The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-28
It Seems
to Me
by HAYWOOD BRoUN =

think this would be a fine dav
to recognize Russia. 1t is nv i'm
preston that the present admins
tration intends to take the step. and
if and when such action occurs
proper credit should be accorded.
But why not now? There is no
reason TO believe that any new in
formation is 10 be obtained. The
facts are public property and the
question has been discussed ex-
hauStively from every angle No
one could accuse the state depart
ment of having functioned with un-
due haste in the matter.
The curious thing about those who
oppose recognition is that they argue
with equal flHency from either side
of a given situation. Thus a year or
so ago the chief consideration urged
for a continuance of our present
policy was the menace of the Rus
sian wheat crop.
We were told that the Soviets
needed foreign credits abroad to
purchase machinery and that they
were prepared to dump grain at
ruinously low prices. In other
words, we were urged to refuse
recognition to nation which had
developed such a high degree Of
agricultural efficiency.
SlCdpplng Tunes
DUT now the tune has changed.
ID The same people who said this
thing are the very ones who contend
that the Russian agricultural plan
has broken down, that the peasants
are eating the seed supplied to them
and that the attempt to collectivize
farming has been a colossal failure.
In other words, we must turn our
backs upon the Communist expert
ment because it is doing SO badly.
The truth seems to be that both
the Russian menace and the Rus
sian breakdown were exaggerated
considerably. There is excellent tes-
timony that the functioning of large
scale cultivation has met some SER
ioIlS obstacles. But the problem in
volved certainly concerns Russia and
not us. Come to think of it, We, too,
have a farming problem.
Then there was the bugaboo of
the trial of the British experts. Be-
fore the case developed, it was the
custom to refer to the charges as
fantastic. But here again the obiec-
ton has evaporated in the face of
facts.
Reliable newspaper men have Civ
en- us full account of the trial, and
though the method of procedure is
unlike many of the customs which
prevail in our courts, it is evident
that very strong case was made
against the defendants and the SEN
fences were extremely light.
Concerning Self-IntereSt
TN a way it may be unfortunate
L that there are obvious material
advantages for us in recognizing
Russia, and recognizing Russia now.
Our own chief commercial rivals
are fading out of the picture. Even
if some adjustment is made, trade
relations between Great Britain and
4hNSolb nave DGtn SIlOuoly us
turbed. Hitlerism has cut off Ger
many from the Soviet markets. And
there is friction with Japan.
[ see no reason why we should not
frankly admit that We have tangible
benefits to gain.
But in such circumstances some
body is sure to rise and say with
a great air of righteousness, And
would you sell this nations soul for
the hope of a few paltry dollars?"
And the answer to that is, mo, but
what possible bearing on the case
has your rhetorical question:"
The things chiefly involved in the
controversy seem to be our national
common sense and our national
idealism. I do not want to cumber
Russian Communism with a phrase
which is hardly in repute hereabouts
at the moment, but it must be adj
mitted that the Soviet effort is an
experiment noble in purpose.
1t would be silly to say that per-
Sonal ambition had disappeared en-
tirely within those borders, but Ger
tainly nobody in the leadership Of
Russia is trying to get rich at the
expense Of the nation.
n II II