery is taking place, but it will
| be slow and painful without help
! from the outside world.
| Points Out Russian Needs.
| What Russia needs is economic
I! reconstruction, the recreation of
productivity Her peasants need
agricultural machinery and animals.
| Her workmen need tools. her indus
! tries need raw materials. her fac
| transportation needs repairs and
! equipment. If her large industry is
f, TO be restored she needs skilled
workmen and trained executives and
the impulse of self-interest that is alb
sent from nauonalized industry.
! Furthermore, for purposes of
restoration, gigantic sums OF capital
and the professional personnel to di-
| rect reconstruction must come from
i abroad. No doubt a few spectators
| and concession hunters intent on
several hundred per cent per annum
| will be willing to take the risks, but
/ the great flow of capital investment
| at reasonable rates cannot arise
! until the whole system IS advanced to
| tho fundamental position upon which
security and confidence must rest"