Evening star., 1935-08-28
Russia's Broken Pledge.

between President Roosevelt and Maxim
Litvinoff, Soviet commissar for foreign
affairs which resulted in the establish
ment of diplomatic relations between
the United States and Russia. Pledges
were given by Russia to meet the re-
quirements of this country in respect to
the settlement of financial claims and
the abstention by Russia from activities
seeking the overthrow of the present
American form of government. In one
Of the notes signed by M. Litvinoff, in
the name of the government of Russia
this pledge was given:
Not to permit the formation or resi-
dence on it's territory of any organiza-
ton or group-and to prevent the ac-
tivity on its territory Of any organiza-
tion or group, or of representatives or
officials of any organization or group
which has as an aim the overthrow Of,
or the bringing about by force OF a
change in, the political or social order
Of the whole or any part OF the United
States, its territories or possessions"
On the strength of this pledge the
United States recognized the government
of Russia. Last Sunday the American
Ambassador at Moscow handed to the
acting Soviet commiSSar for foreign af-
fairs of Russia a note which called at
tention to the activities, involving in
reference in the internal affairs of the
United States, which recently took place
in Russia in connection with the seventh
all-world congress of the Communist In
ternational and gave notice that the
Government Of the United States would
be lacking in candor if it failed to state
frankly that it anticipates the most
serious consequences If the government
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lies is unwilling or unable to take ap-
propriate measures to prevent further
acts in disregard of the solemn pledge
given by it to the Government of the
United States"
Yesterday M. Krestinsky, acting COM
missar for foreign affairs at Moscow,
replied to this note, disclaiming respon-
sibility for the actions OF the Third In
ternational and declining to accept the
protest Of this Government. He said:
"It is certainly not unknown to the
Government of the United States that
the government of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics cannot take upon
itself obligations of any kind with re-
gard to the Communist International"
On the contrary, it is certainly known
to the Government Of the United States
that the Third International is, in the
language of M. Ltvinoffs note of No.
vember Is, 1888, IAN organization or
group =" which has as an aim the
overthrow, or the preparation for the
overthrow Of, or the bringing about by
force of a change in the political or
social order" of the United States, along
with other countries.
The Russian reply to the American
note is precisely such as was to have
been expected, and was in fact expected,
when the pledge of November Is, 1888,
was given by Russia, and recognition
was granted on the basis of that pledge.
The government at Moscow must know
that the United States knows that the
Third International, the supreme body
of the Communist organization, Is in
effect the Russian government, through
the identity of its directing personnel
with the administrative organization Of
the U. s. 8. r. The pretense of lack Of
responsibility for the assemblage at Mos
COW of that body, with delegates from
this country who are known to be seek
Ing the overthrow of the American Gov
ernment by sabotage, the incitation of
armed strife and the perversion Of the
political ideals of the American people
is q distinct and deliberate breach Of
the pledge given November 16, 1888.
The case comes now to the point Of
the definition of those most serious
consequences" which the American Gov
ernment, through its Ambassador at
Moscow, said would result from failure
on the part Of Russia to redeem Its
pledge.