The Russian Conference goes on. No one will pretend that
these negotiations are easy, and no one can confi- dently predict their success. But we cannot help deploring such deliberate attempts as that contained in the Times leader of Friday, the 4th, to break up the Conference before we have had any opportunity of judging its results. The Times' attitude to Russia is clearly based in the last resort on the idea that a loan would strengthen the Bolsheviks and prolong their rule. Even if this were unquestionably true, we doubt whether it would be wise not to put against it the great benefits to the English people that a revival of trade with Russia, as the Times readily admits, would bring. After all, it is surely the duty of the British Government to consider, first, the interests of its own people, rather than to decide on the form of government which best suits the Russians, But for ourselves, we doubt extremely whether closer relations with the Bolsheviks would, in fact, have the effect which the Times supposes. Indeed, we cannot help believing that they would have exactly the opposite effect. We are convinced that what we, of course, agree is a most desirable object, namely, that of ending the Bolshevik tyranny over Russia and seeing it replaced by a really Democratic Government, will be achieved in no other way than by closer relations with Russia, especially closer commercial relations. Communism is not a flower that will flourish in the light. It is only in the darkness of boycott and hatred that it will bloom. * * * *
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