Evening star., 1932-07-10
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.

force as both a means of defense ano
for imposing so-called legitimate aspi-
rations upon a less powerful state. But
despite the fact that So of the SIS
countries participating in the Geneva
Conference have turned their backs
upon Moscow's suggestion for general,
complete disarmament, the Soviet dele
CATION proposes to remain in Geneva
indefinitely and to expose. when fancy
strikes it, the inconsistencies and
hypocricies of the "capitalistic' states,
according to Maxim Litvinoff. Soviet
commissar of foreign affairs and head
of the Moscow delegation.
Geneva, for the Russians, is like an
exclusive club to which they have a
guest card They occupy position
almost identical TO that of the United
States delegation, whom they consider
as their political bedfellows. Like the
Americans. they fight shy of anything
that might "entangle' them with the
League and they never overlook an
opportunity to emphasize the SINH
larity of their policies with America S
much to the discontinue OF Ambas-
sador Gibson and his colleagues and
to the amusement of others. AT
Geneva the Communists adopt an at
titude of meticulous politeness towards
the Americans; towards the Spaniards
Iitvinoff is bitingly sarcastic. having
blood feud with Senor Salvador
Madariaga. Madrid's former AmbaSsa-
dor to Washington. The RumanianS
and Swiss, Who like America, do not
recognize either the de jure or de facto
existence of the Soviet government,
they regard with supercilous contempt.
The British, French. Italians, Ger
mans. Turks and others with whom
Russia has normal diplomatic and
commercial relations are met on a
basis of political equality. although
Messrs. Litvinoff and Lunatscharsky
repeatedly recall their diametrically
opposed systems of social and indus
trial econorny.
Is Easily Accessible.
Although consistent in his refusal to
broadcast to the United States or
write articles for the American press,
Iitvinoff is easily accessible to news
paper men and straightforward in dis
cussing most subjects of vital interest.
AS a rule the Russians do not hedge
or quihble. There is one exception
the Manchurian controversy. Except
on very rare occasions, Litvinoh and
all his colleagues have maintained
sphinxlike silence when Manchuria or
Shanghai are mentioned. Caught in
an unwary moment they admit that
they have one preoccupation in re-
spect to the Orient; they are not ready
for war with Japan. The Moscow
government tried to inveigle Foreign
Minister Yoshisawa into an economic
and political non-aggression treaty
when he passed through on his way to
Toxic to assume his portfolio. but the
wary NipponeSe was evasiye. Since
then the Russians have kept Toxic
guessing-and continue to 90 SO.
Russo o-American relations. according
to M. Litvinof1, form striking example
of the discrepancy between realities
and political admissions which are
found everywhere in international rela-
tions today.
"Odicially no relations exist between
our countries" he said. But neverthe-
less we know that everything which
goes on in the Soviet Union is followed
with enormous interest in the United
States The fact that there are more
permanent newspaper correspondents
from America than from any other
country In Moscow is sufficient proof for
this deduction; more visitors from
America arrive annually in Moscow
than comes from the entire continent
of Europe; immense quantities Of
American machinery and tractors are in
use in our factories and giant industrial
enterprises. as well as on our collective
farms, and thousands Of American en-
Rineers, mechanics and workers are TAX
ing an active part in the construction
of our country. The people Of Russia
likewise are following life and literature
in America with greatest interest"
Sees GIaring Paradox
The Sino-Japanese controversy, M.
Litvinoh finds. is another glaring ex-
ample Of political paradox.
Thousands Of japanese and Chinese
troops are gathered at Shanghai. Fight
ing has been going on for weeks-but
officially there is no war. Here at
GeneVa-at any rate, in international
circleS-everyb0dy has one ear filled
the other with the voice Of war and
clash Of arms on the field Of battle
We are all valiantly pretending that the
diScourSes on future peace drown the
voice Of war. When people exchanged
impressions during the first weeks of the
conference IL was the thing TO answer
in a spirit of optimism, referring to the
good things that had been done and to
the defeat Of those pessimists who had
shaken their heads dolefully at the start
II I believed that optimism would help
the conference, would advance in any
way the cause Of disarmament and
world peace, you would hear from my
lips the most Sanguine utteTances and
rosy prophecies / would adopt the
COue system OF every day, in every
way, We are getting better and better ,
I would say that every. day in every
Vav, we were disarming more and more,
that peace and quiet prevail in the Far
East that the political independence Of
China has not been infringed, that the
announcement Of the separation OF
Manchuria. from China merely happened
10 coincide with the occupation Of
Manchuria by foreign troops and that
moral disarmament has blunted the
bavonets Of both Japanese and Chinese
troops and converted cartridges, gre
nades and bombs, into harmless squibs
and fireworks
But without wishing TO cast any as
PERSONS on Dr. Coue, so far as his sys-
tenn affects individuals, l do not believe
in 1t when applied to the ills or the
body polite Mere optimism does not
always inspire bOuyancy and is not IN
variab,v a stimulus to action History
shows that contentment and cOmpla-
cency are far from being the notlVe
powers Of progress. while coloring ol
4 facts is fraught with danger"
The facts Lityinof argues, DO mol
Justify the slightest optimism any more
now than they did on the eve OF the
conference.
81 Conference Still Young.
THE conference" he added, has
dust been born. after heavy and pro-
longed birthpangs. But it has not Al
yet put on any weight, nor acquired O
|# voice Of its own. The movements 1t has
III thus far made and the sounds 1t has
emitted have not been such as to enable
one TO discern tokens of its future
atrength. capacity or powers"
That the eventual action Of the Rus
SLAMS may nullify what little good
emerges from the conference M
Iityinuff does not deny His mission
now seems 10 be to sit on the side-linel
and interject, as the spirit demands
Il told you So While Japan. Poland
Runiania and some other countrie