GREAT BRITAIN . AND RUSSIA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,---Having read, with great* interest, the article entitled " Great Britain and Russia," in your issue of December 8th, and the letter from Mr. Oliver-in your issue of Decertiber 15th, may I be allowed to express my opinion on this matter through
your ? - • -
I would mention that I have just returned from my second visit to Russia this year.- I do not know that this will be a recommendation, from-Mr: Oliver's point of view, but he may agree that it-gives me the right. to answer him. Mr. Oliver says,." Our policy has been vacillatink and inconsistent. The policy of the.U.S., has tieep steady and-unswerving. America is respected by the ktissian Government :tor her steady consistency."
How very true !. If nothing else were needed to demonstrate the truth of Mr. Oliver's remarks, Russian =purchases from America would do this ! A well-known Russian remarked to me recently, when I asked why America received so many orders which might easily have been given to this country, to the great benefit of our unemployed, that although it was true that America had never recognized the Soviet Govern- ment, on the other hand she had been consistent in her relations with Russia, with the result that the Soviet Govern- ment knew exactly where they stood, and their negotiations with American business men were not constantly involved in political issues. Before many mouths have passed we shall see an American Ambassador in Moscow, large American loans.to Russia and a .great increase in American-Russian trade. This is where America's consistent policy is ,taking her ! Would that we had had such a policy, as Mr. Oliver observes ! Instead of that, we have treated Russia one day as a friend, the next day as our most bitter enemy, the day after as a prospective buyer of our goods, and the day. after that again as an election cry. Is it to be wondered at that Great Britain is the " unknown quantity " to Soviet Russia and her Government ?
Whom has this state of affairs benefited ? Has it, kept down unemployment and discontent at home—which is alone responsible for "Socialism, Anarchy, and Starvation:' Has it brought us larger orders from Russia ? Let the figures of last year's trade answer. Our exports to • Russia were £4,540,000, America's exports to Russia amounted to £18,150,000—a figure exceeding her pre-War exports to that country."
Perhaps Mr. Oliver will say that trade with a gang of bloody tyrants " is dishonest ? Then America must be dishonest, because during all these years she has endeavoured to increase her trade with this "gang." Mr. Oliver also says " It is exceedingly probable that, if England's policy had been as straightforward and consistent as America's, poor unhappy Russia would by now have been out -of her troubles."
The four months which I have spent in. Russia this year have convinced me that Russia is more likely to be out of her troubles in the happiest sense of the phrase than are we, while we maintain our policy of treating Russia as a political butt, and of antagonizing nearly every nation in the world.
Mr. Oliver, like so many other people, persists in calling Russia a "fraudulent bankrupt," though she has many times offered to settle her debts. Nothing stands still in this world. Isn't it time that we courteously suggested to Russia that we should like to.negotiate a new Treaty, covering all ques- tions-of debts, loans, fishing rights, mutual propaganda, &c., &c., instead of encouraging the coutinuanee of a state of affairs which will inevitably lead to disaster ?—I am, Sir, &c.
L. J. PARKER.
Walter House, Bedford Street, W.C. 2.
Previous page
