Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31
FRIENDSHIP
OVERTURE DENIED
State Department Says U. S.
Has Not Made Advances to
Russia This Year.

By the Associated Press.
A story that the United States had
approached Russian Soviet officials
during the past year on the subject
of Russian recognition was fatty de-
MED 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 Off
cial. It was a direct denial of a story
told in Moscow yesterday by a Soviet
government official, who said tang
ible and palpable' recognition ap-
proaches had been made by the Wash
ington Government.
The American attitude regarding
recognition remains unchanged.
america Not Bartering."
There would 5em to be at this
time no reason foI' negotiations" said
the department THE American Gov
ernment, as the President said in his
message to Congress, is not propos-
ing to barter away it's principles. If
the Soviet authorities are ready to re-
store the confiscated property of
American citizens or make effective
compensation. they can do so. IF the
Soviet authorities are ready TO repeal
their decree which repudiates Russia s
obligations to this country, and ap-
propriately recognize them, they can
do SO. 1t required no conference or
negotiations to accomplish these re-
suits, 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 country.
This Government can enter into no
negotiations until these efforts di-
rected from Moscow are abandoned =
The Russian official, who was said
generally to reflect the views of the
foreign office. did not say whether
the diplomatic moves were made in
Washington or in the Russian capital.
nor did he state by whom they were
instituted. He did say. however, that
last Summer the American Govern
ment definitely abandoned it's intran-
sigeant attitude toward us and was
ready to discuss privately, if not of
ficially, terms of recognition
Says Farley Stopped Suddenly.
Then suddenly" he added. "some.
thing happened, and this will always
be mystery to us. The converse
tions terminated abruptly. Whether
1t was the American cotton crisis, the
American elections, quarrels within
our Communist party or other factors.
we do not know. But the State De
partment again climbed on the high
horse and refused to treat 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.
Members of the Senate interested in
the Russian question expressed the
opinion last night that no formal con-
versatlons between this country and
Russia had occurred in the last six
months. but suggested an entirely diff
ferent picture of Russia, due to GER
tain important changes in the inter
situation in Europe. had been
presented State Department officials
recently which would warrant a, COM
paTison with conditions when the last
Russian recognition advances were
turned down by Secretary Hughes.
Chairman Borah of the Senate for
elgn relations committee, who has re-
peatedly favored recognition of Rus
Sia, said he had mo official inforn,a-
tiCn of such conversations as had been
suggested by the Russian official
He indicated, however, that the Rus.
sian question was being considered
here. Further than that he would
not comment.