Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-11-23
RUSSIA is
RECOGNIZED
Trade Relations Are EX-
peCted to be A Boon to
Agriculture.
PrOgreSsiveS Have Long
Advocated Such A
Move.
BY HENRY G.. TEIGAN

The greatest event in world politics
during the past week, is without doubt
the recognition of Soviet Russia by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
has done the practical and the cour-
ageous thing in re-establishing diplo-
matte relations with the land of the
Russians. While it is regretted that
such recognition was not accorded
the Soviet government Is years ago,
1t is with good deal of satisfaction
that the liberals of the U. S. A. note
the action that the Roosevelt admin
istration has taken.
OF all the things that President
Roosevelt has undertaken to allevi-
ate economic conditions in the United
States, there is little doubt that the
re-establishing of diplomatic and
trade relations with the Soviet union
is the most important. Russia needs
American goods above all else, and
there is no country in the world more
qualified to render this aid than is the
United States. According to a state
missar of foreign affairs, Russia
stands ready to purchase during the
next year approximately $350,000, 900
worth of goods in this country.
Moral Issue Involved.
1t is not, however, purely a mat
ter of getting business from the Rus
slams that should actuate liberal
minded persons in wanting diplo-
matte relations re-established be-
tween the United States and the
Soviet union. There is a moral and
political Importance attached to the
matter. Governments are recognized
by each other primarily on the basis
of their stability, and not on account
of their particular form of govern
ment. Moreover, the United States
government has in years gone by, not
hesitated in recognizing the most
autocratic of regimes. Turkey with
its Sultan, Russia with its Car, and
Japan with its Mikado, have been rec
ognized by Uncle Sam. Even Hitler
and Mussolini, exercising far greater
power of dictatorship than is being
exercised by Stain, the alleged ruler
in Russia, have had no difficulty in
keeping in the good graces of our
governments.
Anyway, it is satisfying to know
that the end of aloofness from Soviet
Russia has been reached. And Presi-
dent Roosevelt deserves credit for his
courage and good sense in doing what
his weak-minded predecessors failed
to do.
Bullitt Appointment Fine.
The appointment of William C. Bull
lit as the first Ambassador to Mos
COW, is also a wise and sensible move
on the the part of the President. Mr..
Bullitt, it will be recalled, was the
man who was sent by President Will
son from Paris in 1919 to negotiate
with Lenin and Trotzky, then heads
of the Soviet government, for basis
of recognition. Mr.. Bullitt did his
job most creditably and secured from
the Soviet government every cOnces-
sion possible to work out plan of
diplomatic relations. President Will
son, however, had somehow changed
his mind by the time Mr.. Bullitt re-
turned.
Farmer-Laborites of Minnesota have
a just reason to feel gratified, mas
much as they were among the first in
America to demand recognition Of
Russia. At the national convention
of the National Nonpartisan League,
held in St. Paul in December, 1919,
the Leaguers of Minnesota, as we'll
as of other states of the Northwest
and West, went on record in demand
ing establishment of diplomatic
relations with the workers republic
in Russia.
The world evidently continues to
move forward, though slowly, due in
the main to the blindness and stu
pidity of the ruling capitalist class.