Evening star., 1939-03-12

Moscow vacancy Joseph Davies, Ambassador
to Belgium last at Moscow but since May 1888 when
confirmed by the Senate the post
affairs in Moscow have been handled by charge dafares
Alexander Kirk capable veteran of years
ican diplomacy.
factor in Mr. Roosevets hesitation in picking Mr.
Davies successor anxiety to find the right fill
post which has proved somewhat of boomerang the State
Department.
The first envoy to Soviet Russia, William c. Bull who
figured in the preliminary steps toward recognition 1888
soured Moscow dissatisfaction with response
American protests in 1885 against activities of
International in this country He enjoys
Ambassador to France
Davies found life in the Soviet capital little too
unsoca and proearian He welcomed the shift the royal
surroundings of the Belgian Court.
In other capital than does the problem of
obtaining adequate and accurate information such
forbdding This essential function of advising the
Department regularly thoroughly gov
ernmental policies resolves itself in the of the half
hundred diplomatic posts into matter of frequent and
friendly social contact with heads and subordinate
officials
Artificial Barriers Set Up.
In the Union however it becomes master problem
Of breaking down rmountng artificial barriers puposey
all sides of the diplomatic its
ignorance of Soviet affairs Both Mr. Bul and Mr. Davies
had but interview with the who counts most in
Russia-Josef Stain Their association with high
cals such President Kalinn and Premier Molooff
limited to seman visits
capital where foreign representatives almost
Theoretically sealed against with of inorma
o both about internal developments and international
affairs the Ambassador will be asked to provide the
to questions which foreign Offices in Europe and
America alike.
What Rusa policy in the changing of European
politics and the Far East?
How strong is the Soviet in the air and land? What
is planning in naval expansion? How internally?
Could withstand the shock of with Germany Italy and
Japan?
the permanently renounced the world revou
o would take advantage of another among the
mperalstc powersGermany Italy, Great Britain, France
and the United sates-to foster Communist revolution
throughout the world?
In short, what will Russia do?
On the to these many other questions hang
policies along the Potomac well WHITEHALL the Quai
dOrsay, the Palazzo Venezia and the Wilhemstrasse
1t is significant that when Americas legislators were
anxiousy questioning Ambassadors Kennedy Butt and
Wilson in recent weeks threats in Europe there was
no such official to clarity Russias policies.
key Senhardts selection the Moscow post
lies therefore in this necessity to pierce the enigma OF the
Soviet There not in the of Germany Italy and
Japan, diplomatic issues to be settled with Russia
Relations might be carried amicab for quite while
longer they have been most of the past year. with only
charges daaires in Moscow and Washington except that
such relationship abnormal detracts from the prestige
OF both the United States and the Soviet great powers
Less than two months after Mr.. Davies confirmed
for the Belgian ambassadorshp and thus had rehnqsheo
his duties in Moscow the Soviet called home its Ambassador
Alexander Troyanovy Soviet affairs have since oee
in the hands of the Embassy counsellor Constantine A.
Oumansky.
Unlike Washington the Soviet whether he
be merely charge daaes ful-rank ambassador has
wide circle of official which 10 oraW
for information the diplomatic in Moscow Is enecuVeV
corraed and isolated from frequent touch with those VINO
really know what is going on in the Soviet Union.
Information Limited.
Perhaps the gravest handicap reluctance OF Rus
slams to have anything whatever to do with
foreigners This avoidance only of the dploatc coip
but newspapemen tourists well is general
during the last two by mysterious dsappeaances o