New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-18
.nNrrR Or THE ASsochTED rkiNs
Russia and Peace

ment, depression which VIII weaken our
wills and break down our courage, 1t IS es-
sential to recognize that for the duration
of the present war Russia has ceased to be
q factor. There is no basis in reason or
lust expectation for the long cherished be-
lief that after delays, disorders, domestic
strife Russia would return 10 the Allies.
Russia win not return, and, despite all
reasoning 10 the contrary, Russia was lost
not at the moment when the Revolution
gained control, but at the hour when Stir
mer and his reactionary associates sold
their country out to Germany in the hope
Of preventing the Revolution.
Il is an easy assertion, frequently made,
that had the Allies dealt more frankly
with Revolutionary Russia the new mas
ters Of Russian policy would have renewed
the alliance Of the old regime and the war
would have gone on to its inevitable con-
clusion. the defeat of Germany and the
liberation Of Europe. But this assertion
is based upon one enormous assumption,
namely, that the Russian people were will
ing to fight for anything outside Of Russia
and except for peace.
The truth, which is becoming clearer
every day, is that the Revolution succeed
ed. that the present leaders gained control,
because the single, imperious demand of
the Russian people was for peace-peace
at almost any price. Kerensky rose and
fell as he was accepted and then distrust-
ed as the agent of peace. Lenine and
Trotzky are succeeding because they are
better advised as to Russian will and are
prepared to crush every obstacle to attain
peace
The idea that a restatement of Allied
war aims at any time would have carried
with it a change Of heart on the part Of
the dumb millions of Russians who have
suffered in this most terrible Of wars
seems to The Tribune total misapprehen-
sion. Il was peace these millions always
wanted-they were interested not the least
in the fate Of the Belgians or the Ser
bans; they were interested less in the lib
GRAFTON of the people of Alsace-Lorraine
or Of Austrian lands inhabited by Italians.
Unless all signs fail, we shall see the
Revolutionary Russia ready 10 sacrifice
Russian territory TO obtain peace. ready to
mortgage the future Of the country 10
gain the present relief that immediate
peace seems in its eyes And this hunger
for peace has been from the outset the
fact in Russia Unless the Allied nations
were prepared TO make ell the necessary
sacrifices Of territory and liberty and ac-
cept German peace terms, they were al
ways bound to be deserted by Russia.
The essential mistake all Of US have
made in thinking Of Russia has been in
attempting to interpret Russian emotion
in terms of our own feelings We, the
people Of Britain, France and the United
States, entered this war on our own Volt
ton, we consented TO the formal declara-
ton Of war unhesitatingly, and we ac-
cepted our governments action as our own,
as in fact it was But the Russian people
went to war wily-nilly, as a result Of the
decision Of rulers whom they hated and
in obedience TO system which they
loathed.
n We in Britain, France and the United
y States perceive clearly that until Belgium
and Serbia are evacuated there can be no
basis for peace negotiations, for peace
which is not mockery. because such 4
peace would give permanence TO the Ger
man conception that force is the only ele-
ment Of value in human and international
relations and that the nation armed can
write its own laws with the sword and the
submarine
This essential fact we feel to-day as we
felt 1t in the past Criticism Of our states
men and our soldiers for their failures 70
win the war, doubt and depression, war
weariness-none Of these things changes
cur conception that the future will be un-
safe if the German idea o.. force, the Ger
man method, as expressed in Belgium,
ip Northern France and on the high seas,
IS not proven TO be impossible by defeat
on the battlefield.
= eassisn shares none Of our