Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-23
The Case Against Russia.

Inc Ease Against Russia,
The American public is willing TO
give Secretary Hyde and his advising
economists at the Department of Agri-
culture the benefit Of the doubt and
allow them time to show conclusiveIy
that they have not gone OF half-cocked
In ascribing Interior and sinister
motives to Russian gambling in wheat,
or In exaggerattng its effect on the
downward trek of wheat prices. If the
case against Russian short sales of
wheat appears weak now, it is to be
remembered that the various investi-
cations started by Secretary Hyde's ex-
traordinary charges have not progressed
beyond the stage Of preliminary organ
txAtion. Mr.. Hyde is presumably Of the
opinion that inquiry will fully substan-
tiate his forceful indictment. which
concerns itself not so much with the
system which makes possible the opera
tions complained Of as the intent of
the operations.
In the meantime the incident brings
public interest to bear on another one
Of the bizarre economic policies Of So
Wet Russia, difncult to understand
without taking into account the Soviet
point of view. Against bleak back
ground Of starvation and suffering in
Russia we have the picture Of highly
organized effort on the part Of the Rus
sian government TO shake the world
wheat market by dumping cheap wheat.
One naturally wonders how the bread
lines Of Russia size up the situation,
and what their reaction may be to the
export Of cheap wheat at time when
-four Is rationed at home. Those who
connect sinister motives with such an
Irrational economic policy point to the
fact that the Soviet does not give a
hang what the bread lines at home
think. With their eyes fixed on the
paradise Of Worldwide communism.
starvation and suffering ct home Is q
mere incident, . slight obstacle on the
march toward some fantastic horizon
over the hill.
Manipulation Of wheat Is merely one
link In q chain that includes the sale
Of cheap lumber and manufactured
articles, with the ultimate end IN view
Of disorganizing world markets and
bringing out the chaotic conditions as
ISOLATED with abrupt declines In prices.
Another explanation Il that Russia Is
merely seeking credit with which to
continue the large purchases Of farm
machinery and other material already
made In this country. But such ma
ehinery is obviously destined to enlarge
the volume Of export trade. which may
be relatively small and possibly trivial
IN Its worldwide effect at this time.
The size Of the trade, Of course. does
not AFFECT the motives behind 1t.
Secretary Hyde must prove beyond
reasonable doubt that the customary
and accepted practice Of gambling in
futures, as practiced by Russian wheat
exporters, has, In the FIRST place, con-
tributed 70 the decline of American
wheat prices. On the face Of it this
appears difncult, considering the rela-
lively small amount Of wheat involved
When and II this Is shown, it must be
linked with the Interior motives sug-
gested by the Secretary Of Agriculture
and demonstrated that the motives can
Be translated into theory that actually
works.
But without waving the red nag and
pointing with alarm at Soviet intrigue
and its consequences, an excellent OPP
portunity has been presented for a
sane and frank illustration and dis
cussion Of Soviet economic policies, and
whether these, with their attendant
bread lines and wholesale executions
for forgery Of bread tickets, are really
founded on anything more sound than
the restless and disturbed dreams Of
minds not yet recovered from the
cataclySmic upheaYal that brought them
into control of q potentially rich and
powerful nation.
-SaoN$