The Press Tuesday, July 16, 1918. Help for Russia.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16265, 16 July 1918, Page 6

The Press Tuesday, July 16, 1918. Help for Russia.

There will b© a general feeling of relief and satisfaction on account of the news we publish this morning as to the action of the Allies in regard to Russia. At last something like definite intervention is reported. A largo Allied, .force has been landed on tho Murman coast, and this, it is stated, "represents an effort "to reorganise Russia, assist the coun- " ter-revolutionaries and tho Czechoslovaks to overthrow the Bolsheviks, ■"and checkmate Germany's extensive " annexation plans." The European Allies, it is indicated, will send supplies through the ice-free ports of Murman, while it is expected that Japanese and American supplies will be sent through Yladivostock, which iB now in possession of the Czecho-Slovaks, who defeated the Bolsheviks and disarmed the Russian warships in the harbour. The need of' intervention, unless Germany is to be allowed to win the .war, has been apparent for some time. The simple Russian, believm-.. that Germany was sincere in the profession of "peace " without 'annexation, without indemni"ties, and with self-determination," threw away his sword, as Mr Lloyd George put it in a. recent speech, and then entered the Poace Conference unarmed. We all know what happened. "The terrified' pact of Brest-Litovsk, " and the frightened Russian was glad " to leave the Conference when stripped "of the fairest provinces of his\Em"pi re." Mr Lloyd George then went

on to say :■ — " "Make no mistake. We are dealing with a ruthless Prussian despotism ■ that is out' for plunder and pillage, and loot and power. That is not the whole story. Even that humiliating treaty was not respected. It is one of tho most cynical stories in'the his--tory of Prussian perfidy. They are , now, after signing the treaty, marching over that treaty through Russia, pillaging, stealing, plundering, annexing lands, . corn, fleets, mines, anything thoy want. Treaties restrain her as little to-day as they did in the days of Belgium." If Germany were allowed to wreak- her will on Russia she would win the war, whatever reparation and restitution she promised to make, elsewhere. It was, therefore, imperatively necessary for j- the Allies to come to the rescue, but the right time for doing so*had to be carefully chosen. It -was obvious that no effectivo intervention, could take place unless it was desired by a. considerable body of the Russians themselves, and* unless, in President Wilson's phrase, there was some, party in Russia able and willing to found "an ordered and "etable government of free men," with "liberty and ordered peace." It looks ns if those conditions were now in course , ©f fulfilment." The remarkable effort of the Czechoslovaks encourages the belief t'hat, with assistance from the Allies, a strong military resistance to the Germans can be organised. The Central Committer of the Cadet Party nearly two months ago declared themselves in favour of a policy of fidelity to the Allioa and of opposition to any movof • ment "direct or. indirect," for calling . in the Germans to establish law and "•authority. Even the most ignorant peasants must now begin to • roalise the [ 1 :. -Msitj of the Bolshevik. promises, and ■k/; the landowilorß, commercial classes, and fllleducated Russians with, anything to

lose must long for some change bringing with it the promise of settled government and peace.