San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20
TRIO TzKY SAYS
Soviet WANTS
|U.S. FRIENDSHIP
War Minister Returns From
Caucasus in Good
Health.
WANT TO AVOID WAR
Russia Would Settle Bes-
sarabian Dispute
Peacefully.
WANT TO AVOID WAR

Moscow. April 19.-Declaring 1T
is nonsense to suggest that We are
specializing on the mutual antagon-
| ism in the United States and Japan. -
Leon Trotsky, war minister of the
Russian government, in an exclusive
interview today, emphasized that
Russia's particular interest now is
friendiness with America.
1rotzky has just returned from the
Caucasus. He looks healthier than
ever, sunburned. bright-eyed, rested
and energetic. Clad in his usual
fatigue uniform and high boots. he
smiled IS he looked at the mountain
of work on his desk.
Asked regarding developments IN
the international relations of Russia,
the war minister replied:
Discusses international Relations.
well, naturally. we are particular
ly interested in the resumption of
normal relations with the United
States. Our relations with the rest
of the world are not normal. Dis-
fercnt countries accuse us of carrying
on propaganda. This is not true.
We do not demand that bourgeois
countries become Communist until
they are ready tn do so. But we do
reserve the right to remain Com
munists ourselves, although we are
subjected continuously TO active pro-
paganda by bourgeois empires, urg-
ing that. we resume capitalism. We
wish to see peaceful relations re-
sumed everywhere, he continued.
1T is nonsense to suggest that we
are specializing on the mutual an
tagonism Of the United States and
France. Questioned whether war is
likely between Russia and Roumania.
as a result Of the Bessarian dispute,
Trotzky replied:
Want to Avoid War.
at would be hypocritical and naive
if ! should answer by saying war is
impossible. Everyone would have the
right in any case TO ask why then
does Roumania maintain an army and
why does the soviet union maintain
one.
Are we preparing to make war
on Roumania! No we are making
not the slightest preparation for war
at least | know of no such prepara-
ton and in ny post ought to know.
There is no true significance 10
the Russian or the Vienna negotia
tons" he said. ave merely refused
TO sanction the violent aud fraudulent
seizure OF, Bessarabia by the bour-
geois landlord, Roumania. But. how
or when or under what circumstances
or in what form Bessarabia can SEIZURE
self determination cannot be predict
ed, because it is dependent upon many
circumstances. u
"In any case we will make every
effort TO have that self determination
brought about without war"
Reds Need Credit.
Trotxky reiterated the soviet union
does not desire TO stir UP trouble
anywhere, but added, I'VE encounter
prejudice against us. This we are
most anxious to remove
Asked him about the prospects OF
credits from England, he replied:
"Of course, VIC hope for credits
from England, but in a pinch we
could get on without credits. We
could live, but there are several
countries in the world enjoying
higher technical resources than we
enjoy.
"We wish to establish mutual re-
lations with those countries in order
to hasten development of Russia.
Credits would be of advantage to us,
but it also would be of advantage
to England which, as creditor,
would naturally secure better terms.
Copyright. 1924.