The Times News

NEWSPAPERS' OPINIONS
RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
The Third International of Moscow is still headed by Stalin, Kalinin, Molotov and other Soviet government officials, and the Communist Party of the United States is still a section of the Communist International. It announces a more vigorous drive to overthrow the United States government.
Therefore, Mr. Roosevelt's guarantees from Soviet Russia are as usual worthless. The Council will demand that Congress withhold confirmation of an American ambassador to Russia, refuse to appropriate funds for expenses of an embassy and consulates in Russia, and refuse to make loans or credits of American money to the U. S. S. R. until a new and thorough investigation of Moscow's hand in our internal affairs is made.
—National Patriotic Council, Washington, D. C.
The Russian government is utterly insolvent. Japan, Germany and Italy are stuck because they loaned Russia money. Russia's credit is dead.
—Senator David Reed, Pennsylvania (Rep.).
The Soviet anti-religious policy is not restricted to Russia, but is part of a world-wide plan, and American recognition will consolidate the strength of the Russian government. Personally, I cannot help but feel that in our recognition and dealing with Russia we are selling our future prospects for peace for a mess of porridge.
—Rev. George P. T. Sargent, St. Bartholomew's Protestant Episcopal Church, New York City.
The paramount objection to recognition is, of course, that the Soviet Union is an enemy state, sponsoring through the Third International, strikes, riots, sabotage and revolutionary activities in the United States by its agents here, with the avowed purpose of overthrowing our government by force and violence.
—American Alliance, Washington, D. C.
In recognizing Soviet Russia, we are not only recognizing a government that would destroy religion, but one which would destroy what remains of our democracy. If any further dole be decreed to this tottering edifice, by all means let it be given direct to our suffering people rather than to Russia.
—Senator H. D. Hatfield (Rep.).
If the United States lends Russia a large amount of money to finance trade, I am opposed to recognition. In that case Russia would get the goods and we would get nothing except a piece of paper. The taxpayers eventually would pay the bill.
—Senator Kean (Rep.).
No one familiar with the communist movement takes their promises regarding activities in this country with any degree of trust. The admitted purpose of the Communist International of Moscow is the overthrow of all non-communist governments by force and violence and the establishment of a world Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
—Edward Hayes, National Commander, The American Legion, November 25.
The establishment in this country of numerous communist consulates in our industrial cities will not only inspire and encourage American communists to renew activities, but will afford an opportunity for organized revolutionary leadership. The communists are the most skillful propagandists in the world and they have evidently succeeded in selling a gigantic gold brick to American business men. Of course, every nation in the world will buy from us, if we will foot the bill.
—Congressman Hamilton Fish, Jr., November 18, 1933.
There is in the Litvinoff agreement (of recognition) no promise to repudiate the communist philosophy, no promise to repudiate the doctrine that it is a communist obligation to deceive the rest of the world, no promise to repudiate the Third International, no promise to cease doing all the things that have made communism the enemy of the rest of the world. It is clearly evident that regardless of promises given and pledges made, Soviet Russia is as determined as ever to create internal strife within our nation and to foment world civil revolution.
—Matthew Woll, vice-president, American Federation of Labor, December 2, 1933.
Recognition has cast a moral stain on the United States.
—Rev. Rufus Weaver, pastor, First Baptist Church, Washington, D. C.
This new condition of things turns in complete favor of bolshevism, because it will dare everything. * * * they (the Soviets) are finally victorious in winning recognition and honor from those very nations which condemned Russia's government. Morally and logically no other revolutionary system received from its enemies such a formidable lever.
—Observatore Romano (official Vatican publication).
I think we have gone so far beyond Russia that I am amused Russia is willing to recognize us.
—Senator Carter Glass (Dem.).