New-York tribune., 1917-11-03
Kerensky

regret that he said at all. Unquestlonapiy
one is brought to feel that at critical
moment in Allied fortunes the Russian
leader has sought safety at home by sacri-
fcing his allies abroad. What he has said
will find it's heartiest applause in Berlin
and do its greatest damage in the Allied
capitals.
After all, we should remember that
we have a world war because Russia was
not abandoned by France and by Great
Britain in August, 1914. The origin of the
war was the dispute between Austria and
Russia, and all the nations which are fight
ing on the Allied side have been from the
beginning fighting in Russia's cause
1t is true that during the first two years
of the war Russia made great sacrlfces
and bore great burdens. 1t is not less true
that those who controlled Russia in 1916
BETRAYED Rumania and left her to be de-
stroyed, and it is equally true that the
Russian collapse of the present summer
as brought upon Italy her great disaster.
lose soldiers of Brusiloff who ran away
IN field of victory in June were the
affects Of the contemporary ruin of
Lillian prospects.
Nor is Kerensky more just or more hon
es. when he paints the alleged British fall
re. There never was a more ungenerous
tack From the very outset of the war
Ir.tish resources have been unsparingly
voted to Russian service; British subma-
nes and British naval officers have
erved in the Russian fleet, and the pell-
nell flight of the Russians from the
Galician battlefield was covered by British
in armored cars. To-day it is the British
who are bearing the great burden of the
war willingly and uncomplainingly, and
only prejudice or personal aims could pro-
cure such a statement as Kerensky has
now made.
1t is unwise and it is unnecessary to
characterize further the words of the Rus
sian leader. They will confirm the convic-
tion, long held in Europe, that to build any
hopes on Russian foundations is TO build
upon the sand Whatever be the reasons,
however justifable, however regrettable,
Russia has ceased to be force in the
. war. and it is no longer the part of states
manship or generalship to rely upon Rus
sian aid.
War obliterates ones perspective; the
strain Of the conflict leads men to attach
false values 10 contemporary facts. 1t may
be that in the larger view the Russian
revolution will prove one of the greatest
things in human history and the most i'm
portant single event in the World War.
Even at time when we must clearly per-
ceive how terrible for the Allies, for us,
has been the Russian collapse. we shall not
give way 10 bitter words or fail to recog-
nize now much Of good may flow hereafter
from the emancipation of the Russian
people.
Yet since the war remains, and since
all our future depends upon a successful
termination Of the struggle, it must be the
l-ty II those who direct Allied policy, who
airec, American policy, to recognize that
Russia has ceased TO be a factor in the
war. and that all our resources and ali our
efforts and all our aid must be ooncen-
'ratcg in the fields and in the countries
Hhose soldiers are still fighting for the
common cause. What We might have done
for Russia we must do for Italy, and,
above all, we must concentrate all our ef-
forts upon the Western front, where, be
tween Belfort and Nicuport, the decision
Of the World War will come.
One must regret the decision Of Ke-
rensky because there was a moment when
he seemed perhaps 10 be the one man born
Of the New Europe who might contribute
20 the best settlement Of the world
struggle. For this role he mas proved in
adequate. We DO not know his necessities;