Evening star., 1923-07-23


disposition to Tive up to the obliga-
tions of intercourse" he declared. de-
nying In detail assertions that the
Russian government was so doing.
Reply to Labor Leader.
In response TO Mr.. Gompers' letter
Mr.. Hughes, under date Of July 49,
wrote:
Il have your letter Of the ninth
instant with respect to the grounds
upon which the recognition Of the
present regime in Russia has been
withheld.
You refer with Just emphasis to
this regime. The seizure of control
by minority in Russia came as a
grievouS disappointment to American
democratic thought, which had en-.
Enthusiastically acclaimed the end OF
the despotism Of the czars and the
entrance of free Russia, into the fam.
lily of democratic nations. Subsequent
events were even more disturbing
The right OF free speech and other
civil liberties were denied. Even the
advocacy of those rights, which are
usually considered to constitute the
foundation Of freedom, was declared
to be er-reyolutionary, and pun.
ishable by death. Every form oi
political opposition was ruthlessiy
exterminated
"rhere followed the deliberate de-
struction of the economic life of the
country. Attacks were made moi
only upon property in. its So-calle'
capilistic form, but recourse was ha
also to the requisitioning of labo'
Voluntary Organizations Cease
IAN voluntary organizations 4
workers were brought to an end
To unionize or strike was follow ed
by the seyerest penalties. When
labor retaliated by passive resistance,
workmen were impressed into huge
labor army. The practical effect OF
this program was to plunge Russia
once more into medievalism. Politi-
cally there was a ruthless despotism
and economically the situation was
equally disasterous.
1T Is true that, under the pressure
of the calamitous consequences, the
government group in Russia has
yielded certain concessions. The So
called new economic policy permitted
a partial return to economic freedom
The termination of forcible reQuisi-
tioning of grain has induced the peas
antry to endeavor to build up pro-
duction once more and favorable
weather conditions have combined 10
increase the agriculture output. How
far the reported exports OF Russian
grain are justified by the general
economy of the country Is at least an
open question. Manufacturing indus
try has to a great extent disappeared
The suffrage, so far as il may be ex-
ercised, continues to be limited &c
certain classes and even among then
the votes of some categories count
more than the votes of others.
Russia's New Constitution.
"A new constitution has just now
been promulgated providing in effect
for the continuance of the regime
of the 1917 coup d'etat under ANEW
title. The constitution. IL is under
stood. contains no bill Of rights, and
the civil liberties of the people re-
main insecure. There is no press ex-
cept the press controlled by the
regime, and the censorship is far
reaching and stringent. Labor is un-
derstood to be still at the mercy OF
the state. While membership in Of
fetal unions Is no longer obligatory
workmen may not organize or par
ticipate in voluntary unions.
The fundamentals of the Russian
situation are pretty generally under
stood in the United States and have
made a profound impression upon the
thought of our people. We are con-
stantly made aware of this in the
Department of State by the various
ways In which public opinion makes
itself felt in the seat of government
We learn of the hope of America that
Russia should have the opportunity
of free political expression and thai
she should be enabled to resume hel
economic life and regain prosperity
and once more to take her place
among the nations on the basis OF
mutual helpfulness and respect. Their.
can be no question of the SINGER,
toward the Russian people. And ther,
Is for this very reason a strong de
sire that nothing should be done t
place the seal of approval on tn,
tyranical measures that have beer
adopted in Russia or TO take an,
al reassertion of the Russian peopl,
of their right to live In freedom.
State Departments Problems.
ITO the Department of State
charged with the conduct of our for
eign relations. in accordance witt
the accepted principles of interna
tional intercourse, the problem pre-
sents itself necessarily In somewha
less general terms. We are not con
cerned with the question of tn
legitimacy of a government as Judge,
by former European standards. w
recognize the rights of revolution an
we do not attempt to determine tn
internal concerns of other states
The following words of Thomas JEFF
ferson in 1898 express a Fundamental
principle: We surely can not den,
to any nation that right whereon ou
own government is founded-tha
ing to whatever form 1t pleases, an
change these forms at it's own will
and that 1t may transact Its busines
with foreign nations through what
ever organ it thinks proper. whethe
king, convention, assembly, commit
choose. The will of the nation /
the only thing essential to be re
garded.
.'It was undoubtedly this principl
which was invoked by the represent
ative of the Department of State, Il
having been made in February, 1921
before the House committee on for
eign affairs on the consideration o
House resolution 635, Sixty-sixtl
Congress. third session.
An Exception Is Noted.
ct must be borne in mind, how
ever. that while this government ha
laid stress upon the value of ex
pressed popular approval in deter
mining whether a new governmen
should be recognized, 1t has never in
sisted that the will Of the people o
a foreign state may not be mani
tested by long-continued acquiescenc
In a regime actually functioning a
a government. When there is a ques
ton as to the will of the nation
has generally been regarded as
! wise precaution to give sufficient tim
to enable q new regime to prove 1t
stability and the apparent acquies