The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1919. THE SCOURGE OF BOLSHEVISM.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1919. THE SCOURGE OF BOLSHEVISM.

No greater surprise lias been given to civilisation than the invitation to' the Bolsheviks to attend the Marmora Conference, though there is a touch of comedy thereaneut for such an invitation was equivalent to asking them to be present at a meeting designed to make arrangements for their extinction. At the same time it is almost incredible that President Wilson and the British representatives could have agreed to include the Bolsheviks among the de facto governments in Russia, ns hitherto these anarchists have been consistently ignored in connection with the status of government. The action taken shows how the judgment of the intellect can be overruled by the feelings of the heart. Those responsible for the invitation must be credited with a strong desire to put an end to the shocking state of affairs in Russia, but common sense, to say nothing of experience, should have deterred these statesmen from committing such a glaring blunder. If the Bolsheviks were amenable to reason there might have been some small hope that a conference might have been productive of opening up an avenue for composing the differences which are now causing chaos in Russia, but these super-fiends and terrorists would have their occupation gone the moment they listened to reason. They are destroyers of the worst type, who know not how to handle constructive tools, but revel in the use of implements that strike terror into the hearts of the people. A. recent cable stated that the Bolshevik commissioner hi Finland signed over eight thousand death warrants, and his successor was dismissed because he could not maintain the same average. That is an instance of their lust for blood, but if any testimony is required a3 to the scope of their operations, it can be found in the statement recently made by the Swiss Professor J'eannere, who in his travels in Russia learned that the Bolsheviks had great plans for a revolutionary conquest, and considered they would have no difficulty in raising an armv of 5,0(0,000 wherewith to 'overwhelm western Europe. This professor admits that Bolshevik officials were boasting, but he urged the Allies to strike a mortal blow at Bolshevism. That is the only remedy, for so long as they have the opportunity they will continue porpclrating the most horrible cruelties merely to demonstrate their power The German' atrocities were, it was thought, about the limit of barbarity, but the Bolsheviks are infinitely more j base, 1 hough they do not possess Teutonic ingenuity of method. In the face of what is knoAvn of these primitive savages they have been seriously invited to take part in a conference the object of which is to evolve order out of chaos. The French, to their credit be it said, adhered to their decision of having no dealings the Bolsheviks, but the othe ""Rwernments' "hojjed to-flnd &-mw;»*3lgh&ag

the Bolshevik Government in the deliberations without departing from from their abhorrent attitude toward Bolshevik terrorism." The only sensible act of the Bolshevik leaders that has yet come to light is the refusal to be present at the Conference, and for that the Allies should be supremely thankful. The way is now cleiir for action. The Council of the Russian National Democrats, in a note to M. Pichon, when expressing approval of the exclusion of Bolshevik representatives from the Conference, declared that any compromise with Bolshevism would be capitulation to a worse scourge than German militarism. Prince Lvoff also regards the recognition of Bolshevism as disastrous. The seriousness of this scourge is that it is growing stronger and drawing in many moderates. To show a conciliatory spirit to these firebrands who aim at a revolutionary conquest of the world would be a suicidal policy. Their plans are said to be complete for an extension of their propaganda eastwards, and they anticipate that India, China and southern Asia will fall an easy prey. Sasanoff knows these Bolsheviks only too well, and he considers that the invitation to them to a conference was an outrarre on the Russians who remained faithful to the Entente, and in that assertion he puts the case nuldly. It is not surprising, in view of the weakness exhibited by the Allies in dealing with the BoiNheviks that the Germans are becoming arrogant again. There has been more than enough of war, but there can be no real peace till this scourge has been eliminated. The outcome of the Marmora Conference (if it eventuates) can only be armed intervention, and if that is advocated by the Conference there will be no longer any ground for President Wilson's objection to that course being adopted. Nothing but prompt and effective intervention will avail. Once Russia is freed from the Bolshevik scourge she can become sufficiently strong to enter upon the duty of maintaining law and order, together with the setting up of a "democratic Government that will reorganise rnd rehabilitate the country. What is needed is an exhibition of strength and not weakness.