The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-16
Prejudice Kills Trade

Citizens who can not get Jobs or who can not
keep their businesses ahoat in these hard times
doubtless wonder why their government is so intent
on destroying trade with Russia, which could help
revive prosperity.
We wonder ourselves. We have been investigat-
ing. The answer is prejudice. Certainly the anti
Russian trade policy is not based on facts or reason.
Usually only one condition is imposed on a pur-
chaser. Will the buyer pay2 In addition to that
question, the state department, in rare cases, has
asked also whether the goods sold would lead to war
and occasionally has banned trade in war materials.
Russia has a clean bill of health on both counts.
She wants to buy peace goods from us, not war ma
terials. AS for payments, she is one of the few coun-
tries in the world during the postwar period that
have paid all their commercial obligations.
During the last six years, Russian purchases in
this country on credit have amounted to about half
a billion dollars, without loss of l cent to American
sellers. This is what James D. Mooney, vice-president
Of General Motors, calls IAN envable record"
In these days when other foreign obligations to
Americans are being defaulted right and left, and
when so many American companies can not pay their
bills, Russian trade seems to be among the few safe
risks.
At this point, however, some victim of anti-Russian
propaganda is apt to arise and say that Russia can
not be trusted because she refuses to settle for ex-
propriated property and the Kerensky government
debt. That is not true. Repeatedly the Russian gov
eminent has stated that it would welcome negotia-
tons for such settlement.
Unlike the United States government, which re-
fused to make any settlement with the American
victims of the American appropriation of the liquor
industry, the Soviet government adjusted the old
claims of the General Electric Company, with which
it now has a $25, 100000 contract.
AS for the Kerensky debt Of 1892, O00, OO0-part of
~I..-I --. -.-- l. ~ fl 49,
reyolutionists and used in an unsuccessful attempt
to overthrow the Soviet government-Moscow does
not use apparently good p~recedents in international
law to refuse a settlement.
On the contrary. she says she is ready to nego-
tate on those American claims and Russia's counter
claims arising out of American intervention in Siberia
in 1919-20. That American intervention is described
by General William S. Graves, commander of the
American forces, as "a deliberate interference in the
internal affairs Of the Russian people, prolonging the
civil war, and entailing untold loss of life and prop
erty."
In view Of that bloody American intervention in
Russian internal affairs, it is rather hypocritical for
American officials today to say that we can not have
normal relations with Russia because she might in
terfere in our domestic affairs.
Foreign debt payment today is ridiculed in most
debtor countries. We already have Cancelled war
debts from IS to 80 cents on the dollar, and then given
a moratorium even on that reduced amount.
If we gave Russia an 80 per cent reduction, as we
have given to the Fascist dictatorship of Italy, Russia
would not ask for an additional moratorium.
Indeed the Russian Kerensky) debt is so small
that Moscow could afford to pay it all if she had to.
prominent American business men, who have
dealt with Russia for years, agree that there is no
real reason of any kind for Washington to continue
it's trade-killing policy against Russia.