Evening star., 1939-06-25

The imminent departure for Moscow
Of Laurence A. Steinhardt, newly ap-
pointed United States Ambassador to
the Soviet Union, will mark the Begin
ming Of what might be called in current
political phraseology the Third New
Deal" in Russian American relations.
Its distinguishing characteristic, one
gathers from conversations with State
Department officials, will be realism.
Now, after five years of normal diplo-
matte relations, the State Department
and the Narkomindel have come to a
calm and cool understanding of each
other. The days of alternate roseate
expectations and sulking recriminations
are over.
Mr.. Steinhardt, 46, a lawyer and
fnancier by profession, although he has
been trained in the technique of diplo-
macy during the last five years, spent
as American Minister to Sweden and
later as Ambassador to Peru, is known
TO his colleagues as person of tact
and discrimination. He has no violent
antipathy toward Communism, but
neither has he ever had radical inclina-
tions. Rather, he is typical American
lawyer and businessman-to the Rus
slams, bourjou.
This is the type of ambassador most
approved by the Soviet foreign office,
whose recent chief, Maxim M. Litvinof,
once remarked: Save us from these
American udo-liberals!"
Mission Lacks Drama.
Mr.. Steinhardts mission, as outlined
in administration quarters, lacks any
element of drama. He has no intention
Immediately, at least-of reopening the
still unsettled question of Americas
$7OO.OOO,0O0 claim against Russia for
public and private debts. Nor will his
portfolio contain instructions to discuss
credits for Russia or any radical political
reorientation.
Short Of such headline making moves,
however, the new Ambassador will find
ample work awaiting him in Moscow.
He goes there at time when Russia
is standing at the crossroads of foreign
policy. The history of Europe during
the next century may we'll depend on
whether Joseph Stain decides to throw
the weight of his vast country on the
side Of Great Britain and France and
thus help create an effective bloc to
stop further German expansion, or
whether the Soviet will play lone
wolf game in world affairs.
Will the Kremlin-strange as it sounds
attempt to make some agreement with
Germany for joint rule over Eastern
Europe? Or will it attempt to close
Russia's European back door. boiling it
with strong defenses, and turn its face
toward Asia? The answer to these cues
tions will have an important effect on
American foreign policy, particularly in
the Far East. Mr.. Steinhardt has plenty
OF work cut out for him as a political
observer.
The new Ambassador will attempt, too,
to increase Soviet-American trade, now
showing a tendency to revive after sink
ing to low level during the depression
years. But this revival probably will not
be rapid or dramatic.
The note of businesslike realism on
which Mr.. Steinhardts mission begins
is in contrast to the first and second
new deals in Soviet-American rela-
tions.
Extravagant Predictions.
When, in 1888, after Is years of diplo-
matte aloofness, the United States re-
stored relations with Russia this new
found friendship was accompanied by
glamorous and unrealistic expectations
on both sides. Some American econo-
mists made extravagant predictions of a
resulting foreign trade of between $780,
0O0, 900 and $500 900, 900 annually. There
was loose talk, too, of binding political
alliance which would stifle Japanese pre-
tentions in the Pacific.
The Russians, on their side, antici-
pated loan of $100, 900 900 or more for
the purchase of American commodities.
The Soviet Union then was going
through the lean years" when credits
were sorely needed to buy heavy ma
chinery and other equipment for the
hundreds of factories being built under
the second "five-year plan" American
gold cleaned before Moscow like rising
sun.
President Roosevelt selected as his
first envoy to the newly recognized Sow
lets man with deep emotional at
tachment to Moscow When youth, at
the time of the Versailles conference,
"Bill" Bullitt had gone to the Bolshevik
state on secret mission for President
Wilson. He reported. in effect. that
the new order in Russia was founded
on rock and would last Political ex-
pediency made 1t necessary for the
statesmen at Versailles to deny and dis
credit Bullitt. Hurt and angry, he
burned with fierce desire to see the
Soviet Union a success" justifying his
judgment and predictions. Then, too,
John Reed, American hero of the Rus
sian revolution, was beloved friend of
Bullitt He had, also, other emotional
ties with Moscow.
But when william G. Bullitt, Is years
older than he had been at Versailles,
the heart and brain of the enemy coun-
try. It is just this threat which the
totalitarian powers are exploiting today
In their march of conquest. Thev have