The Dominion. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1918. THE MENACE OF THE FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1918. THE MENACE OF THE FUTURE

The menace to be seen in the East, in Russia, where bands of German schemers are at work trying to control the political and industrial.'life of the peoples, and seeking to'make-the, Slav races the helots of the Prussian military autocracy, is again brought into prominence in our cable news this morning. The Eastern question is ever with us, and there is a measure of truth in the statement tliat the war began in the East- and it will end in the East. During'the last'week'the eyes of the.world have been directed to the Hfe-and-death struggles of.tiio armies in -France, and probably little _ attention has been given to the disclosures made by the London Times regarding the German peril in the East, " "If," the Times correspondent said, "the Allies emerge from the war 'with 170 million Russians unrcstored to stability .or harmonising with our ideals, wc will have virtually sold our birthright for a mess of pottage. The Germans, who are working on a definite programme; will be left in possession of the control' of a vast asset for generations. Russia, broadly viewed, is the most important problem of the world torday.. Whatever Powers redeem her will control the world twenty years hence." The writer of this is no scaremonger, and his pregnant statement is worthy of analysis and exposition. Other writers have noted the German peril in Russia, and the Xinclccnlli Century and After for- March, in tlie •line' words 'of "its' opening 'article, says: "If this war is.won by the Allies in the. West, but leaves Gctt many astride of Eastern and SouthEastern Europe and with a free hand to exploit the' immeasurable natural resources and the vast manpower of Russia, then assuredly will Germany forge the fetters of future generations of mankind. Germany guiding and controlling the Pan-Turanian movement will lose us India, and the British Empire as a whole will either disintegrate or come under her political and economic domination."

I The story of the Russia oi the rcccnt revolution to very many people is a hopelessly tangled skein. To not ;i few an atlas <anil a vocabulary of parties would be. necessary to the understanding of Russia to-day. But it needs no very special knowledge to trace the movements of the German beast in Russia, and to see its power for evil iti the present and in the future. The Russian Revolutionary Government under 'PrinceLvoff was not a month old when the Bolshevist Party, headed, by Lenin and bribed by Germany, demanded a separate peace. This anarchist party, with Trotsky in a leading role, soon rose to,power and began its policy of hatred towards Britain and America and friendship towards Germany. They made at once Britain, France, America, and Japan the victims of a colossal robbery by repudiating the £1,500,000,000 of loans they owed these countries. Germany had lent no money to Russia, and she was not spoiled. While- a Prussian gang of schemers was thus' successfully at work with Bolshevists in Pctrograd in the early days of the revolution, another band of Austrians was at work in the Ukraine. The Austrian band had really been at work there for years, scheming to get the pconle to revolt against the Tsar, t-trike for independence, and be friendly to the Habsiiurgs. The Revolution became the Ukraine's day of opportunity. A National Republic was set up and the transference of the land to the peasants, an eight-hours day, and the Labour control of all industry were proclaimed. This, of course, meant civil war in Russia,' as it meant rebellion against Trotsky government, but this was pleasing to the Prussian autocracy, for the weaker the Russian nation be-came-the better they were pleased. Then camc round in January of this year the peace conferences at Brest Litovsk. Tim Central' Powers recognised the Ukraine Renublie, but Trotsky would not. The German peace terms were impossible to the Bolshevists, with their creed of international democracy, but the Ukraine made a separate peace, and thp commercial clauses of this peace open the door to the Central Powers into "the greatest granary in Europe." Such is Russia, of Iti-day as regards its Governments and political leaders. Prussia is dominant in Pctrograd, and Austria, and Prussia, are dominant in the Parliament of the Ukraine, at Kiev. And the Gorman octonus is seeking to grip the industrial and commercial worlds. But German political dominance is not everything. There arc endless millions of suffering people, sick of anarchy, waiting for a political redeemer, and that redeemer cannot be. the Teuton slave-driver with, .his rule of "blood and iron."

fho "Rolsliovists. liolpoel at first by tho gnlrl of Germany, and (hen enri.ched by plunder and payler money, havo sown to the wind and thfcy arc reaping tho whirlwind. In North-

em Russia, where they reign, the land produces little food, and the regions that produce food, "Southern Russia, the Ukraine, the Cossack .Federation, Siberia, and the Caiir casus, arc fighting-against Bolshevist rule." Nowhere now will the Russian peasant farmer sell his grain for worthless Bolshevik paper money. He wants clothes, boots, etc., and what he wants he cannot get! Northern Russia under the Bolshevist rule is doomed to famine and disease. The "Red Guards,'' whose -sword has been their support, will last only as long as they, can pay for them, which may not be long. '. The people of the Ukraine have nothing in common with Austria, though Austrian schemers, helped them °,o independence, and they will not part with their grain for anything less than the commodities they need, for neither paper money nor gold will clothe and house Iheni. The railway system is disorganised,- and only a small quantity of Ukraine grain has reached Germany. , The countless millions of 'Greater Russia very likely hate the Ten lon as niiicli as they do the Bolshevists, who have brought upon (.hem woe and ruin. The misery of these millions is the opportunity of Britain and hei Allies. The Mnelcnilh Century mid J fin- calls tor en active "British policy iu Russia.". A military mission of the Allies in Siberia of, say, 25,000 troops would, it is suggested, rally the Russians, sick of anarchy and of Potsdam scheming. Britain and her Allies, working through Vladivostok, could restore trade and stir the people to work, and gradually check Pan-Germanism . in the East, _ Self-interest is ii constraint to action by Britain, for our Oversea Empire is menaced by a Germanised Russia, which has already played the robber, by . repudiating her debts. But there are other motives. Bolshevism,: like. ■Kaiscrism, is an evil thing, and merits destruction. "J* !3 O rv owe to civilisation itself. For opinions, may alter, ■ creeds may rise and fall, but the moral laws are written on the tablets of eternity."