VERY PLAIN TALK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2862, 24 March 1925, Page 4

VERY PLAIN TALK.

AMERICA AX n SOVIET RUSSIA

Whilst limny politicians in England have talked abstract sentiment on Ilu* subject of recognition of the Bolshevik rule in Russia, we find the American Government has spoken plain, downright common sen--c on the ground of principle. The Secretary of State (Mr Bainbridge) in 1920 spoke officially as follows: —-

“It is no) possible for the Government of the United States to recognise the present rulers of Russia as a government with which the relations common to friendly governments can he maintained. This ’conviction lias nothing to do with any particular political or social structure which the Russian people iitcnisolvos may see lit to embrace. 1 1 tests upon a wholly different set of facts. These fuels, which none disputes, have convinced the Gov-, eminent of the United States, agivinsl ils will, that the existing regime in Russia is based upon the negation of every principle of honour ami good faith, and every usage and con vent ion underlying the whole structure of international law.

.. Upon numerous oecnsions the responsible spokesmen of this power, and jls official agencies, have declared (hut if is their understanding that the very existence of Bolshevism in Russia, the maintenance of their own rule, depends and must continue to depend, upon the neeiMTeiieo of revolutions in all other LVUUiit civilised lint ions, incliuling* the United Stales which will overthrow and destroy their governments and set up Bolshevist rule in their stead.

fn the view of the American Government, there cannot lie any common ground upon which it can stand with a Rower whose conceptions of interna I ional relations are so entirely alien io its own, so utterly'repugnant to its moral sense. We cannot recognise, hold official iclations with, or give friendly reception to the agents of a Government which is determined and hound to conspire against'our institutions; whose’diplomats will be the agitators of dangerous revolt; whose spokesmen say that they sign agreements with no intention of keeping them.”

THE FURTHER STAND TAKEN. In 1.923 the Secretary of State (Mr C. E. Hughes, said: —- “Wliat is most serious is that there is conclusive evidence that those in control at Moscow have not given up their original purpose of destroying existing governments wherever they can do so throughout the world. Their efforts in this direction have.recently been lessened in intensity only by the reduction of the reduction of the cash resources at their disposal. “While the spirit of destruction ul home and abroad remains unalteied the (|.uestion of recognition by our Government of the authorities at Moscow cannot be determined by nu re economic considerations or by lln establishment in some degree of. ,-i more prosperous condition, which of course, wc should be glad to note or simply by a consideration of the probable si ability of ling regime in ijUcst ion. There cannot be inlcrconrse among nations any more limn among individuals, except upon n general assumption of good faith.“ (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).