This is why this talk about resuming trade with Russia through the mediation of cooperatives seems to us insincere, or at least unclear – it is more a move in a chess game than an open, direct proposal that would be immediately seized upon and implemented. Moreover, if the Supreme Council truly intends to lift the blockade, why does it not inform us of its intentions? We have received no official communications from Paris. The little that we know is based on newspaper reports intercepted by our radio.

The statesmen of Europe and the United States apparently do not understand that the present economic devastation in Russia is merely a part of world economic devastation. So long as the economic problem is viewed not from an international standpoint, but from the standpoint of individual nations or a group of nations, it will be impossible to resolve it. Without Russia, Europe will not be able to get back on its feet. And when Europe is exhausted, the position of America becomes critical. What is the use to America of its wealth if it cannot purchase with it what it needs? After all, America cannot eat or wear the gold that it has accumulated, is that not so? It will not be able to trade profitably with Europe – that is, to trade on the basis that represents real value for it – so long as Europe cannot provide it with the goods that America wants to receive in exchange for what it needs to sell. And Europe will not be able to provide it with these goods until it gets back on its feet economically.