Evening star., 1939-12-17

President Roosevelt and Secretary of
= State Hull something more to think
about on the question of ito be or not
to be" on speaking terms with Soviet
Russia.
They already are studying seriously
the advisability of breaking off relations
with the Red regime as a rebuke for
its attack on Finland and its action in
the City of Flint case
In the midst of this study, the grand
jury has indicted several alleged agents
Of Moscow on charges of violating the
law requiring agents of foreign prin-
cipals to register with the State De-
partment.
The Justice Departments action in
taking the case to the grand jury indi-
Gates it thinks it at last has proof of
the oft-heard charges that Communist
propaganda is being distributed in this
country at the direction of some one in
Russia, if not the Soviet government
itself.
Moscow's Pledge in Question.
Such proof in a United States court
record would establish clearly that So
Wet Russia has not lived up to its pledge
to refrain from interfering in any man
ner in the internal affairs of the United
States" and to prevent activities on its
territory aiming to spread Communism
to the United States.
This would have especial significance
IN view of blunt warning served on
the Soviet in 1885 that strict fulfllment
Of its non-interference pledge was con-
sidered by this Government as "an es-
sentlal prerequisite to the maintenance
. OF normal and friendly relations"
Proof of continued violation of that
pledge in the face of such an emphatic
warning obviously would be sufficient
reason in itself for breaking off rela-
tlons with Russia, if the administration
considered such action would be to our
best interests.
1t would have increased importance
now because of the widespread agita-
:. ton, in and out of Congress, for hay
ing nothing more to do with Moscow,
and because of the still ranking Off
cial Indignation over the City of Flint
case.
Actions Still Unexplained,
Russia never has explained satisfac-
torily its action in thwarting American
Ambassador Laurence A. Steinhardt's
efforts to talk with the American cap
tain Of the City of Flint when the vessel
was held at the Soviet Arctic port of
Murmansk, nor its apparent disregard
OF international law in not keeping the
German prize crew interned and re-
leasing the ship to its American crew.
The captured City of Flint was taken
into Murmansk on October %, with the
initial excuse that it did not have navi-
cation charts adequate for taking it to
German port The Russians at first in
/" termed the German prize crew, then re-
leased 1t when the excuse was put for
ward that the ships machinery needed
repalr-necessity for repairs being a le-
gltimate reason under international law
Tor taking captured ship into a neutral
port. The City of Flint finally was re-
leased to its American crew and its prize
crew interned by Norway when the
Germans anchored it in Norwegian
waters in violation of international law
principles.
The State Department contends that,
as Norway later did, sit was the clear
duty of the Soviet government to turn
the City of Flint over to the American
crew. and has accused Russia of with
holding adequate cooperation" in get
ting facts about the landing at MUIR
mansk.
Some Advantages to Relations.
These grievances are being weighed bv
the President and Secretary of State
against the advantages of maintaining
direct contact with the Moscow govern
ment. There is some advantage in hav-
Ing an Ambassador in Moscow to do what
he can in looking out for American in
terests there, to collect information and
act as channel of communication. if
nothing else.
If we broke off diplomatic relations,
the United States and Russia would be
In position something like that of two
neighbors who refused to speak to each
other, with all its sometimes awkward
complications. AS in personal relations,
too, nations grievances against an
other can pile up to point where no
further interest can be served by con-
tinuing on speaking terms
Faced by mounting grievances against
Russia, the President and his foreign
policy advisers must decide whether it
would be to our best interests to continue
to recognize and deal with the Soviet
government or to express our indigna-
ton by having nothing further to do
with tan action some contend would
be like cutting off our nose to spite
our face"
" The seriousness with which Mr..
Roosevelt is contemplating the posi-
bility of severing relations was indicated
on December S, when he told press
conference that there was no news on
the subject then but he did not know
- about the future-things were happening
all the time.
Court Action Might Be Decisive.
One of those happenings may well be
the local court action. If Communist
propaganda agents in this country
should be proved to be violating the
registration law, the case necessarily
would involve evidence of foreign con-
nections.
The act requires that every agent Of
foreign principal" shall file with the
State Department registration state