Evening star., 1925-02-22
Recognition of Russia.

Interest in the question of recogniz-
ing the Soviet government Of Russia
is revived by report that President
Coolidge is considering the possibility
of appointing q commission to discuss
with a like commission from Russia
the conditions upon which recognition
might be extended, a course which was
followed successfully in the case of
Mexico. This government, it is repre-
sented, recognizes that no progress
can be made by fiat refusal to give
any consideration to the government
at Moscow, and while the appointment
of such a commission as is proposed
would not necessarily be followed by
formal recognition, it would afford an
opportunity for an exchange of views,
and would bring into light those Rus
sian policies which have stood in the
way of diplomatic intercourse.
There is constant pressure upon the
administration, both in Congress and
from outside, to enter into such rela-
tions with Russia as will afford oppor-
tunity there for the expansion of
American trade. The notion has been
persistently circulated that in the Re-
public of the Soviets there is a rich
and ready market for all sorts of
American products, and that all that
stands in the way of our sharing in
the golden harvest is lack Of diplo-
matte intercourse. Even the farmers
have been made to believe that a con-
siderable part Of their troubles has
been due to the fact that Russia has
not been recognized by this Govern
ment.
In view Of the large expectations
which have been built up in American
minds as to the possibilities of Rus
sian trade, the experiences Of other
countries which have extended recog-
milton to Moscow cannot fail to be of
value. The French had the same large
ideas about Russia as a market, and
the clamcr grew so strong that at last
the government put aside other con-
siderations and extended recognition.
The results are outlined in a dispatch
from the Paris correspondent of the
New York Times Resumption of
regular diplomatic relations with Rus
sia,' he says. has proved delusion
and a snare for France" And he adds:
Both French business men and the
French government have been disap-
pointed. Not only have the dreams of
doing business with Soviet Russia
proved illusory in the extreme, but
after three months the best prospect
of payment the French have got from
tho Russians is the suggestion that If
France lent money to Moscow a part
of it might be paid back, part to hold
ers Of Russian bonds. From any point
of view that is a sorry result
The net result of the political expert
ence of getting closer to the bolshevist
regime has been repeated assurance
that what the Soviets are seeking
abroad is money. That and nothing
else.9 Every time the French have tried
to approach the subject of Russian debt
to France they have got in reply only
requests for loans, and, since there Ia
no prospect whatever either of a busi-
ness or government loan by the
French to the Russians, the negotia-
uons have got nowhere.
1t may be possible that negotiations
would remove the obstacles which
now stand in the way of American
recognition of the Russian govern.
ment, but expectations that American
business would largely profit thereby
at any early date is likely to suffer
the same disillusionment that has
come to France.