KOLCHAK'S POLICY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 5

KOLCHAK'S POLICY

A SPEECH AT OMSK

THE LAND PROBLEM

Admiral Kolchol., in the course of a. jpeech delivered recently to Zemstvo representatives at Omsk, said: "Tho first and most important duty of the Government is. to fight Bolshevism until it is completely destroyed. It is therefore imperative on the Government to organise the army that is indispensable for this purpose. But sinoe the maintenance of tho army depends on the proper organisation of homo affairs, the Government has also to solve complicated problems of internal administration. It may be that these problems are not always solved ins rapidly and as satisfactorily as the occasion demands. But it must not bo forgotten under what conditions tho present Government is compelled to undertake an almost complete reorganisation of public life, lacking as it docs the necessary transport, capital, and personnel. Moreover, it must not be forgotten that'the General demoralisation has affected nearly all classes of society. The measures now being undertaken are in any case provisional, just as .is the Government of Which I nai the head. _ "In tho course of my journey aJoiw the front and my conversations with tho local authorities I was able to convince myself that tho Government has worked in close contact witli the people on the spot and has given attention to the smallest requirements of the population. I repeat that neither my Government nor myself can copceivo of U' possibility of working apait from the local government bodies and the various public organisations. "I pais to that complicated question which is of the greatest importance for Russia—namely, the land question., • The two years of revolution have implanted in me tho firm conviction that the t'and question cannot be left in its former condition, but must be reviewed aiid phased on new principles. It is not within our competence definitely to establish thoso principles; that is a matter for the future National Constituent Assem'bly. Tho present Government can only solvo the question practically as occasion arises. My Government regards it as an indisputable fact that small peasant proprietorship is ttie base of the country's prosperity, andi tho-Government will aid it at tho expense of the uaige owners. The peasant class, which constitutes 85 per cent, of the who'.e population, has a particular claim on the solicitude of tho Government, and the Government must oreato forms of organisation for this class in accordance with the peasants' will. But I mufit reiterate that all these measures are of a temporary character."I declare to you frankly and sincerely that tho aim of Government which I ropresent is to invite the various partes to establish peace in the State and to give to the country, so sorely tried by tho revolution, order, rjs;ht and law, and to secure for tho Russian peopie an opportunity, without violence from any party, freely to dcckre its wiM through a Constituent Assembly. "If Providence permits us thus to complete our work I shall consider that I have carried out my duty to my country to the end."