The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1917.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1917.

THE POSITION IN RUSSIA. The greatest anxiety has been felt regarding the trend of events in Russia, and not without cause. Russia's part in the Allies' cause is so important that the continued unsatisfactory nature of the position is becoming intolerable. That it is due to German machinations is

:.--:'.:.'.?.. lv.it that does not improve matters. What is wanted is a direct, explicit and authoritative pronouncement of the course Russia intends to take, but the difficulty is in obtaining such a statement, by reason of the fact that there are at present several parties who claim to control Russian policy. It was rumored quite recently that Japan had informed Russia she would invade Eastern Siberia if Russia abandoned the Allies' cause. The rumor was denied officially, but it has a bearing on subsequent statements emanating from Italy and the United States. It is stated that the Italian mission to America notified that a despatch was to be sent to Russia, demanding an explicit statement as to Russia's future stand in the war. That is exactly what all the other Allies 6hould demand, and then they would know where they stood. The Allies are quite willing to revise the terms of the alliance so far as they relate to war aims, but imch. is the conflict of authority in Russia that it would seem difficult to obtain a near approach to a workable understanding. America considers that Japan should prevent a Rus-so-Gerrcan alliance, and it is this view that lends color to Japan's alleged threat to invade Eastern Siberia if Russia falls a prey to German wiles. Regarded as a whole, the position would seem to be that the Allies will no longer, be trifled with, and that Russia must be made to decide one way or the other, Meanwhile events are moving rapidly at Petrograd and elsewhere in the Russian Empire, andd the more recent developments seem to indicate that the Government is feeling its invidious and impotent position keenly, and there are not wanting signs which point to a firmer grip being taken in the control of affairs. The action taken in dealing with l evolutionary soldiers is greatly to be commended. The time for laxity has ?one by, and resort must be had to strict discipline: That, and that only, will convince the soldiers the Government is in earnest, and the more rigid the discipline becomes the greater wilt be the respect of the men for the authorities. The one great question Russia is called upon to decide promptly is whether the peace party shall prevail or the war be prosecuted to a victorious conclusion. It will be seen by thin morning's cables that a violent reaction is growing in consequence of the Government's firm action, and the crisis oi the struggle against German propaganda is probably near at hand. Apparently Mr. Henderson, a member of the Britisli War Cabinet, is doing excellent work ill addressing meetings of workmen and

soldiers, with tlio result that one of today's cables states there are indications of a general abandonment of the efforts which were directed towards securing a separate peace. it is also stated that a secret ballot of the Workers' Committee and Social Democrats favored the armies advancing, while the Socialists and Revolutionists favor a pre-war policy. The remarkable feature of the present war inactivity is the attitude of the women, who are putting the men to shame in their eagerness to fight against the Germans. Possibly this factor may have a greater influence than may be expected, but it is far more important that the Government should shoulder its responsibilities manfully, and take vigorous steps to defeat the great enemy of freedom, so as to be in ,a position to build up a new Russia on lines worthy of her great destiny. Russia cannot go on as at present, rent asunder in several directions. The sooner t,he crisis is reached and overcome the better will it be for all concerned.