New Britain herald., 1926-12-31
WHEELER LOUDLY PROTESTS
 ELIMINATION OF PQ|S0NS
 FROM INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL.
WASHINGTON DENIES RUSSIAN OVERTURES Has Made No Move Toward Recognition,
 State Dept. Says

Washington, Dec. 31.-tP}- A story that the United States had ap- preached Russian soviet officials during the last year on the subject of Russian recognition was flatly de- nied today by the state department.
 The department authorized the statement that no approach whatever respecting recognition has been made during the year to any Moscow official. It was direct de- nial of story told in Moscow yes- terday by soviet government off cial who said tangible and palpable" recognition approaches had been made by the Washington government.
 The American attitude regarding recognition remains unchanged. The department said.
 There would seem to be at this time no reason for negotiations. ," said the department. "The American government, as the president said in his message to congress, is not proposing to barter away it's prin- ciples. If the soviet authorities are ready to restore the confiscated property of American citizens or make effective compensation they can do so. If the soviet authorities are ready to repeal their decree repudiating Russia's obligations to this country and appropriately recognize them, they can do so. It requires no conference or negotia- lions to accomplish these results which can and should be achieved at Moscow as evidence of good faith
 The American government has not incurred liabilities to Russia or repudiated obligations. Most serious is the continued propaganda to over throw the institutions of this counry. This government can enter into no negotiations until these efforts di- rected from Moscow are abandon ed"
 Unusual interest was aroused here over the Moscow dispatches quoting a high Russian official there as saying that the United States had made approaches to Russia during the past summer regarding the ques- tion of recognition of that country.
 The Russian official, who was said to generally reflect the views of the foreign office. did not say whether the diplomatic moves were made in Washington or in the Russian capi- tai, nor did he state by whom they Were instituted. He did say, however, that last summer the American gov- ernment definitely abandoned its intransigeant attitude toward us and was ready to discuss privately if not officially, erms of recognition.
 Then suddenly he added, something happened, and this will always be mystery to us. The con- versations terminated abruptly. Whether it was the American cot ton crisis, the American elections, quarrels within our communist party, or other factors, we do not know. But the state department again climbed on the high horse and refused to tackle the issue with us"
 The Russian spokesman said the soviet was unable to accept all of the proposed American conditions, but was then prepared, as always, to send a delegation to Washington to tackle the issues in dispute.
 The American government has re- peatedly stated that recognition of the soviet government would not be accorded until the day that country put it's house in order and faithful ly guaranteed to settle obligations of former governments. As late as a year ago. this policy was declared to have undergone no change, when at tention was called to a statement by Foreign Minister Tchitcherin touch- United States.
 Members of the senate interested in the Russian question expressed the opinion last night that no formal conversations between this country and Russia had occurred in the last six months, but suggested an entire ly different picture of Russia, due to certain important changes in the international situation in Europe, been presented state department off, cials recently which would warrant a comparison with conditions when the last Russian recognition ad- tary Hughes.