The Dominion MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1918. PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1918. PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA

—« It was reported a few days ago that the Russian Bolshoviki had appealed to tho Allies to open peace negotiations, but' there is no news that the Allies have accepted the invitation, and for obvious reasons they are not likely to. They are anxious, of course, that hostilities in Russia should be brought to an end, and that the work of reconstruction should proceed with all possible speed, and no doubt the measure of help they have, already afforded Russia will be liberally extended in the near, future. In assisting the Russian people to cast off the incubus of Bolshevism the Allies will at the same time be taking action that is very necessary in the interests of future peace. Russia is not at war with any of the Entente Powers or with the United States, but the Peace Conference will have no more important problem to deal with than that of reestablishing normal conditions and stable government in the former Empire of Tsars. Fortunately there is reason-to, believe that the problem will be considerably lightened within the next month or two. The downfall of Germany has cut off tho principal source from which the Bolsheviki derived means to carry on their campaign of murder and terrorism. ' Revelations made some time ago by the American Committee on Public Information demonstrated that Lenin, Trotsky, and their associates -were German agents, and that the Bolshevik coup d'etat was arranged and financed by Germany. It is a wellestablished fact, also, that German ex-prisoners constitute a very large proportion of the Bolshevik military forces. The point to which Germany's plans in Russia tended was concisely stated not long ago by Dβ. David Soskice, a wellknown writer on Russian affairs. "Her collaboration with.the Red Guards on all the Russian fronts," he observed, "makes it an easy matter for her at a given moment to pocket the Bolshevik leaders, and, if her calculations are not overset, to clear the field ■ for a Russian Monarchy under German control." Germany's plans, happily, have been overset. There are German forces in Russia still to be reckon.ed with, but the liberation 'of Poland and other States has the effect of isolating them from their own country, and it is likely that in these conditions their organisation and that of their Bolshevik associates will collapse. As to the state of Russian feeling, available evidence goes to show' that only opportunity and such assistance as the Allies, are now in a position to render freely arc needed to make a large proportion of the Russian people turn against tho Bolshevik traitors and all who share their lot. ' -,

Measured by what has been accomplished to date the prospects of Allied intervention on the scale that js now possible arc excellent. There is, of course, no question of invading Russia in strong force. It is held only by the Bolshoviki that Russia is at war. with the Allies. Such legally-constituted governments as exist in Russia-, notably in Siberia and in Murmansk,' are working in friendly co-operation with the Allies, and it should not be long before a similar basis of co-operation is established in the populous regions of • South Russia which the Allies are now in a position' to approach by way of the Black Sea,, The Allies have from the first refused to recognise the Bolshevik declaration as involving them in war with Russia. Their general attitude is a. refusal to admit that the Bolsheviki have any right to speak or act for that country. Britain some weeks ago intimated that at the first opportunity slmv would execute justice upon those persons in Russia responsible for outrages against Britons, but this was not in any sense a recognition of the Bolshevik "Government" or of a state of war. The warning was not addressed to agovernment, but to a gang of murderers and bandits masquerading as a government. The conditions of Allied intervention in Russia aro clearly defined. Under an agreement concluded in July between America, Britain, and France and thcMurraan Regional Council, the Allies undertook to afford economic and other assistance and to engage in military co-operation with Russian forces raised in the Murman region. It was expressly laid down that tho whole authority in the internal administration of the region should belong to the Murman Regional Council. Already the joint action mado possible by this agreement has had the effect of liberating an extensive area of Northern Russia, south of Archangel and tho Murraan Coast, from Bolshevik and German domination. A comprehensive statement of Allied aims in regard to Russia was made when limited forces were landed in Siberia, .■ which is now controlled almost everywhere by Russian loyalists and their Ozccho-Slovak allies. A declaration made by tho United States Government, with the approval of associated Allied Governments, rcatis in part: —

In taking this action (limited military intervention in Siberia) the Government of the United States wishes to announce to the people of Russia in the most public and solemn manner that it, contemplates no interference with the political sovereignty of Russia, no intervention in her internal affairs, not even in the local affairs of the limited ureas which her military force may be obliged to occupy, anil no impairment of her territorial integrity, either now or hereafter, but that what we are about to do has its singlo and only object the rendering of such aid as shall bo acceptable to the Hussion people themselves in their endeavour to repin control of their own affairs, their own territory, and their own destiny.

Even while Germany was in a position jto freely promote her schemes in Russia through the agency of the Bolsheviki, loyal forces were organising, openly or secretly, , practically all oyer thecountry. As yet the results arc chiefly evident in Siberia and in Murmansk, but in many other parts of Russia- political organisations absolutely hostile to the Bolsheviki exist, and arc biding their time. In a letter written in August M. Nicholas Tciuykovsky, the Socialist President of the Murman Regional Council, mentions that be-

fore going to Archangel he spent three months in Moscow co-operat-ing in the formation of a union of all the principal parties willing to work out the restoration of Russia, and to join in the effort to defeat the combined activities of the Ger-

mans and Bolsheviki. I\k coup d'clat at Archangel, he continues, "is but one step in a series of constructive efforts undertaken by the Union (of parties) all over tho country."

The worst of the terrorist period is over. Our labouring musses are changing, their mind. They have learned Inexperience that the immediate realisation of a Socialist State is an impossibility, however it may bo done by n lengthy process of gradual changes. They have learned that without a State organisation and power it is impossible to keep jip an organised social body or lo restore it to any henlthy life. Accordingly they have given up the Bolshevik cause and are ready to restore the local Zemstvos (county councils), the municipal and other institutions, and to abate their excessive demands and pretensions to exereiso political power through the Soviets. In short, they are prepared to adopt a democratic platform of election by universal suffrage, ami of social reform instead of revolution. The outlook for Russia is much brighter now than when these words were written. There are tremendous problems still to be faced, not the least of them arising from tho fact that a great part of tho country is threatened with famine, but the power of the German-Bolsbevik combination is undermined and the Allies are vastly better placed than they were to bring help to bear. A late indication of the changed conditions appears in the news that the Ukrainian" Government has been overthrown .by anti-Bolsheyik troops. This is of the highest importance. The news should mean, if it is authentic, that the Allies will be enabled to co-operate as freely with loyal forces in South Russia, as in Siberia and Murmansk.