Seward daily gateway., 1925-02-11
RECOGNIZING THE SOViETS.

Hearst newspapers are pounding away on the administration at Wash ington to reverse the policy by which it has studiously refused to extend quasi recognition to the soviet gov ernment of Russia, through the nego- tiation of a trade agreement. The country is told that "our national well fare, as we'll as a due respect for in ternationaI usage, demand trade rela- tions with the existing Russian gov ernment," and the distinction is made approval of communism
 Secreatry Hughes is pictured as the lock in the path of trade recognition for the reason that he had stood like a stone wall against any recognition whatsoever with the Russian govern ment.
 Hearst draws attention to the fact that Japan has extended recognition to Russia, thus guaranteeing her po- sitiOn at home and securing the as Surance of raw materials essential to her national life in peace and war" as we'll as satisfactory division of the oil produced in the island of Sa- ghalien, half of which came to her as the spells of war
 This, of course is interesting, but it presents no pressing reason for any radical change in American policies. Japan did not lend Russia several hundred million dollars as war loans, which have since been repudiated; Japan did not have her citizens manu- facturies seized and confiscated by the soviet government as did the United States, when the soviet government seized the Standard Oil plants, the big Singer sewing machine plant, en- ploying several thousand workmen; the International Harvester company's plant, and several hundred other mi nor industries.
 The United States has said that when Russia recognizes her obliga- tions to America, when she returns the property confiscated to our citi- zens, then she is ready to talk recog- milton. To recognize Russia after her criminal acts would be like temporiz- ing with the bandit who robs a bank, wIf Secretary Hughes has been right Ill standing as "stone wall" he still IS right, regardless of the decisions of other nations, and most Americans will support his policy when they re- alize it's significance. Japan has sac rificed principle to commercial gain. and will rue it's concession. just as tha British government retreated when it discovered that the concessions" if hoped to get in Russia as a reward for recognizing the communistic regime were not only illusory, but that the soviets took advantage of the oppor- tunity afforded them to foment revo- lution in the United Kingdom.
 Secretary Hughes has shown that there exists no bar to commercial trade between Americans and the so- viets. The American people can take their own chances without the support of the government But history has shown that recognition of a commu nistic government is of no benefit to the country which extends it.
 Isaac F. Marcosson, in, series of excellent articles in the Saturday Evening Post, showed conclusively that the soviets regard a treaty or trade agreement as a scrap of paper. He pointed out by example that the British tradesmen who obtained con- sessions in soviet Russia were sub- jected to worse treatment than the people of other nations. Much has been said of commercial opportunities in Russia, but they are largely a