University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Relations Political Science 1977 Alexander Gumberg and Soviet-American Relations: 1917–1933 James K. Libbey Eastern Kentucky University Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Thanks to the University of Kentucky Libraries and the University Press of Kentucky, this book is freely available to current faculty, students, and staff at the University of Kentucky. Find other University of Kentucky Books at uknowledge.uky.edu/upk. For more information, please contact UKnowledge at [email protected]. Recommended Citation Libbey, James K., "Alexander Gumberg and Soviet-American Relations: 1917–1933" (1977). International Relations. 13. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_political_science_international_relations/13 Alexander Gumberg & Soviet-American Relations This page intentionally left blank Alexander Gumberg & Soviet-American Relations 1917-1933 James K. Libbey The University Press of Kentucky ISBN: 978-0-8131-5338-4 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 77-73704 Copyright© 1977 by The University Press of Kentucky A statewide cooperative scholarly publishing agency serving Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University Editorial and Sales Offices: Lexington, Kentucky 40506 JOYCE This page intentionally left blank CONTENTSv Preface ix Introduction 1 1. The Russian-American 14 2. Ambassador without Portfolio 25 3. Red Litmus Paper 40 4. The Unobtrusive Publicist 55 5. Passing the Torch 70 6. Delegations and Commissions 87 7. Struggle for Recognition 102 8. Gumberg and Russian-American Trade 118 9. The Impresario 136 10. Recognition 165 Notes 181 Bibliographical Essay 211 Index 215 This page intentionally left blank PREFACE FROM THE AMERICAN viewpoint, the tragedy of Soviet-Amer­ ican relations may very well be not the tension that has existed between the United States and the Soviet Union but the use of polemics by overzealous historians. The 1917-1933 period, when relations seemed less important than they have been since Ameri­ ca's entry into the Second World War, has lent itself quite easily to ideologues who have used the cold war as a springboard for a study of relations between the two nations. The result has been a distortion of the record by an emphasis on three American deci­ sions: refusal to recognize Soviet Russia in 1917, intervention in 1918, and recognition of the Soviet Union in 1933. Scholars and dilettantes have focused upon these events to show America's at­ titude toward socialism, the influence American intervention had on the direction of the Russian Revolution, and the advantages or disadvantages realized by the United States in establishing dip­ lomatic relations with the ussR. The present study is undertaken to improve the historical perspective of Soviet-American relations in the period 1917-1933 through a recounting of the life of Alexander Gumberg. Without any desire or compulsion to reform the world, Gumberg strove to improve the climate of opinion between Russians and Americans. He did not desire to Americanize Russia or to Bolshevize America. In this characteristic he was unusual among those who sought to influence Soviet-American relations. He firmly believed that closer ties between the two countries would redound to their mutual x Preface benefit by assisting in the stabilization of international affairs and ensuring world peace. Of the three individuals most frequently mentioned as seeking to better Soviet-American relations in the 1920s-Raymond Robins, Senator William E. Borah, and Gumberg -only Gumberg devoted his life to this project. He influenced nearly all the principal events shared by America and Russia when official relations did not exist. A Russian emigre, Gumberg formed the key friendship of his life when he returned to his native land in 1917. He became an ad­ viser, translator, and confidant to Raymond Robins, at first a ma­ jor and then a colonel in charge of the American Red Cross in Russia. Through Robins, Gumberg gained entrance into the politi­ cal and financial leadership which exercised some influence over relations between the United States and Russia: William Boyce Thompson, Reeve Schley, Thomas Thacher, Dwight Morrow, Governor James Goodrich, and Senator Borah. Gumberg's associa­ tions with Wall Street and the hierarchy of the Republican party enabled him to exert his own subtle but persistent influence for improved relations. This influence existed on several and fre­ quently interrelated levels: public relations, politics, and business. Despite requests for speaking engagements, Gumberg shied away from the