Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-09
Our Policy Toward Russia.

There Is high significance in the an
nouncement, made apparently on State
Department authority, that Secretary
SttnSon Is about to undertake a review
Of our policy toward Russia, with view
to possible change. The attitude Of
non-recognition, the keystone Of that
policy, was initiated by the Wilson adj
ministration, following the usurpation
Of power at Moscow by the Communists,
and consistently maintained throughout
succeeding administrations to this hour
II there is to be departure from this
policy the change will have to originate
in Moscow. The Soviet government has
long been aware of the terms on which
any alteration in the United States
position must be based. AS clearly
enunciated by Secretary Hughes nearly
ten years ago, our position rests upon
three cardinal principles cessation
Of Communist propaganda in this coun-
try, restoration of American property
confiscated by the Soviet republics and
the recognition Of repudiated interna-
tional obligations.
The one of these three principles upon
which there can be no compromise, in
case of change" in American policy,
Is the cessation Of propaganda demand.
Even should Moscow assent to that con-
dition, the experience of other countries
which gave Russia diplomatic recogni-
ton would impel the United States to
weigh cautiously the worth Of any such
covenant on the Communists part. It
has not been an experience which fires
the American Government and people
with enthusiastic confidence that the
Bolshevists would live up to it any
more faithfully than they did in Great
Britain, for example. The propaganda
spots of the Soviet leopard are indelible
and not given to change.
Presumably the hand Of American
big business is behind the implication
In the State Department announcement
that change in our Russian policy may
Be imminent. Exporting interests, which
have built up valuable trade with the
8oviet-a volume far in excess Of any
thing known in czarist days-have long
clamored at Washington for recognition
Of Moscow. They have as zealously
opposed American embargoes on the
products Of Russian forced labor, Just as
domestic convict-made wares are taboo
In our home market. The annual $780,
00O, 00o-odd export Of American raw
materials and manufactures to Russia
has been developed despite non-recog-
milton Of the Communist regime.
Moscow VIGOROUSLY has bought ex-
tensively In the United States in the
hope that "dollar-chasing Uncle Sam"
as Europe is still fond Of depicting US,
could be cajoled by considerations Of
business into giving the Bolshevist gov
eminent the recognition 1t so ardently
Graves. Only yesterday, at the opening
session Of All-Union Soviet Congress at
Moscow, Premier Moloton, Stains
creature, Invested himself of q charac-
teristically violent attack on the United
States and other "capitalistic" coun-
tries at which the Communists aim
their world revolution"
Before his TRADE was over, NJ Molot-
on, with brazen candor, reminded
America that "the imports Of the Union
Of Soviet Socialist Republics depend upon
her exports" There could hardly be a
more truculent or transparent bid for a
"change" In our Russian policy. Nor
could there be more vivid conhrma-
ton of the soundness Of statement
by President Coolidge, at time when
Russia was making one Of her psriodi-
cal drives for recognition. I'VE do not
intend" said Mr.. Coolidge, ito barter
fundamental American principles for
commercial advantage"