THE POWERS AND RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 8

THE POWERS AND RUSSIA

CONFERENCE INVITED

THE PRINCES ISLAND j INVITATION i; V The rccei'it cabled advices that tho At- J lies are taking steps to solve the 80l- j fchevist problem lends interest'to the fol- J iowinjv decision which was arrived at in ' Paris in January last.— r The President of the United States of ' America and the Prime Ministers and ! .I'ureicn Ministers of Hie.Allied Powers ' and the Japanese Representatives met and approved the proposal of President ' M'ilson. The single object the represen- J tatives of the Associated Powers have ' had in mind in their discussions of the ' course they should pursue with regard j to Russia lias been to help the Russian people, not to hinder them, or to interfere in any manner with their right to ' settle their own affairs in their own way. Thov regard tho Eussian people as their ' friends, not their enemii's, and are will- ! iiiu to help them in any way they aro willing to be helped. It is clear h> them ' that the troubles and distresses of the Russian people will steadily increase, hunger and privation of every kind become more and more acute, more and more widespread, and more and more impossible to relieve, unless order 'is restored and normal conditions of labour, t;ndo. and transportation are once more created; -and they are seeking somo way in which to assist the Russian people to establish order. They recognise the absolute right of tho Eussian people to direct their own affairs without dictation or direction of any kind from outside; they do not wish to exploit or make use of Bussia in any way. They recognise the Revolution without reservation, and will in no way and in no circumstance-; aid or give countenance to any attempt at a counter-Eevoliition. It is not their wish or purpose to favour or assist any one of tho organised groups now contending for the leadership and guidance of Bussia as against the others. Their sole and sincere purpose is to do 1 what they can io bring Russia peace and an opportunity to find her way out ,of her present troubles. Tho Associated Powers are now engaged in the solemn and responsible work of establishing the peace of Europe and of tho world, and they are keenly alive to the fact that Europe and tho world cannot be at peace if Russia is not. They recognise and accept it as their duty,- therefore, to serve Russia in this great matter as generously, • Uβ rnselfishly, as thoughtfully, and ungrudgingly as they would serve every other friend and ally, and they are ready to render this service in the way that is most acceptable to the Russian people. In this spirit and with this purpose they have taken tho following action:— They invite every organised group that is now exercising or attempting to exercise political authority or military iontrol anywhere in Siberia, or within the boundaries of European Russia, as they stood before the war just concluded (except in Finland), to send representatives, not exceeding threo representatives for each group, to the Princes Islands, Sea of Marmora, where they will be met by representatives of. tho Associated Powers, provided in the lnoantimo thoro is a truce of arms among tho parties invited, and that all armed forces anywhere sent or directed against any people or territory outside tho boundaries of European Russia as they stood before tho war or against Finland or against any peoplo or territory whoso autonomous action is in contemplation in the Fourteen Articles upon which the present peace negotiations are based, shall bo meanwhile withdrawn and aggieasive military action ceaso. These representatives are invited to confer with the representatives of the Associated Powers in the freest am! frankest, way'with a view to ascertaining tho wishes of all sections of the Russian peoplo and bringing about, if possible, some, understanding and agreement by which Russia may work out I .or own purposes and happy co-operative relations be established between hoipeoplo and the other peoples of the world. A prompt reply to this invitation is requested. Every facility for the journov of tho representatives, including transport across tho Black Sea, will be given l>y the Allies, and all parties toncernetl Wo expected to give-the same facilities. The representatives will lie expected at tho place appointed by J'ttbruary 15, 1919.