The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1917. THE OUTLOOK IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3040, 29 March 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1917. THE OUTLOOK IN RUSSIA

iltiCH of the recent news regarding Russia has been of a reassuring character but the danger has not wholly disappeared that the agitation of fanatical extremists may hamper and impede the process of reorganisation which must proceed apace if the Russian people are to profit as they should by the great victory they have won over tbi "dark forces", .of reaction and pror Germanism. The first demand of the situation in which the Russian people find themselves plaoed is not that an experimental solution 6hould be as speedily as possible applied i to the constitutional and related questions which the revolution has opened. Common sense suggests instead that these 'questions would bo wisely postponed until it is possible to obtain a free and deliborate expression of the will of the whole people, and that all parties should unite meantime in prosecuting the war with the utmost possible vigour. For Russia, as for her Allies, victory in the war is the first essontial to her future as a . democratic nation and to in any way neglect the war for the sake of indulging in revolutionary political I upheavals would be a policy little i better than suicidal. As a matter of detail an attempt to immediately establish a Republican Government in Russia might .quite conceivably result in splitting the forces which at present support the revolution. Some authorities are of opinion that a limited monarchy, on the British plan, will best meet the ruling sontiraonb of the country. But in any case, to say that it would bo wiso to postpone a settlement of the constitutional questions by which Russia is faced does not involve tho projudgment of these questions. Tho .contention reals afc bottom iison ilie-

obvious consideration that an attempt to deal forthwith with the larger questions which the revolution has raised would necessarily distract tho attention ni the people and Government fco a very serious estent from the conduct of the ,\var." The disorganisation produced in this way would, of course, bo much more senoua in Russia than in a country possessed of political institutions at a nioro advanced stage of development. . It is hardly too much to say that the new constitution oi Russia will have to bo built irom the ground, and as much in order that the work may be well done as that it may not interfere with the conduct of the war, it should moat certainly be postponed until the war is over. Meantime is is obvious that.any attempt by extremist sections to force the pace and go further than tho general sense of the people approves will make distinctly in the interests of Germany. Pro-German agents were active in,the earliest hours of the revolution attempting to foment sectional strife among tho revolutionaries, and it may be assumed that they have not desisted from their efforts.

Precisely what importance attachos_ to sectional and extremist agitation in Russia at the present timo it is impossible to say at thi3 distance. The message to-day showing how tha Government is hampered by the interference of the Council of Workmen and Soldiers' Delegates is only ono of a number more or less , directly bearing on the I matter whicti havo come through I d * T ™S tho last few clays, and some ot the others put a more hopeful ; aspect upon tho position. It is most promising of all that leaders iiko I-kofkssor Mihukoff and ' M. AERENSKi take a decidedly optimistic view. M. Keßenski, the briliiant young lawyer, who holds tho portfolio of Justice in the Provisional Government, was quoted rci cently a,s stating that the situation, t though still serious, had passed the crisis. There is, of course, much ( to set against the danger that sectional agitation may impair unity and good order in Russia, and temporarily weaken her effort in the war. The circumstances of the hour make a demand upon the patriotism of tho people which is likely to outweigh many smaller considerations. It may be, added that tho leaders of the revolution aro well aware of its attendant dangers, and, to judgo by such reports as have come through, are appealing to the people on right lines. For instanco, the first blow bad hardly been etrucfc ia Petrograd before M. Keeenski was on his feet in the Duma denouncing a pro-German plot to promote sectional strife, and throw tho forces of reform into disarray by tho issue of an order, purporting to be signed by Labourites and soldiers, calling on the troops to ignore their officers and the authority of the Duma. Ho followed this up by a stirring appeal to organised workmen and the people to sot patriotism above all otner considerations. "Comrades," he said, "in entering tho Provisional Government, I remain a Republican. I must lean for help on the people's will. May I trust you as I trust myself 1 I call you to organisation and discipline." That appeal struck the keynote of the_ whole , situation. It is by the ability or otherwise ;of , the Russian people tp submit to organisation and discipline that tho S rave issues now at stake will be otermined. There aro other countries in which tho samo appeal might bo made not less appropriately than in Russia, but in the very near future .Russia will afford the world a striking object-lesson either ■of tho benefits that' result from organisation and discipline, using these terms in thoir noblest Bonse, or of tho_ penalties that aro visited upon their neglect.