The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-31
Liberal Viewpoint
-nY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNEs

MANY an American with red blood in his
wi ve>4s and some respect for his c%ountrys
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 will 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 a strong independent nation. We
should have sufficient confidence IN our institu-
tions to believe that they can withstand foreign
criticism. 1t was an undlgnlfied 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 unJustlfled I. is bound ulti-
mately to fail 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
v~eritably a part Of our national historical ira
dition.
During the American Revolution our Loyal
lists, or Tories, openly favored and aided the Tory
government in England. During the French
Revolution, a large section of the American pop
ulation ostentatlously eSpOused the cause OF the
Revolutionists, even going so far as to adopt the
III - dlIQ 4Id1y " LlAC pm dOCO vi ~ AoA-
icals. IN the Revolutions Of 1848, 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.
MOST Americans rejoiced in the Russian
1V1 Revolution in 1905 and made no secret of
their satisfaction over the inroads made in the
Russian system of 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 a Chinese Republic. During the
World War, we made the utmost use of propa-
ganda 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 20 demand such pampering
Of its sensibilities as was 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
aganda 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, it was very unsportsmanlike to bring up
IN A4AalbO4 dJ d14s WlldU IN OduNC "
the goose is sauce for the gander. If we allow
Mr.. Hearst and others to go on with their rant
ings 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 its
territory and to view the Russian system in &C
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 a 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 we're 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.
It 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 a former
regime which the present governments repudiate
root and branch.
1t is high time that we adopted a foreign
policy based upon pride and self-confdence.
REHOUSING PROGRESS