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

Citizens who can not get jobs who can not
keep their businesses afoat 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 investgat-
ing The answer is prejudice. Certainly the anti
Russian trade policy is not based on facts or reason
Usually only one condition is imposed pur
chaser. Will the buyer pay? In addition to that
question, the state department. In rare cases. has
asked also whether the goods sold would lead to
and occasionally has banned trade in materials
Russia has a clean bill of health both counts
She wants to buy peace goods from u.s. not war
terias AS for payments she is 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
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 defauted 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
not be trusted because she refuses to settle for
propriated property and the Kerensky government
debt. That is not true Repeatedly the Russian gov
eminent has stated that it would welcome negotia-
tions 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
1t now has $25OOOOOO contract
AS for the Kerensky debt Of 1892 900 OO0-part of
which was given by the United States to counter
revolutionists and used in unsuccessful attempt
to overthrow the Soviet government-Adoscow does
not apparently good precedents in international
law to refuse settlement.
On the contrary she says she is ready to nego-
tlate those American claims and Russias counter
claims arising out of American intervention in Siberia
In 1890 That American Intervention is described
by General William S. Graves commander OF the
American forces, "a deliberate interference in the
internal affairs OF the Russian people, prolonging the
civil war and entaing untold loss of life and prop
erty"
In view Of that bloody American Intervention in
Russian internal affairs it is rather hypocritca for
American officials today to say that we 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
q moratorium even that reduced amount
If we gave Russia 80 per cent reduction, we
have given to the Fascist dictatorship of Italy Russia
would not ask for an additional moratorium
Indeed the Russian GSerensky) 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 of any kind for Washington to continue
It's trade-kIllng policy against Russia.