The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-31
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES

] BY h.
MANY an American with red blood in his
WI yeSls and some respect for his countrys
traditions will feel little pride in reading the re-
cent American note to Soviet Russia on alleged
Red activities in the United States. This COM
munication viii cause alarm in many quarters
lest it means that our State Department is fol-
lowing in the wake Of Mr.. Hearst.
It was downright silly anyway to make our
recognition of Russia conditional upon the ces-
sation Of Russian propaganda in the United
States. We are strong independent nation. We
should have sufficient confidence in our institu-
tons to believe that they can withstand foreign
/ criticism. 1t vas an undignlfied confession OF
/ weakness and timidity which demanded any such
! concessions from the Russians when we con-
senteo to recognition. Whenever foreign criticism
] is inaccurate and unJuStlfied 1t Is bound ultl-
mately to fall flat and to collapse of its own
weakness. When it is sound, and justified, we
stand to profit by it.
Moreover, no country has gone further than
we have from the very beginning of our nation
al existence in expressing critical opinions rela-
tive to conditions in foreign countries. This is
veritably a part of our national historical ira
dition
During the American Revolution our Loyal
sts or Tories openly favored and aided the Tory
government in England. During the French
Revolution, large section of the American pop
uation ostentatiously espoused the cause Of the
/
dress and many of the phrases of French rad
icals. In the Revolutions of 1648, American SYM
pathies were Overwhelmingly on the side of the
Liberals and Revolutionists. Louis Koesuth was
rendered a series of ovations and triumphal re-
ceptions after he fled from the reactionaris in
Austria Hungary.
NTOST Americans rejoced in the Russian
WI Revolution in 1905 and made no secret of
their satisfaction over the inroads made in the
Russian syste moi oppression and tyranny. And
our enthusiasm for the Russian Revolution of
1917 was almost unrestrained We warmly ap
proved the Chinese Revolution in 1912 and the
establishment of Chinese Republic. During the
World War, we made the utmost use of propa-
gan0a IN the effort actually to overthrow the
imperial German government. In many cases
| Americans have operated on foreign SOIL giving
aid and comfort to foreign movements which
they believed to be in harmony with American
principles
In the light of all this, it would not be
strange if many regarded it as ignominious for
a powerful country to demand such pampering
of its sensibilities implied in the condi-
tions we imposed upon Russia in return for rec
ignition. And it will be noted that we did not,
on our side, agree to suppress anti-Russian prop
! uganda in the United States.
In the light of the veritable campaign of vi
| tuperatlon which has been carried on in this
country against Russia, especially in the last
! year, 1t was very unSpOrtSmanlike to bring up
! the matter at all Certainly what is sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander If we allow
Mr.. Hearst and others to go on with their rant
| 1ngs against Russia, we should certainly be able
to view with complacency an international con-
gress of COMMUNISTS meeting in Soviet Russia.
! FURTHERMORE, I am unable to discern any
Il real evidence that Russia has actually vio-
lated either the spirit or letter of its agreement
Russia did not, as pointed out in the Soviet
reply, even by implication, agree to abolish the
Third international, to suppress the Communist
Party in the United States, or to exclude its
members from Russia. Russia has allowed many
of the most reactionary Americans to visit it's
territory and to view the Russian system in ac-
! ton. Why should she keep out our Reds?
The incident which seems to have been the
ostenSible reason for the American note does
not appear to have been case of Russian propa-
ganda in this country at all. Rather, it seems to
have consisted in the boasts of American Com
muniStS in Moscow as to their achievements
here. For the most part, these boasts seem to
have little foundation in substantial fact. Even
if they were true no evidence has been adduced
to show that they were given aid and direction
by the Russian government.
If American Communism is to be suppressed,
it is the task and responsibility of the American
government and not the business of Soviet
Russia.
1t has been suggested in some quarters that
the real reason for the American note was the
failure of the Russians to reach a satisfactory
agreement with us relative to the Russian debts.
This may be too bad, but what about Great
Britain France and other countries which have
even violated the agreements they did make with
us as to debt settlement? And these countries
have not changed their form of government and
are not asked to pay the debts of former
regime which the present governments repudiate
root and branch.
1t is high time that we adopted foreign
policy based upon pride and elf-confdence.
DEuOIrCINC DPOCRESC