AMERICA AND RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 9

AMERICA AND RUSSIA.

NO RECOGNITION YET.

SOVIET THREATS MUST CEASE

GOOD FAITH TO BE PROVED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 5.9 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WASHINGTON, March 21. Addressing 40 delegates of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, who came to urge the recognition of the Russian Soviet Government, Mr. C. E. Hushes, Secretary of State, said that the Soviet Government must cease to threaten the world with destructive propaganda, and there must be good faith and recognition of obligations on a sound basis of international intercourse before the United States could recognise Soviet Russia. Mr. Hughes quoted Soviet leaders to the effect that the Russian revolution was merely the prelude to a world revolution. " I wish," he declared, " that I might believe that such efforts have been abandoned. Our Government, after the first revolution, loaned 187,000,000 dollars to the Kerensky Government. What did the Soviet authorities do? By their decree of 1918 they annulled foreign loans. The United States is not a harsh creditor, but indulgence is one thing and repudiation another." Adverting to* recent changes in Russia's economic laws, which some deemed sufficient to justify recognition of the Soviet Government, Mr. Hughes admitted that they were more adequate to create a condition which would support trade and industry in Russia. To indicate that the United States was indifferent to the character and form of the Russian Government, Mr. Hughes said "Not only do we recognise the right of the Russian people to develop their own institutions, but that any interference therein would be futile. The salvation of Russia cannot be contrived outside and injected. Russia's only hope lies in Russian action.