The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-20
RECOGNITION OF
RUSSIA SEEMS
MUCH NEARER
Far Less Hostility Toward
Soviet Now Than in
Former Regimes.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON. Aug. 20.-Rus-
sian recognition-at least to the X
tent of sending a commission to the
Soviet Union to study and report
appears to be much nearer than
generally is supposed.
In official circles it freely is adj
mitted today there is far less hostil-
ity toward the Russian regime than
existed in former administrations,
and that there now is an absolutely
open mind on the subject.
1t also is admitted in official cir
cles that the public opinion already
is prepared fully to go along with
the government the moment the
latter believes the time has come
to act.
For this remarkable evolution in
both the official attitude and that
of the public, a number of impor-
tant factors are held accountable.
Both Favor World Place
International developments, par
ticularly in the far east, have on
spired to throw the United States
and Russia together almost as a
balance of power in favor of world
peace.
American business and labor in
terests today see in Russia, per-
haps, their biggest immediate and
future opportunity for profitable Or
ders and unemployment.
Washington is showing signs of
returning to the Jeffersonian princi-
pie of the right of any nation to
govern itself according to what
ever form it please, and change
those forms at its own will" S long
as it does not seek to interfere with
this country's right to do the same.
Russia is reported ready to salts
fy Washington's reasonable require
ments, and to negotiate a settlement
of United States financial claims.
Need to Recognize Debts
Russia, it is remarked, only needs
to acknowledge RuSSia's war debts,
then claim she is unable to pay
them, in order to put herself on
absolutely equal footing with the
other debtor nations of Europe, now
about to ask revision or cancella-
ton of the war debts they owe the
United States.
Claims for American property In
Russia ~conflscated after the Bolshe-
visit revolution amount to over
$400, 900, 900, but, as is usual in such
cases, the real amount vastly IS
lower.
A considerable portion of this,
moreover, already has been settled
by direct negotiation between Rus
STA and the interested Americans.
American loans to ~pre-revoA-
tionary Russia amounted to about
500, 900, 900. Principal and interest
now amount to 1925, 000,0
Russia has announced a program
which calls for the expenditure of
at least $4,000, 000, 900 during the
next few years for machinery, rail-
road equipment, farm implements,
electrical supplies and other com
modities in which the United States
excels.
Exports Show Big Drop
In 1929 the United States sold
$85, 600, 900 worth of goods to Rus
STA. In 1880 it sold $114,000, 900
worth, and last years sales totaled
sos, 900, 900.
In the first six months of 1882
we sold her only $7,0O0,oOO worth of
stuff, as against nearly $4,000, 900
during the corresponding period of
1931-a sheer drop of about 80 per
cent.
Imports from Germany largely
took the place of imports from
America.
The reason was credit Difficult
ties largely due to lack of any trade
agreement between the two coun-
tries.