Great Britain and Russia I T has been announced that a
representative delega- tion of British industrialists is to visit. Moscow early in March. This is an extremely important step, which is bound to mark a decisive change in the relation- ship between Great Britain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. If the delegation reports that opportunities of doing profitable business in Russia. are wholly lacking, and that the Soviets are still in an impossible frame of mind, then we shall have to reconcile ourselves to the continued isolation of the largest and potentially the richest economic unit in the world, and settle down to trade, as best we can, on a basis which excludes, for some years at any rate, the markets of Russia from our purview.
If, on the other hand, the delegation brings back hopeful news, and, as is by no means improbable, pro- posals for a settlement of the outstanding economic problems between the two countries, then a renewed attempt at negotiations between London and Moscow will become inevitable, and this may well result in a general political and commercial agreement. We con- sider that the second .of the two alternatives is the more likely. If the Russians had not meant business they would hardly have extended an unofficial invitation to our industrialists, or afforded them the facilities which have already been placed at their disposal. Equally there is a determination on the British side to bring matters to a successful issue if it can be done. The obstacles are enormous, but by no means insuperable, and it may be said without undue optimism that the outlook, so far as Anglo-Russian relations are concerned, is more promising to-day than it has been for years past. For our part, we have never concealed our profound conviction that a satisfactory relationship between Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. is vital to the economic recovery and the peace of the Old World, and that such a relationship can ultimately be established on .a founda- tion of mutually beneficial trade.
It is important that the Soviet Governthent should realize the nature Of the delegation which is about to visit them. Its members are men of substance not of straw, and representative of practically every class of industry in this country. They are not to be trifled with. They will want to get straight down to hard facts, and they- will not be fobbed off with a lot of talk. But if they are satisfied with the conditions offered them, they are in a position to deliver the goods. Probably no mission has ever left these shores with so much industrial power mobilized behind it. The published names of the firms which have signified their intention of participating in the delegation are in themselves a sufficient guarantee of its authority, its integrity, and its weight. If it is in some ways unfortunate that the bankers, as such, are apparently not to be represented, the Russians should remember that the amount of capital and credit at the disposal of British industry is still adequate, even to their requirements.
It is equally important that the members of the dele- gation should regard it as axiomatic that Russia is now an Oriental country (the smear of western civilization was never very thick), and bear in mind the difficulties with which Stalin has to contend. He is governing, single-handed, a people who, judged by our standards, are naturally inefficient and feckless to an alinost incredible degree. He has to deal on the one hand with fanatical Communist politicians, and on the other with a stubborn peasantry ; with good " kidalcS " who arouse passionate resentment amongst their frailer brethren ; with bad " kulaks " who are mere money-lenders living on the back of the .agricultural community ; with an omnivorous and expanding bureaucracy ; and with an increasingly difficult economic situation—shortage of capital, growing unemployment, low wages, inadequate equipment, inadequate housing accommodation, inade- quate transport facilities. Stalin is narrow and prej.it- diced, and suspicious of foreigners in general and English- men in particular. He is a Man of the Machine. But he is also, as befits his name, a Man of Steel. Only by the exercise of remarkable qualities could he .haire attained, and retained against all combinations, the supreme position he now occupies. The British delega- tion will neither be "concerned with, nor interested in, Stalin's political opinions. He can hold what political viows he likes so long as he does not attempt to enforce them outside Russia. What they will want to know is whether he has been converted to the view that Russia's most urgent requirements are not world revolution and the internationalCommunist State, but textile machinery, agricultural machinery, tractors, factory equipment, motor transport, cement, herrings, rubber, electrical supplies, and—credit. These things he can have on terms which will secure definite and indisputable benefits to .both sides.
. On the political issue the less said at present the better.. We have already commented frequently on the fatuous anti-British propaganda pursued by the Soviet Government through its agency, the Third International. The sole effect of it is to poison the relations between London and Moscow, without doing the slightest intrinsic harm to us or good to them. And the incredible levity with which money was despatched in support of the General Strike in this country deserved and received nothing but the severest censure.
But it cannot be said that the handling of the. Russian question by the present Government has been altogether happy. The Arcos raid remains a monumental example of political imbecility.
Now an opportunity has been given to wipe out the past and start afresh on an altogether firmer basis which may never recur. And we conclude with a direct warning to His Majesty's Government. The electorate. of Great Britain to-day is more concerned with trade and unem- ployment than anything else. If they suspect that the Government, for purely party political purposes, is deli- berately standing in the way of a commercial agreement with Russia which would otherwise be feasible, then the Unionist Party will be given short shrift at the next election.
No one expects or desires that a representative of the Government should accompany the industrial delegation to Moscow. But that there is a widespread anxiety to see the existing breach between Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. healed up cannot be denied. When Mr. Robert Boothby recently advocated a renewed attempt on the part of business men to open up trade relations with Russia, the favourable response in the country, from all sections of public opinion, from. industry itself, and throughout the Press, was immediate and striking. Here are goods. There are markets crying out for them. It should not be beyond the wit of man to establish a connexion between the two.
. And we go so far as to say that if, as a result of this delegation, the wheels of Anglo-Russian trade begin to revolve once more ; and if the Government adopts at the_ outset an attitude of prudent encouragement, and by subsequent action acquires a measure of credit for the happier turn of events, then a Conservative majority at the next election is assured.
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