The one thing the Russians desire to-day above everything else is that their Soviet government should be recognized by the English Government. is, considering the rapidly improving conditions under the present administration, is sure to come in the near future, and the long-sighted thing would be to recognize them now, for if we wat until the other big nations decide to take this course we naturally would not get the same good feeling and good treatment in return. Ona thing they are determined on is to smash any attempt to interfere in the control'of their country by their own government im their own way.
On questioning them about the old regime debts their reply 1s that they do not consider them their debts. Any liabilities incurred by themselves will scrupulously fulfilled; it would, they say, be suicide to do otherwise.
The methods of the Cheka, they admit, have been very cruel, but, it is affirmed, in no other way could they have overthrown the White army, whose atrocities were just as great as those committed by the Red army. The White army campaign is held to be mainly responsible for the famine. Whether this is true or not-of what took place during the time of the fighting, from all appearances there is very little terrorism left in Russia to-day.
In short, the Russians do not want any more bloodshed: they are ambitious to build) up their country, they desire commercial relations: with other countries, particularly with England. Above all they look for a speedy recogni: tion of their Government by the English Government.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.