Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY MARCH 19th, 1920. THE MENACE OF BOLSHEVISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY MARCH 19th, 1920. THE MENACE OF BOLSHEVISM.

Exactly what dangers to the outside world are implied in the state of affairs reached in 'Russia it is impossible to say] with confidence. Manifestly, however, the Bolsheviki are now the power to be reckoned with from the military standpoint, despite the fact that their armies consist largely of unwilling conscripts, and are not maintained without free re course to the methods of terrorism in exacting labour and supplies from the Russian population. The Bolshevists are formidable in their enterprising development of a corroding propaganda which is concentrated with forethought on the weakest elements in war-weary nations and on backward races in Central Asia and the Middle East. Though they are as far from carrying a genuine message to the masses of Asia as to the people of advanced democracies, suggestive evidence is available that in Asia the Bolsheviki have found a receptive soil for their propaganda. The menace thus offered to India, has yet to be measured, but some related dangers are regarded as the worst and most serious raised by the late turn of events in Russia. Bolshevik activities in Asia, facilitated not only by ignorance but by religious fanaticism, are certainly giving rise to urgent and perplexing problems. But in addition the possibility is raised that the Red armies, now that the Russian anti-Bol-hevik forces are eliminated, may turn against Poland and other small States on their west. Completely as halfhearted intervention in Russia has failed, it is self-evident that if the Allies with-hold adequate support from these States they will be inviting the indefinite spread of Bolshevism over Europe. If the tide of Bolshevism cannot he stemmed on the Polish frontiers and on the frontiers of other States t° the north and south, there will be so much the poorer prospects of stemming it further west. Presumably it will hardly be necessary to raise this eoiv sideration. The Allies are bound .to safeguard tho integrity and independence of tlie nations liberated in the war, and it is not to bo believed that they will allow the security of those States to 'be violated by the terrorists to whom Russia owes her martyrdom. The problems thus raised are all the more difficult, however, since it is a vital matter to prevent Germany taking advantage of the condition to which Russia is reduced.