Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
Battle Over Recognition of Russia
ToBe Resumed When Congress Meets

of the administration toward Russia. Much
has been said Of the golden opportunities which
America was letting slide in the matter of trade
with Russia. When the British decided to rec
ognze the Soviet government, there was
gasp of dismay. John Bull, it was said, had
the proper vision and Uncle Sam was in error.
But now, it appears, the policy of the American
Government has been indicated in British
eyes, if not in those of the friends Of the So
Wet. American business men are selling large
quantities of goods in Russia on cash basis,
notwithstanding the absence of American
Ambassador in Moscow. Americans are reap
ing the advantages of trade, while this country
is less easy of attack from Communists.
The American Government has emphasized
consistently since 1920 the need of Russa's dis.
continuing revolutionary propaganda outside
it's own territories, particularly in the United
States as a sine qua non of American recogni-
ton of the Soviet government. Former Secre.'
tary Charles Evans Hughes of the State De-
partment in 1923 set forth the attitude of the
American Government clearly in letter to
Samuel Gompers, then president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. 1t may be mentioned
that this attitude has not been changed in the
intervening years. In his letter to Mr.. Com
pers Mr.. Hughes said;
What is most serious is that there Is
elusive evidence that those in control at Mos.
cow have not given up their original purpose
of destroying existing government wherever
they can do so throughout the world.
While this spirit of destruction at home and
abroad remains unaltered the question of rec
Ognition by Government of the authorities
at Moscow cannot be determined by economic
considerations or by the establishment in some
degree OF more prosperous condition, which,
OF course, should be glad to note. or simply
by consideration of the probable stability of
the regime in question:
Hughes States Position.
But reports of the probable recognition of
Russia by the United States continued, and
almost a year later Mr.. Hughes, in unmis.
taxable terms, set forth the position of the
American Government. His statement was
transmitted to Moscow and put quietus for
the time, at least, on the agitation for recog
milton In it Mr.. Hughes sad
''If the Soviet authorities are ready to re-
store the confiscated property of American citi-
Zens or make effective compensation, they can
do so. If the Soviet authorities ready to
peal their decree repudiatng Russas obliga-
tons to this country and appropriately recog-
nze them, they can do so.
1T requires no conference negotiations to
accomplish these results which should be achiev-
ed at Moscow evidence of good faith The
American Government has not incurred liabili.
ties to Russia repudiated obligations. Most
serious is the continued propaganda to over
throw the institutions of this country. This
Government cannot enter into negotiations I'M
til these efforts directed from Moscow are aban-
doned"
Supported by Coolidge.
Mr., Hughes, who had the support of the late
President Harding in his attitude toward the
Russian Soviet government, received also the
support of President Coolidge, when he enter.