The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-20
American
Diplomacy

American among the trained
Diplomacy agents of foreign ma
lions. True, they
never laughed openly or in loud guf-
faw at the international practices of
the United States but it Is a we'll
known fact that American methods
were always mentioned somewhat in
a spirit of mirth. And well they might
be. The American government with
its system Of constantly changing its
foreign emissaries has had few out
standing diplomats and never has kept
those few outstanding individuals on
the Job very long under any circum-
stances. The condition Of American
diplomatic capacity is shown no better
than by the latest debacle-the Rus
sian recognition case. AS usual, the
American government got licked on the
diplomatic field. 1t may reassert itself
yet by breaking off relations with the
Russian Soviet government but it is
uncertain at this>writing whether that
can be done with safety.
What am trying to say is that in
according recognition to the Soviets,
American statesmen were not clever
enough to guard against the more
shrewd and better trained negotiators
sent here by Dictator Stain. The re-
suit is that our protests about Soviet
communistic propaganda in the United
States were rejected, tossed bodily out
of the window with an ejaculation that
the objection had no basis.
Let us go back to the original nego-
tiations, "the events leading up to the
tragedy" as it were. 1t will be remem-
bered that in 1888, President Roosevelt
invited the Russian government to send
a commission here for discussion of
relations, or lack of them, between
Moscow and Washington. He told the
Russians that he wanted to be good
neighbor to them and wanted them to
be good neighbcr to us. He saw no
insurmountable problem or obstacle to
recognition of the existing government
of all the Russias; the government was
functioning and it was entitled to be
regarded as sovereign power. He
proposed, therefore, that consideration
be given to establishment of formal
relations between the two powers.
Maxim Litvinoff, Soviet official
corresponding to our secretary of
state, appeared in Washington and ne
gotiations for recognition were open.
IT was decided early in those con-
versations that the war debt of the
Czarist government to the United
States should be set aside and set
Element worked out after the two ma
lions had reached an agreement on
other phases of international relation
ships. The Soviet always has dis
claimed any obligation in connection
with the debt contracted by Car Mich
olas during the World war and the
United States has had nothing to show
for the several hundred millions ad-
vanced to the Car except some /. o.
US.
The proceedings developed numerous
bitches but each was ironed out in
turn and in series
Numerous of munications
Hifches exchanged between
Mr.. Roosevelt and M.
Litvincff, the various pledges and
promises usual between nations were
made. Included in these pledges was
one which since has become the bug
bear of a controversy and which, If
American recognition is withdrawn,
will be the crux of the incident.
Almost constantly since the Soviet
system overthrow the Car and de-
stroyed all vestiges of the monarchial
government in Russia, the communist
party of Russia has been engaged in
world propaganda. World revolution
is its aim. 1t proposes and constantly
fights for overthrow of the system
which enables individuals to make a
profit; which enables individuals to
earn money of their own and to save
and invest or spend that money as they
choose. Common ownership Of every
thing is the objective and government
by the acknowledgements de-
manded.
NJ. Litvinoff pledged his government
to curb such activities in the United
States But that pledge was a year
ago. 1t seems to have been forgotten.
Communistic propaganda has gone on
and continues to go on in this country
on broad scale. The efforts were so
bold that eventually our Department
of State could not overlook it. After
mulling over the records for weeks,
Secretary Hull recommended 20 the
President that Washington call the at
tention of the Soviet to its pledge Mr..
Hulrs recommendation lay in a White
House pigeon-hole for some weeks and
it was not until the Communist Inter-
rationale met in Russia and fiery
speeches criticizing the United States
and advising revolution were made.
This was the straw that broke the
cameIs back. Mr.. Roosevelt gave his
approval to Mr. Hull's proposal for a
protest. 1t was made and promptly re-
jected, as have mentioned above.
The Soviet foreign Office rejected
A. ha khok H.