The Press. Saturday, March 16, 1918. Helpless Russia.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16162, 16 March 1918, Page 8

The Press. Saturday, March 16, 1918. Helpless Russia.

The Germans continue to do exactly as wish with Russia. What is happening there should surely bo sufficient to, show the world what a German peace means. It also shows what may happen to a country which is no longer "as a strong man armed, keeping Ma house," but which trusts to pacifist ideals as a sufficient shield and buckler to oppose to the brute force of its enemies. Mr Uoyd Georgo thought it necessary to address a word of warning on this subject to the Free Church Conference, among whom are many- well-meaning enthusiasts who still cling to the ideal of the ■ "brother'^.ho^ d of man >" and the settlement of all disputes by arbitration. Replying to a charge tUat the Government had not attached Efficient importance to

the proposal for .1 League of Nations, Mr Lloyd George declared that tho League would not be obtained by calling for it. The Bolsheviks thought that it could, and allowed their army to bo disorgarttscd, with tho result that they lost half of their own nation. There was no warmer advocate of the League of Nations than the Kaiser, but his idea was a League headed by Germany. TTnless the Allies' war aims were realised, a League of Nations wouid bo a sham, but if tho ideals were realised the League wouid be an cstab-

lishcd fact. AV(? think it well again to direct attcotion to this aspect of tho question, bcc.nise, if we are not mistaken, Germany is about to make greater efforts than over to seek a peace to suit her own aims. There are two or three straws which seem to show that the wind is blowing in this direction, One is tho specch of Mr Lloyd George to the Free Church Conference just quote:!. Another is the somowhat cryptic utterance of -Sir J. ComptonRickett, addressed to the same assembly. He said that "decisions of the utmost gravity, affccting the whole " future life of the Empire, would be " made in tho next week, or even in " the next f'.;w days. . . . The " decision between the Entente and the " c-nemy was hanging in the balance, " and a solution might como more " rapidly than they thought." .Sir J. Compton-Riclsett, who is iv prominent Wtsleyan. is a personal friend of Mr Lloyd George, and more weight is naturally attached to his oracular remarks 011 this account. A third '•straw'' consists in the speech made by ?.Ir Arthur Henderson, speaking at a "Women's Suffrage celebration at Queen's Hall, reported in our cable news to-day. He, too, said that the nation had now rcacho:l a very critical stage, and he then went to tho root of the niatt&r more directly than either of the other speakers had ventured to do. He said: — "It was possiblo for von Bulow, on behalf of the Central Powers to say: 'Wo are prepared to recogniso the status quo ante bellum, make considerable concessions in Alsace-Lor-raine, and adjust differences with regard to tho colonies, but wo must be entirely free to deal with Russia.' " Peace, for the Germans on these terms would be a glorious victo.y, and establish them on a safe vantage ground to make their next and, in all probability, successful war for the domination of tho world. With the vast mineral resources and food supplies of Russia practically at their disposal, the oil and food supplies of Roumania, and with their dream of Mittel-Europa, reaching out t:> India and the Enst, realised, tho Germans could indeed afford to make some concessions in the West, particularly to France. Such a "cynical peac2,'' 03 Mr Henderson rightly pointed out, would contain the seeds of future war, and he added that we must stand as Bint against deserting Russia. By what we cannot help regarding as a somewhat unfortunate slip of the tongue, Mr Lloyd George not long ago said that Russia's action might relieve the Allies of responsibility for her future. That Russia cannot now expect us to help her to acquire Constantinople goes without saying. It ia true she has failed us lamentably now that her affairs have fallen into the hands of men who are sither traitors or madmen, or a combination of both. But we cannot forjet the losses she has sustained in the :ommon cause, and it is the duty of tho Allies to do what they can to rescue her : rom the morass into which she has : allen. In this matter, it so happens, vhat is their duty is also very much ! jound up with their material interests. The London "Spectator," writing on January sth, said: "We cannot remain ' indifferent to what liappons to Russia, " because the great territorial aggran- ' disement which Germany contemplates " there would mean that she would have " a greater sinister power than before " to vex and harass tho world and hold "it tip to ransom." So far from ending German militarism, wo should help to establish it on an unassailable basis. Wo must. 6et our face as flint against nny such proposal. Whatever it costs, ive must wage this war with unflinching determination until wo have established the principles for which we took up arms. Even if it is left to the two Anglo-Saxon Powers to fight on until the ideals for which they entered the war are gained they ought to do so, and we believe thoy will not fail the cause of humanity and civilisation if it comes to the test.