The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1917. RUSSIA'S LIBERTY IN THE BALANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1917. RUSSIA'S LIBERTY IN THE BALANCE.

The news that has lately been reaching us from .Russia is such as to cause the gravest anxiety. At an hour when the armies of Britain and France are engaged in sanguinary battle for the freedom and civilisation of the race, our Russian ally, in place of rendering the great assistance which we anticipated, is being rent asunder by internal troubles which seem to paralyse military operations. It is the pacifists who, assisted by German propagandists, are .it the source of the mischief, and the whole energies of the Provisional Government appear to be devoted to tho task .if bringing the extremists to reason instead of in vigorously prosecuting the war. Britain, Australia, and even New Zealand have their qtiota of fanatical extremists so that our sympathies should be with the Russian authorities, for they are heavily handicapped in consequence of tho new order of Government arising from the revolution. There is every evidence that the members of the new Government are keenly desirous of doing all in Russia's power to help the Allies to achieve victory. We have, however, to bear in mind tliftt the army has been badly treated, and the men wlw compose its ranks are extremely likely to be intoxicated with the idea of their newly acquired freedom. They cannot be expected to weigh and balance the fine points of the war, and have even gone the length of fraternising with the enemy in the first flush of their exuberant delight at emancipation. That is, perhaps, only natural under the circumstances, but it needi not lessen our faith in the ultimate victory of common sense. Among the Committee of Wovkers' and Soldiers' delegates are many able and sincere men, including M. Kerenski, a Duma deputy and leader of the workers, who flias accepted the office of Minister of Justice, and Professor Paul Miliukoft, the Foreign Minister. It was the task of these two patriots to convince the Workers' and Soldiers' Council of their folly in persisting in the demand for an immediate peace and the abandonment of territorial annexation, and further, to enthuse them in supporting a vigorous war policy on the ground that in the defeat of the enemy rested not only the hope of peace for Russia but a world peace. How ardently these two great political leaders have been working has been manifested by their public utterances, the most recent of which shows that they have placed before the people Russia's position its true light and bearing. The grave warning given by M. Kerenski emphasised the tremendous danger of Russia:

"It may be," he said, "that the time is near when it will be impossible for us to provide you with tlio bread and ammunition you need. This will not be tlie Government's fault. Russia may play a decisive role in the world's history, but organisation and patience are necessary. Surely Russia is not a nation of rebellious slaves. . . .

There is no such thing as a Russian front; there is only a general allied front. If the desperateness of the situation is not realised, our dream of liberty will be thrown back for decades, and wo may be drowned in blood. We have tasted freedom and are becoming intoxicated. It is now that wo need the greatest sobriety and discipline."

Impassioned, thrilling words of wisdom ajul patriotism like these should be engraved on the hearts of the people. The battle cry of M. Miliukoff ivas equally inspiring: Tlie Provisional Government would never strike Russia's name off the list of Allies. He did not fear for 'himself. but he feared for Russia. The Government would never consent to a separate peace.

The Government of Russia is now in wise hands, but it is woefully hampered by the misguided Council of Workers who are inclined to exercise powers as autocratic as those of the ex-Czar. The military Governor of Petrograd has resigned sooner than submit to their do-

mauds. The War Minister lias resigned owing to tho conditions affecting Government, authority over the army, and because lie refuses to "share the grave crime that w being committed against Russia." The Provisional Government has pledged itself to the Allies to carry tho war through, to victory and make no separate peace, and we believe that is their determination. Meanwhile time presses and Russia is impotent', thus throwing the full 'weight of the conflict on the West front If Russia had been able to strike and had commenced an offensive similar to that of last summer the Germans could not have put up such a defence as the*'are now offering on the West front. Much as we rejoiced over tiie attainment of freedom by the rlussians, we'cannot but view their present plight with grave apprehension for their future, and unless a timely change takes place Russia will not only prove a traitor to the Allies, 'but will sound the knell of all her hopes and aspirations. It is sincerely to 'be hoped that wisdom will prevail and that th» extremists will recognise the danger of their present attitude before it is too late. It is unthinkable that the glorious destiny which awaits the Russian people should be wrecked, and the cause of the Allies engandered by a freedom-intoxicated section of the community. Russia's liberty is trembling in the balance.

(Since the above was writteh the situation appears to have improved, the Soldiers', and Workers' Council having at length realised the gravity of the position, and eome to the sensible conclusion to help instead of hindering the prose' cution of the war).