Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-09
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

There is something peculiar about
this intense heat in the way it affects
special classes of victims. Take New
York correspondents from Washington
for example: Some go crazy with the
liable when they run amuck and under
take to crash the gate" even at the
White House.
OF course, what they write when
under the influence, like that, is ex-
citing, and everybody reads 1t. 1t af-
fects the night editor or the makeup
man, and so 1t is put In the first column
on the front page-the position of
highest honor, equivalent, in knight
in military affairs to the Croix de
Guerre with palm.
Il X
AS q study in psychology, heat and
journalism, take the front-page, two
column dispatch Carried over to page
p in yesterdays New York World. 1t
proves that Voliva is right: The world
is fiat. The head Is of New York con-
coction-don't blame the correspondent
for that; all he did was to supply the
propaganda, tint it up red, like dam
sells artificial Sunburn, and the editor
did the rest. Here 1t is:
Hoover Hints at Recognition of Rus
STA Soon" There are four subheads,
but lack space for technical details,
for, like Iago, I'm plain, blunt man."
However, know the "low-down," for a
direct interview" with Mr.. Hoover
gives me the facts.
I'm not betraying, Immediately, how
got this interview, but I guarantee its
verbal accuracy. Mr.. Hoover spoke with
49, Cd {ra he
plicated problem OF our relations with
suffering Russia. He spoke coolly de-
spite yesterdays bursting thermometer.
Our relationship to this problem must
be predicated on one basis only-what
will bring real assistance to the Russian
people in this time of their greatest
need" declared the President.
"Mr. President" I asked, did not
America prove our unself1Sh interest in
Russia's distress during the period fol-
lowing the WARP"
Mr.. Hoover's expression lighted up,
as his memory went back to his own
strenuous leadership in giving food to
100000 Russians, and he confessed:
I'VE provided charity in Russia ten
times what all the rest Of the world
gave, and we saved the lives Of TO-
100000 starving victims Of the famine.
The solution cannot be found in
charity, for unless productivity is re-
stored, charity will be overwhelmed.
Real, lasting help must be based on
cold economics, or 1t will bring no real
reconstruction or relief to Russia"
Does that include recognition of the
Soviet government, Mr.. PRESIDENT"
| ventured. It was a bold, direct ques-
ton to ask, and the interviewer trem-
bled at the prospect of a sudden ter
| mination Of the audience, but the
| answer was frank, and to the point:
Some officials in Russia and their
| followers in this country seek to blame
| the responsibility of the situation Jim
mediately following the World War;
upon our continuation of the blockade
after the war was won. This blockade
was imposed as a war measure against
| the cooperation Of Russia with Ger
many. I strongly advocated that this
should not be done, because felt that
! whatever goods could filter into Russia
would relieve just that much individual
misery, and that it would be well for
the world to lift the curtain on this
experiment in economics. We know
now, however, that it would not have
made one jot of economic difference in
the real situation of the Russian people
had the blockade never been imposed.
During several years, there has been no
ban on any merchants sending in his
| goods, of any investors lending his
savings for development of industry, If
he felt so inclined. No practical advan-
tage has been taken, and the produc-
tivity and industrial machinery have
continued to degenerate"
Are you now speaking by the card
in regard to recent statistics?",
mot exactly-what referred to had
to. do rather with my memory of con-
ditions for two or three years after
| the relief with which I was concerned
Some people believe that If we would
establish in Washington Soviet am
bassador, their goods would begin to
flow," replied the President.
| Eyes, but, like Will Rogers, all know
about that is just what read in the
New York World, MIR. President. Isn't
that true?"
Goods do not move in q vacuum. u
He answered seriously. More political
officials will not solve this issue; it re-
uuires the restoration Of the dynamic
| forces Of productivity and the establish
ment of security for investment. The
| foundation Of these things must be laid
| in Russia; it cannot arise in the United
States"
President Hoover spoke with great
earnestness and showed how thoroughly
he felt the soundness of his divorce
of economics from politics, though he
made no reference TO the cotton-raising
Senators who were reported In the
] World as being concerned about the
| foreign demand for their cotton.
| Then he continued:
| "Some Russian officials have held out
promises of great advantage to US II we
would establish ambassadors and would
come to her economic assistance"
That's what the alleged Senators
are quoted as saying, In the New York
| World" commented the interviewer, but