To the Editor of the "Norrs-Cmixa Dany News"
A Sm,—Up, to now I have always felt a keen sympathy for the Rus-an emigres here, knowing something of the evil days upon which 50 many of them have fallen, usually through no fault of their own. I have contributed what I could to. their charities whenever I have visited Shanghai, and what is far more important I have publicized their plight in important newspapers and magazines in several countries. I have done this in the hope of creating public sympathy for them "which should implement itself practically, and there is some reason to believe the endeavours have not altogether failed, My sympathies, as well as any inchnation to do anything more along said lines, ceased entirely when I read in this mornings press of the meeting yesterday in which the Shanghai "white" Russians voted "to establish anti-Communist contacts with political organs in Japan, Germany and Italy for establishing a common front against Communism."
In other words, the Russians of Shanghai have decided to ally themselves to medieval despotism. It is barely possible they have made a mistake. Certainly they have learned no political lesson out of their woes. They are as undemocratic as ever.
However, I offer the local "whites" this, The democratic countries, America England and France, have been rather generous, rather sympathetic, rather hospitable to Russian emigres from the start. Especially America, Several hundred former chefs to the Czar are operating expensive and successful restaurant everywhere from Hollywood Boulevard to Second Avenue, New York, Innumerable former ladies-in-waiting to the Czarina, also sundry ex-princesses, ex-nieces of Grand Dukes, ex-mistresses of second cousins of the Czarewitch, and ex-premiere danseuses of the Royal Ballet are conducting beauty-parl-Ours, cosmetic factories, "art" dancing-schools, journalistic' careers, and private detective agencies in a thousand American cities and towns all the way from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. A certain measure of success, and general friendliness, has also met Russians in England and France. I know that from many personal contacts. And, though I may be uninformed, I do not seem to have heard much about "white"
Russians prospering in the totalitarlan countries, We are all aware that the "white" Russians, here in Shanghai as elsewhere, have developed a keen practical sense out of their difficulties and privations. It should have clarified their vision as to their own wisest Choice in the present conflict of political ideologies—if it could not lend significance to any other considerations, But possibly they expect the Fascist states to overthrow: the Soviet Republic end reseat the Russian monarchy, The idea reminds of the piquant observation of the socially-restored lady in Mr. Shaw's "Pygmahon."
Mano T, GREENE, Shanghai, Nov. 7.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.