THE OUTER WORLD AND THE SOVIETS 279
The attitude of another Slav Balkan state, Bulgaria, differs
from that of Yugoslavia and rather resembles that of Czecho-
slovakia and Roumania. This also applies to Hungary, which,
despite its objection to Bolshevik principles, proceeded to con-
clude a trade agreement with Soviet Russia even before the
Little Entente. Hopes as to the result of such co-operation are
entertained at Budapest no less than at Prague; in this respect
there is not so much opposition as competition between
Hungary and the two Little Entente states. Everywhere hopes
of successful collaboration with Moscow are entertained.
I will touch briefly on the attitude of the so-called neutral
states—Switzerland, Holland and the Scandinavian countries—
with regard to Soviet Russia so far as the famine is concerned.
With the exception of Switzerland and, to a certain extent, of
Holland, these states hold the view that everything must be done
to maintain friendly economic and political relations with
Moscow and to avoid anything which might lead to complica-
tions. This applies especially to the question of the famine, a
tender spot for Moscow; it is perhaps best illustrated by Dr.
Mowinckers change of attitude in this connection. It is hoped
above all to improve business by trade with Russia. Switzerland
is an exception in this respect. When its delegate, M. Giuseppe
Motta, spoke on the question of admitting the Soviet Union to
the League of Nations, he was practically the only man to insist
upon the principles of the League. His speech met with universal
applause. He ceased for the moment to be a Swiss delegate and
became the mouthpiece of the world's conscience. This is
the only explanation why the delegates, who next day had to
vote for the admission of Soviet Russia, gave him a spon-
taneous ovation.
The position of the Vatican is entirely different from that
of any other state. It is a power whose influence is not based
on land, population or armed forces, but only on the moral
authority which the Holy See enjoys in the world in general
and more especially among hundreds of millions of faithfid