public forum. He preferred that others speak and write about Russia while he gave encouragement and advice and remained in the background. He did, however, become a general clearinghouse for articles and books on Russia. Gumberg's per­ sonal knowledge and his large collections of primary materials on Russia made him an invaluable source for many prominent au­ thors, including Upton Sinclair and Edward A. Ross. On intimate terms with Gumberg, the editorial staffs of both the Nation and the New Republic often sought his assistance with manuscripts on Rus­ sia; so did such institutions as the Foreign Policy Association. The least productive and most frustrating of Gumberg' s efforts was his attempt to persuade the several Republican administra­ tions to recognize the Soviet government. Throughout the 1920s, Gumberg acted as a one-man lobbyist. He provided material and advice to those, particularly Robins and Borah, who kept the rec­ ognition issue alive in the political arena. Many congressmen and Preface xi senators called on him for expert counsel or to use his Russian con­ nections. Many constituents of these same politicians had their questions and problems solved by Gumberg. His important politi­ cal friendships notwithstanding, Gumberg made no significant contribution to the actual negotiations leading to recognition in 1933. The close ties he formed with Republicans separated him from that Democratic administration which finally achieved recon­ ciliation with Russia. The most successful of Gumberg's endeavors occurred within the business community. Gumberg reorganized the cotton export trade with Russia as the American manager, 1923-1926, of the All-Russian Textile Syndicate. He served as the personal adviser to Reeve Schley, vice president of Chase National Bank, and their combined force enabled them to reinvigorate the American­ Russian Chamber of Commerce in 1926. As a director of the chamber, Gumberg became the driving force behind the organiza­ tion which sought to increase American business interest in Rus­ sian trade. His daily consultations with America's financial and in­ dustrial leaders established a more sympathetic body of opinion in regard to the Soviet experiment. Finally, Gumberg, a naturalized American citizen, retained close ties with the Soviet peoples and their leaders. His brother Veniamin remained in Russia to become vice president of the Chemical Syndicate. For a while Gumberg represented the Petro­ graci Telegraph Agency, the precursor to TASS, in America. He also worked for Alexander A. Yazikov, chairman of the Special Trade Delegation of the Far Eastern Republic. Later he aided Boris E. Skvirsky and the Russian (later, Soviet Union) Information Bureau. Gumberg helped sponsor the visits of numerous Russian dig­ nitaries to the United States and he assisted in cultural exchanges, such as the visit of the Russian author Boris Pilnyak. Thus he at­ tempted to improve Soviet Russia's knowledge and understanding of the United States as well as America's comprehension of Russia. That responsible individuals in both countries valued Gumberg's lifelong efforts can be illustrated in the period following recognition when he frequently exchanged visits with the Soviet ambassador and briefed the American ambassador to the ussR. xii Preface Gumberg did not seek to start a revolution, to change the world, or to alter the morality of man. He did quietly contribute to a better understanding between the country of his birth and the country of his livelihood. He became a conveyor belt, a link be­ tween the future superpowers when their normal ties had been broken. Gumberg facilitated unofficial relations between the United States and the ussR at a time when their governments lacked official means of communication. Although no one else can accept responsibility for my conclu­ sions, my study of Alexander Gumberg has been blessed with the aid of many individuals and institutions. The University of Ken­ tucky provided, through travel grants and a Dissertation Fellow­ ship, some of the money and time I required to accomplish the necessary research. My wife, Joyce, read the manuscript in draft form. It is my good fortune to possess such a patient, but persis­ tent, critic. Those scholars who joined her in this thankless, and sometimes dreary, task included Gene Forderhase, Eastern Ken­ tucky University; John Gaddis, Ohio University; and Mary Wilma Hargreaves, George Herring, Richard Lowitt, Robert Warth, Uni­ versity of Kentucky. Professor Herring consistently provided en­ couragement and generously shared his intense knowledge of dip­ lomatic history. Many other members of the