Evening star., 1933-11-06
Mr.. Litvinov's Mission.

Maxim Litvinov, Soviet commissal
for foreign affairs, who Is about tc
reach these shores, will be greeted by
President Roosevelt in Washington this
week as the representative of the Rus
sian nation with which the United
States has had long and cordial rela-
tions. The Moscow statesman comes as
the spokesman of a system Of govern
ment abhorrent to the. American peo-
pie, but, as an of1cially invited guest
will be received with all the courtesy
that BELTS the character and i'm
portance Of his mission.
President Roosevelt desires to explore
"all matters outstanding between Rus
sia and the United States" the purpose
being to discover basis for recogni-
ton Of the Soviet government and es-
tablishment Of formal diplomatic rela-
tions with it. While the United States
Is not concerned with the Russian peo-
Piles acceptance of Communism for
themselves, this country will no. view
with satisfaction any arrangements
with the Soviet which do not provide
an absolute and reliable guarantee that
there will be no Moscow-inspired ef-
forts to transplant Communism to
American soil.
To be agreeable to the American peo-
pie, recognition Of Russia will have to
be accompanied by something more
tangible and binding than the gen.
eralities that the Soviet government
and the Third International are en-
trely unrelated and that both have
abandoned the idea of world revolu-
ton" tn order to concentrate on the
creation Of an ideal Communist state
in Russia.
1t is assumed that the desire in the
United States to recognize the Soviet
springs from the belief that Russia. with
its vast territory and undeveloped re-
sources, Is rich field for American
trade and investment, which It un-
doubtedly Is. With the paramount
question Of subversive propaganda ad-
justed to this country's satisfaction, the
way should be paved for recognition and
the economic benefits expected to now
from 1t. The benefits would, of course
not be confined TO the United States
Russia is said to be prepared to make
enormous purchases Of natural and
manufactured produce here, but to re.
quire correspondingly large financia
credits for the purpose. The circum-
stance that the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation has already extended a gov.
ernment credit to the Soviet for cotton
purchase purposes is an indication that
difficulties are not to be expected in
connection with the vastly larger COM
rnercial credits Russia seeks.
Nor are the matters of the czarist OF
Kerensky debts, or the other financial
claims held by Americans against Rus
sia likely to impede negotiations lead
ing to eventual recognition.
Once Russo-American relations are
re-established, it will be the earnest
hope of all Americans that q new era
Of friendship between the two countries
may be opened and long prevail. There
Is no desire here for any political en-
tanglements or understandings that
might involve us In Russias difficulties
with Japan. As Far Eastern power
like those two countries, with certain
common interests, the United States de-
sires the friendship Of them both
Doubtless, occasion will be found dur
ing Mr.. Litvinov's visit in Washington
to make our position on this score en-
tirely clear.