28 
0 
4 
“When are we going to act rationally with regard to Russia? 
One might hazard the guess that when the interests of those who 
want to sell and lend to Russia become as influential as the interests 
which want Russia’s debt paid, the change will come. But there 
is another factor than the immediately commercial. The revolution 
has occurred; it will not be undone. The Russian people accept 
the result. No one really thinks Russia would be better off if it 
would go back to czars, or that the world would be better off. But 
there is still a great deal of fear that, if we recognize a soviet govern- 
ment, folks over here may go bolshevik. That fear lacks the sav- 
ing sense of humor; things got pretty bad before Russia revolted. 
Unless we mean to let things get pretty bad, we need not fear 
communist. 
“The French revolution was worse than the Russian revolu- 
tion has been. The resulting form of government, a republic, was 
overthrown and overthrown again, but it is in good standing today 
with the nations of the world. Reading from our own past, we 
know that our own future will see us on good terms with Russia. 
Meanwhile, how much profited is the world because we undertake 
an attitude of aloofness and coercion, because we turn back gold 
which we say is stolen while we pay out gold for oil that must be 
equally stolen? Is there not some common sense reason and a 
regard for the future of civilization in asking whether it is not time 
to adopt a more helpful attitude toward Riissia 
New York World, March 8, 1928 
SPURNING RUSSIAN GOLD 
“After two weeks of deliberation the Treasury Department 
has decided that the $5,000,000 in gold sent to New York by the 
Russian Government shall not be permitted to pollute our national 
stock of money. The gold was sent here to pay for goods which 
the Soviet Government intends to buy. We are glad to sell cotton, 
locomotives, motor-cars, farm machinery and other goods to Russia. 
Payment so far has been prompt, and our trade has been growing. 
In our sales to Russia last year we were surpassed only by Germany, 
ind 23 per cent. of the Russian imports came from the United 
tates. 
“Yet never have we been paid with tainted gold. We have 
been quite willing to take bills of exchange and even gold itself if 
It has first been purified by passing from Russia through the hands