The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-28
(Bv Staff Writer)

(By Stair Wr1Ler)
WASHINGTON. - The United
States s'recognized" the Union OF
Socialist Soviet Republics, other
wise Russia, as a legitimate ma
ton, on Nov. Is, 1888. There are
a great many people in high pla-
ces in Washington who wish that
we had never established diplo-
matte relations with the Com
munist government, but who
don't see any way to take it
back, short of practically declar-
ing war on Russia.
Such nations as the Neither
lands, Switzerland, Yugo-Slavia
and Portugal who constantly re-
fused to take Russia seriously,
are in a better position than is
this country. For the act of for
mally breaking off diplomatic re-
lations with any nation is always
a prelude to war, and we don't
want to go to war, formally with
Russia or any other country.
The League of Nations has ex-
PEELED Russia because its attack
on Finland gives the lie to all Of
the Russian protestants of peace
full intentions toward the rest of
the world. The Federal Govern
ment in Washington is doing all
that can be done short of war to
help Finland.
A government subsidiary the
Export-Import Bank, has lent 10
million dollars to Finland to en-
able that country to buy what
ever it needs from this country
or anywhere else, except nipple
ments of war.
The American Red Cross which
is quasi-government institution
with the President of the United
States as its president ex-officio,
is acting as an agency to trans
NIT supplies of every kind to
Finland. Former President Hoov-
er is heading a volunteer, unof-
fetal committee to raise funds to
assist Finland.
I'm The Dog House"
Very definitely, Russia is Gin
the dog-house" so far as official
Washington is concerned. The
American Ambassador, Mr..
Steinhart, is still in Moscow, or
was at last reports, and Mr. Ou-
mansky, the Russian Ambassador
still occupies the magnificent pa
lace which is Russia's embassy in
Washington. But nobody goes to
Mr.. Oumansky's parties any
more, not even the young enthu-
siasts who sold" President
Roosevelt on the idea of recog-
nizing the Communist govern
ment of Russia.
It would be putting it too
strongly to say that anybody in
important Federal Government
circles is an cut-an-out Commu-
mist in the sense of being a mem
Der of the Communist Party, but
it is undeniable that many of
them, filled with the spirit of So
cial uplift, believed that Russia
had found the answer to the trou-
bles of the under-dog by its
highly-publicized scheme of put
ting all the workers into co-ope-
rative units and taking all the
land and wealth away from those
who had it.
Inte1lectuaIs Quieting Down
Any suggestion that perhaps
the stories to the contrary which
leaked out of Russia were not
quite true used to be met with
jibs and sneers by the earnest
young intellectuals some of
whom had the ear of people in
very high places. Now, whatever
their real beliefs, they are sing
ing small, in the face of the po-
pular wave of indignation over
Russia's conduct, first in making
an alliance with Hitler, who
stands for all that Communists
profess to hate, and now in
cracking down en- a little nation
hardly a tenth its size, a nation,
moreover, which has won the I'M
grudging respect of everybody.
The Russo-Finnish situation
has a definite bearing on the &C
Invites of the Dies Committee of
the House of Representatives, the
official title of which is ''The
Committee to Investigate IN
American Activities in the Uni
ted States" The Dies Committee
has been hot on the trail of Com
munists.
There has been no suggestion
that anybody who wants to be
Communist is not at liberty to be