To the Editor of the "Nonra-Cums Dai NEWS"
Sm,—In your editorial of Oct. 5, you dealt with the "action of Mr. Litvinov, who had refused fo vote! for the assignment by the Nansen Committee in Geneva of $190,000 for the relief of those Russian emigrants who had lost their jobs and possessions owing to the Sino-Jai conflict in Shanghai.
The number of such emigrants is reaching, as estimated, 2,600. Circumstances in which Russian emigrants find fheniselves now are really deplorable. a Those who had suffered to such extent deserve most sincere sympathies.
But you go much further. You not "only sympathize with these people, but do not spare words in order fo are rendering great services to the Shanghai concessioners "in forces of the Settlement and the French Concession."
"You feel it is only logical that the help to Russian emigrants in Shanghai should be "strongly supported by the representatives of France and Great Britain."
The care of these powers about the, Russian emigrants in Shanghai have produced a good effect upon the situation of Ruesten emigrants serving with the S.V.C. and the police forces. But there is still a question—why. should Mr. Litvinov support such a view.
As, according to the procedure, this question needed- a unanimous. decision, the vote of Mr. Litvinov sounded as a vote; you therefore put all responsibility for the Committee's failure in assisting Russian destitute emigrants on Mr, Litvinov's shoulders. You find it possible to reproach the Soviet representative for his nonadherence to. the laws of "decency and hurtanity" and declare that Mr. Litvinov showed "so contemptible a vindietiviness."
"We would be glad to consider all these heated arguments as mere expressions of most idealistic views. But, we mast not forget that the whole of the affair has another side.
Your conclusions and attacks on Mr. Litvinov are based on the belief that Russian emigrants are not en—gagéd in political activity. Ail their activities against USSR are in your eyes limited by "academic discussions.
Here we must point out that such attacks of Russian. emigrants as the attack of a group: of people armed with bombs upon the USSR Consulate in Tientsin arid the seizure of safes could scarcely be considered as mere "academic. discussions." grant: are gradually refusing all "Bolldgal, nativities and reconsiderxiwty admit that the emi-
ing their attitude towards their native land. But there is still no doubt that some ardent spirits who heading 4 the emigrants have not stopped their/adtive struggle against their. country?
It is true that many of these emigrants are serving with the defence forces of the International Settlement and French Concession: but, it "should also be noted, that there are also emigrants who are taking part. in Japanese activities against Chu The leaders of the Shanghai emigrants are closely connected. with the emigrants of "Manchoukuo." There is even a publication which is issuing papers in Harbin, Tientsin ana Shanghai.
Your own paper reports USSR trials involving a number of spies, former members of the emigrant colony in Shanghai, who had entered on Soviet territory with definite purposes.
Everybody knows that there is a group of Russian emigrants who are much far for being pro-Chinese; this fact had been already mentioned by the local Chinese press, Now, how could Mr. Litvinov in such circumstances allow himself to be misguided by "human principles" recommended by your journal.
Of course he could not allow 't.
Only most inattentive consideration of Russian affairs could produce such an ill-founded editorial.
There is no secret even for Russian emigrants that in case if the League of Nations had assigned some funds for the relief of Russian emigrants in Shanghai, these funds would fall into the hands of certain emigrants leaders and would be spent according to the latter's plans for purely political purposes.
Now, according to you, it-is up to the local organisations to take care of destitute Russian: emigrants, in conformity with principles of humanity, As for the Russian emigrants themselves, we must advise them to reconsider their attitude towards their unresponsible leaders, if they do not want that such deplorable facts as the refusal of the Nansen Committee, would be repeated again, VsEvoLop Ivanov.
Shanghai, Oct. 13.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.