Evening star., 1923-12-23
The Leopard's Spots.

ed in consequence Of the Presidents
reference in his message to the ques-
tion of Russian recognition, followed
by Tchitcherin's overtures AID Secre.
taIY Hughes rejection of them, Is
warmly welcomed and gleefully re.
garded at Moscow. 1t gives the soviet
government and it's supporters in this
country a chance to talk. 1t gives
them something to talk about. And
talk is one of the long suits OF so
vietism, Russian and otherwise. While
from one point Of view it may be con-
sidered unfortunate that the Presi.
dents message and the subsequent
developments have opened up this
channel Of conversation and argu-
ment. it may be viewed in the final
analysis as desirable to bring this
question of soviet activity in and
against the United States into the
realm of conclusive consideration.
These things happen in order. There
is no accidental development in ma.
tional affairs. The time had come to
bring this matter out into the open.
It has certainly become a fixed be.
lief on the part Of most Americans
that the communist government at
Moscow, based upon the principle OF
internationalism, is animated by de-
sire to break down national spirit and
organization in other countries and
TO promote the communist principles
elsewhere, and is actually directing
subversive propaganda here. The
whole history Of the bolshevik move
1nent in Russia, the practices Of the
soviet government since the revolu-
ton Of 1917, the preachments OF the
leaders and the positively known con-
nections of American agitators with
the Moscow organization have all
made for that public conviction.
Intimation is made that there has
been a change at Moscow, q change OF
heart, perhaps, or maybe a change OF
personnel. 1t has been technically
stated in the Senate here that not for
three years has the soviet government
been engaged in propaganda in this
country. This brings to mind the old
saying about the leopard and his
spots. If foreign propaganda Is no
longer part Of the bolshevik policy
why and when was it abandoned? Was
it, in fact, definitely abandoned? Or
was 1t just laid aside as inexpedient
for the present? Nothing in the whole
history of bolshevism in Russia sug-
eests a real reformation. Everything
suggests expediency as a reason OF
remission, If, indeed, there has been
remission of the foreign propaganda
policy.
Only a little while ago Lenin. then
head of the Russian government, be-
gan to jettison the cargo Of the badly
laboring soviet ship. He threw over
number of the most cherished prac'
tees of bolshevism. But it was clear.
ly stated at the time that there was
no abandonment Of the principles
They were put aside for the time be-
cause they would not work" in the
Immediate circumstances. The spots
were merely covered.
Just so in this matter of American
propaganda. II, as stated, there has
been no active soviet.promoted agita'
ton in this country for three years 1t
IS not, it may confidently be believed
because Of any change Of heart or
real abandonment of purposes. II the
exact connection between the com
munist party or the third interna'
tionale at Moscow and the soviet gov
ernment is not now clearly established
fl is simply hidden because for this
immediate present it is undesirable
to have it known.
If the whole revolution. the com
munist overturn in Russia, was not
based upon an absolute fraud. was not
in fact, a trick Of pretending radicals
mock communists and takers seeking
power in the guise Of proletariat radi
calls, that organization, calling Itself
the government Of Russia, is today
committed to the policy Of seeking te
spread the communist principles
throughout the world, with the United
States chosen as an immediate ant
specific field Of operations