RUSSIAN MENTALITY.
The mentality of Russia, even including Ministers themselves, is extraordinarily interesting and is, .perhaPs, only to be coMprehended if we remember that we are dealing with a country which is a century or two behind our own in the matter of education and civilization. At first sight, for example, it is almost unthinkable that the Soviet Government should imagine that at one and the same time it can repudiate its external obligations and yet seek to attract new capital. And, of course, it is absurd, as Soviet Russia will have to find out. On the other hand, it has to be remembered that we are dealing with a party which for many years previous to the revolution- regarded the rulers of Russia, who borrowed from abroad as enemies of the people ' whose acts must be repudiated at the first opportunity. Moreover, followers of the revolution have been taught those doctrines daily and, therefore, absurd as it may seem, Soviet authorities apparently make a distinction between an acknowledgment of past debts and an " arrangement " whereby it may suit the interests of Russia to make payments to foreign creditors. Unfortunately, however, for the chances of acceptance of this logic by the foreign creditor, we know that such promises to pay arc always linked with the clear understanding that the creditors must first give. Russia a fresh loan. .
Previous page
