UDC

94(73)

Authors

Rusinov Aleksandr Alekseevich
Postgraduate Student, Faculty of History, P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University (Yaroslavl, Russia)
e-mail: aleksand-rusinov@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article considers controversy in the press between the supporters of the American Relief Administration (ARA) and some of the independent relief organizations. The analysis of American press shows that, much due to the political situation at that time, the fight against Russian famine of 1921 triggered the competition between various relief organizations which represented antagonistic political forces. These antagonistic organizations tried to discredit their opponents and get the support of the general public. Their dispute was based on mutual distrust resulting from the tensions between Soviet Russia and the “capitalist world”. American communists openly doubted the humanitarian purposes of ARA as they considered this organization to be counter-revolutionary and suspected it of trying to undertake anti-Soviet activity in Russia. Their opponents, in turn, claimed that American relief should be distributed by reputable American organizations. They did not trust Bolsheviks and bitterly criticized those organizations that handed over the collected funds directly to the Soviet government or related institutions (such as the Russian Red Cross). They advised benefactors to cooperate with American organizations, which, they believed, would ensure the donations ending up in proper hands.

Keywords

Russian famine of 1921, American Relief Administration, Friends of Soviet Russia, American press, Herbert Hoover

References

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