, 1925-01-14
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright 1926, Consolidated Press
As~sociation)

Association)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14-No i'm
portant change in the foreign policy
of the United States will result from
the resignation of Secretary Hughes.
President Coolidge has been as
| much responsible for the various
| steps taken by Mr.. Hughs in the de-
partment of state as has been the
| secretary himself and any other i'm
| preston assumes that the president
has mercy been nodding a reluctant
assent.
The European press is wrong in
taking It for granted that the pres
ident is about TO embark upon a pol
icy of his own or that he will, with
another secretary of state, approve
a. reversal Of any of the present pol
lfcy. particularly that with Russia
| Recognition. of Russia may come-it
| might have happened under Mr..
Hughes if the Soviet government
had agreed to fulfill the conditions
set by him-but circumstances
abroad and not here will bring about
the change.
The new secretary of state, Mr..
Kellogg, feels exactly as President
Coolidge does about property rights
aud the sanctity of contracts. and
Communism. If the Democratic
party were in power. there might
be some ground for the belief that a
change would ensue. but the policy
adopted toward Russia by MI.
Hughes was exactly that which the
main supporters of the Republican
party In America heartily endorse.
Russia may have her W form of
government, but she must agree not
to attempt to overthrow Americas.
She may have her w views about
contracts as between Russians, but
If she wishes American recognition,
she must be willing to abide by con
tracts made by American citizens.
And furthermore, she must not feel
that she can repudiate all her debts.
There are various reasons why Pres
ldent Coolidge would like to reco9-
nlze Russia. The friendship of the
American people for the Russian
peop'e is additionally strong. The
RUSSIAN masses may be considered to
be the tools Of a group OF political
manipulators, but the United States
government took It's time about rec
ognizing Mexico until specific assur'
anoes were given Of the Willingness
of the government there to fulfil
international obligations and there
is no special ,urry manifest In exec
utive headquarters about recognizing
a government that is so much more
remote from the United States.
The cabinet has not been divided
on the Russian policy. Some of the
strongest arguments against Russian
recognition under circumstances that
have existed have haen made by
Herbert Hoover, secretary of com
merce.
II is true shat Senator Borah,
chairman OF TIE senate foreign re-
latlons committee. 10 friendly to the
Soviet government and that he and
others on Capitol Hill are seizing
upon the change in the department
of state 10 revive their arguments in
favor Of recognition OF the Russian
government. France, It is pointed
out, has recognized Russia, but in
answer to that, the contention is
made that eapediency and not logic
dictated the course. Britaln's pol.
icy under the Macdonald regime
more or less influenced the IIerriot
administration. America does not
suffer financial loss to tho same ex.
tent as do European countries by
withholding recognition and there is
more OF an opportunity in Wnshing-
ton to stick by a principle than there
IL abroad.
Mr.. Hughes was Incorporating
In his attitude. Mr.. Coolidge did
insert in his last message to con.
gress a word OF friendship to Russia.
which Mr., Hughes might have
thought futile, but which did not,
on tho other hand. promise a rever.
sal In policy. The most that may
como as a result OF the Borah influ.
ence with tho president. which is
not uncomfortable, Ia a willingness
to send a commission TO discuss with
the Soviet government a formula
for established resumption Of diplo..