Evening star., 1923-08-27
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

A land of unlimited possibilities,
like America a hundred years ago, is
the future awaiting regenerated
Russia, according to Col. William \.
Haskell, L. :. A. who has just ar
rived in Washington from Moscow.
For the past two years Col Haskell,
on leave of absence from the Army,
has been director of the American
Relief Administration in Russia.
Its work is now completed, and Col.
Haskell has come home to wind it up
at this end and make his final report
to Herbert Hoover, the chairman |of
the administration. During the week
end Col. Haskell presented to Secre-
conveying the autographed thanks of
the soviet government, headed by
Lenin. for the incompatible humani-
tartan service rendered to the Russian
people by the American government
and nation.
Eschews Political Topics.
Col. Haskell. in special interview
with this writer. spoke freely of gen.
eral conditions in Russia. but re-
Russian politics. domestic or foreign,
or from expressing any opinion on
those subjects. w0tever views he
may hold will be communicated, if
sought. to Secretary Hughes. who, as
Col. Haskell puts it. will probably add
them to the information the State
Department has from other quarters
for "checking-up" purposes.
Col. Haskell, in particular, has moth
Sng to say as to whether the United
States ought. or ought not. to recog-
niZe the soviet government. That is
none of my business is his soldier
like dismissal of all questions in that
connection.
"Russia's political leaders" )" said
Col. Haskell. undoubtedly realize that
the condition precedent to their re-
entry into the family of nations is the
esta ablishment of confidence abroad.
Once they have taken the necessary
steps to that Observation-Disclosures
of Russias foreign Indebtedness; /;
guarantees for the sanctity of pri-
vate property; compensation for. or
restoration of, property that has been
confiSCated: pledges not to conduct
communist propa ganda in other lands,
and the enactment of other practices
common in international political and
commercial intercourSe-RuSSia will
be on the threshold of an incalculable
development.
The foundations are there for a,
nation the equal in size, wealth and
power of our own United States. AS
foreign capital was essential to the
development of American resources
during the nineteenth century. SO 1t
is Indispensable to the development
Of Russia. The soviet statesmen are
conscious of that.
The communist party Is I'm virtual
ly unchallenged control. There is no
political opposition worthy of the
name. Lenin is incapacitated and not
visibly in the picture. kamepeff is
functioning in his stead. as sort or
vice president. Russia is administer
ed by the council of peoples COM
missaries'. on cabinet lines. and, ap-
parently. in spirit of team work
Trotsky, nominally minister of war
and marine, is now charged primarily
with the reorganization OF the So
called heavy industries, such as steel
iron, mining, the metallurgical trades
and the more important branches of
manufacturing generally.
THE military organization that he
whipped into shape is now worthy
the description of army. Nobody
knows, owing to the extent of Rus
sian territory, just how many effec-
tives there are, but an estimate OF
GO0, 900 is probably not exaggerated.
They are well equipped in every arm,
even aircraft. and. on such occasions
as they are on view, give the appear
ance of being a first-rate modern
organization.
Seventeen In Council.
Foreign affairs are in the hands
of Tchitcherin and Ltvinoff. An able
adjutant of Lenin, Lunacharsky, is
commssary for education. krassin,
another pillar of the soviet institu-
ton. is commissary for foreign trade.
Seventeen commissaries constitute
the council, or cabinet. each with
defined sphere of activity like the
heads of. our own executive depart
ments at Washington.
Colonel Haskell was asked if the
soviet interposes obstacles to the
establishment and development of pri-
vate enterprises within Russia. He
said:
"Nomina1Iy, none. A man can start
Il bank-private banks are springing
up here and there-a factory, a store
or any other sort of business, and
apparently is permitted to conduct it
in his own way. ! suppose il you
wanted to start newspaper you'd
soon have to accustom yourself to some
form of soviet supervision. or run
the risk of suppression by the cheka