REDEEMING RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 4

REDEEMING RUSSIA

Some of the later reports dealing with events in Russia are distinctly hopeful in tone, and hold out some prospect of an early termination of the nightmare Bolshevik regime. To-day, for instance, it is stated that the Russian Provisional Government at Omsk has informed the Dutch Government that it accepts responsibility in connection with all liabilities of the Russian Treasury. This assurance is, of course, above all important as an indication of returning order in Russia, it implies that those who tender it are confident that the days of anarchy in Russia are drawing to an end. The Government referred to is the Siberian Government, which was formed in the early part of this year. At first depending largely upon the support of Gzccho-S.uvak divisions, and latterly assisted by Allied contingents landed at Vladivostok, it set itself to establish order in Siberia, and in pursuing this aim seems to have achieved ■noteworthy success. When it was formed the Siberian Government consisted exclusively of Socialists, but in a declaration addressed to the Allied Powers in July it announced that it considered the representation of all classes of the country in the higher organs of the State absolutely essential, and that immediate steps were being taken to that end. As a beginning several middle-class representatives were added to the Ministry. The Socialism of the original members of the Siberian Government is clearly distinguished from the Bolshevik policy of a destructive dictatorship. In "the words of an authority it is "an evolutionary Socialism to which many English democrats would not hesitate to lend their names." In March last the Siberian Government defined its objects as—

(1) The establishment of order based on law, guaranteeing inviolability of person and property. (2) Struggle against the Bolsheviki in the name of the restoration of the lawful power of the All-Eussian Constituent Assembly. (3) Autonomous Siberia, to form integral part of a Federated Republic of Russia.

(4) The convocation of an All-Siberian Constituent Assembly. (5) An active- etruggle in union with tlie Allies against the Brest Litovsk Peace, with the object of finally attaining a universal democratic peace. (6) Restoration of friendly relations with the Allied Powers on the basis of the treaties and agreements which existed before tho Bolshevik coup d'etat. (7) Resistance by all means to the German penetration of Russian territory. (8) Organisation of supplies to the populatioii of Siberia, with all necessities for life and work.

Already some of these objects have been attained. . As occasional reports have shown the Governmenthas been more or less seriously embarrassed at times by detail defections and by attempts to challenge its authority in particular areas. Available information indicates, however, that all such attempts havo been frustrated. The success with which the Siberian Government has established its authority is , indicated in the scale of its military preparations. Partly, by calling for volunteers, but in great part by a compulsory mobilisation, it has raised an army of approximately half a million men, which was expected in October to be shortly ready for tho field. This army is'distinct from the Czecho-Sloyak forces and from tho other Allied contingents now operating in Siberia. Even if military strength were the only factor to be taken into account the patriotic forces in Russia wquld_ probably be well placed by this time to overthrow the Bolsheviki. The latter have to reckon not only with the Siberian forces but with a considerable army which was organised by General Alexieff, and is located in the Don district, and also with the Russian and Allied forces which are co-operating in Northern European Russia. Reports transmitted during the last day or two have credited 'ue Bolsheviki with an army of about a quarter pf a. million men, supported by strong reserves. It has been said also that although Germany under the armistice terms agreed to withdraw all troops from Russia, Gorman generals and other officers arc still staffing the Bolshevik armies, and busily preparing for an active campaign. As affairs arc shaping in western Europe, however, Lenin and his gang will be apt to find .German support a rotten reed to •loan, upon. While the forces of liberation in Russia are gathering head, whatever hold the Bolsheviki formerly had upon a section of the population is rapidly weakening. According to Mr. Arno Dosch Fleurot, who escaped from Russia a month or_ two ago, the success of tlie Bolshevik regime was due mainly to the fact that it promised peace to the country, while its predecessors were for continuing the war. Over ninety per cent, of the people arc, against them, he adds, but they maintain their power by making the peasant and workman believe that the primary object of the counter-revolutionaries and the Allied Powers wlio support them is, by overthrowing Bolshevism, to plunge the country again into war. "The peasant and workman will submit to anything rather than run the risk of being sent back to the front to suffer the hardships and privations which he had to endure during the war under the Empire." This, no doubt, contains a' largo measure of truth, although the success of the Siberian mobilisation and of similar measures in somo other parts of Russia has demonstrated that a not inconsiderable part of the population is quite prepared to face civil war in order to end the horrors of Bolshevik rule. In any case the fiction upon which the power of the Bolsheviki was largely based is now thoroughly exploited. As it becomes more and more widely known that the Bolshevik regime represents tho only serious obstacle to the restoration of peaceful conditions, its power, no doubt, will wither away rapidly, and jt will be Icfb quite incapable of seriously resisting such attacks as are in prospect. It is not in. question that powerful forces hostile to the Bolsheviki exist and are developing in various .parts of Russia., nor that they arc more or less effectively in touch with ono another through the agency of the Union for the Regeneration of Russia. The point now to bo determined is how soon they arc capable of unitedly bringing their weight to bear.