Evening star., 1933-10-23

pTLTQyS pertinent eVeHtS teuuHy up
to President Roosepelts announce
n1ent of negotiations about American
recognition OF the U. S. S. r.
BY r. H. HIPPELHEUSER,
Associated l-1ess Stan Writer.
NEW YORK. october 23.-The early
days of March, 1918, were momentouS
in Moscow:
The bolsheviks had overthrown the
Kerensky provisional regime and found
ed the Soviet Union, a communist gov
eminent.
The Soviets in February, had re-
pudiated the Russian debt. Creditor
nations were deeply concerned.
The German offensive on the Eastern
front swept onward. The Soviets de-
cried this war Of imperialism" they
wanted peace-aimost at any price
Then. on March Sin the West Rus
sian town of Brest-Litovsk, with the
sDearhead Of the Kaiser's army thrust
at them-the Soviets signed the treaty
Of peace with Germany.
Allied nations were IN censternanon. s,cn ton n.
ticipation in the East to keep the Ger
mans from concentrating on the west
ern front.
Asked Lenin TO Fight On.
They appealed to Lenin and Trotzky
To fight on. Hopes were helo OUT ioi
immediate recognition by the ailleo
powers-despite the debts repuoiatlon.
On March S Trotzky transmitted 70
America through Raymond Robins, the
Red Cross representative, thls pio-
posal ,;.ous, is not
ratified by the Congress Of Soviets, WIZ
American and allied aid be gwen 10
hold out against Germany? VIII steps
he taken to prevent possible Japanese
intervention in Siberia? .,od
President wilson, on March II, canleo
the Au-Russian Congress OF SoViets.
Ne Expressed the sympathy OF tne
American people for the Russians, nut
made no direct mention OF the IroIzky
nronosal It did contain this: Inc
United States Is "unhappily not now IN
- ,osition to render the direct and ell.
fertive aid it would wish to renoer,
and it appealed to the SoVlets 10 nlaiii-
tain the Eastern front.
Allied Cause Was Lost.
The Soviet Congress waited until tt,e
14th for q direct reply. Toward mla-
nipht of the 10th Lenin was 70 SpeaA; pS
He asked Robins, What have you Aeaio
from your Government" .;,
"Nothing." replied Robins. beniii
srote for the treaty. 1t was ratified :.
The allied cause on the Eastern Iront
was lost and with it went Russias nope
for early recognition by the allied pow
ers. ~ os ,rare on
the peace conference at Versaliles. ,!,;, nie
allies had won the war. Presldent VIII
snn went to France He sent to Eussla
William c. Bulltt to discuss the Sovies
Conditions for participation IN the peace
conference. ~ .ro
firmly in power. o. for
accentance of its terms of partlclpation'
which at the outset appeared accept
able to the allied powers, passed. 1he
conference closed in June. -
lust before the armistice, the allies
had expeditions in Siberia and apouS
Archaneel The announced purpose: 10
protect military stores from Germans
and to aid Czech deserters from tne
Austrian army to reach 'iaoiVos'oA
safely.
Policy Firmly Moulded.
The Soviets declared the allied oc-
cunation Of the Siberian Railroad was
a Valuable aid to White Russian coun-
movements.
Members Of the American diplomatlc
and consul services gradually quit Eus-
sian soil. By the time the American
expedition left Siberia early IN 1920, the
American policy Of opposition to recoe-
milton of the Soviet Union had peen
moulded firmly. ,
Secretary Of State Bainbridge Colby,
on August 40, 1920, set forth this pollcy
oficially.
His note said the opposition was based
principally on two things: Repuolation
Of debts, and the propaganda emanatlng
from the Comintern, the central pooy
Of the Third (Communist) 1nternatlon-
al, in MOSCOW.
In the Harding administration, Sec
retary Of State Charles Evans Hughes
was even stronger In this opposition.
Russia was one of the signers of the
Kelloeg-Briand pact to outlaw war.
John Bassett Moore and other interna-
tionsl observers contended this consti-
tuted de facto recognition.
But the non-reeognition policy held
fast.
with the Inauguration Of President
Roosevelt, the view was held in well
informed quarters that Russia would pe
recognized.
Recognized by World Powers.
All the world powers had extended
recognition by this time. The SoWets'
position In international affairs was Of
the utmost prominence, politically and
economically. They had negotiated
numberous trade agreements and non
aggression pacts. Several European
countries had granted guarantees on
sales to the Soviets.
When President Roosevelt sent his
peace message last May to the nations
Of the world, he communicated directly
with Mikhal Kalinin, President Of the
Soviet Republic.
In June were two developments Of
great tmportance-them meeting Of Maxim
Litvinof, commissar for foreign affairs,
and American delegates at the London
Economic Conference. and the approxi-
mate $4.500.000 loan from the Recon-
strrc1on Ti~"1-o Co~pcr- ION q t.