Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-09
Reports
Brought From Russia
By American Mission
nquoljfedEncouragement
From United States De-
clared to Be ABSOLUTE
ly Essential.
IRx Associated Press.l


Of heart and purpose daily. and with
aid fSom the United States can be de-
pended upon to do her part in the great
war and emerge powerful state. This
was the message brought to President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing to-day
by Elihu Root and his fellow members
of the American mission sent to Rus
STA three months ago.
Unqualified encouragement from the
United States. moral and financial
when necessary. is absolutely essential
to keeping life in the new government.
the commissioners agreed. A separate
peace with Germany obviously is their
gravest fear. Left to fight along with
her present government in control. the
President was told. Russia will e:~erge
triumphant and strong, but IL either
by great masses OF troops or clever
propaganda. Germany ahould accom-
plish the overthrow Of the Kerensky
government. the outlook would be dark
indeed.
Only one written report. it is un-
derstood. was submitted to Secretary
Lansing 1t was not ma 1e public and
may not be. From high sources. it is
known. however. that the commission
was agreed on virtually all essentials.
There may have been differences of
opinion as to the best methods for OBJ
tanning results. but the opinion of pres
ent conditions and high hopes for the
future was unanimous.
ROOT WITH DIFFICULTY
SURPRISES ENTHUSIASM
None was stronger in his conviction
that there is the greatest hope for Rus
STA than MIR. Root himself. Though
conservative by virtue OF long diplo-
matte and political experience. 1t was
with difficulty that he suppressed his
enthusiasm. Other members of the
party who shared his optimism and
discussed their Views were Charles Ed
ward Russell. former Socialist. James
Duncan, a labor leader and Major
Stanley a-hburn. a~man Of long ex-
perience in : ussfan Affairs The latter
two were agreed that one great need
of Russia is publicity regarding Amer
leans intention in the war.
Mr.. Russell went a little further
than the others by declaring emphatic
ally in favor OF sending American
troops TO the eastern front immedi-
ately. He said their presence would
be OF the greatest value in strength
ening the morale Of the Russians.
The military members of the mis-
sion. headed by Major-General Hugh
Scott. had thrilling story to tell of
experiences on the Russian firing line
They we're under fire during one of
the great offensives launched after the
new government took the reins.
The return and reports of the mis-
sion were about as informal and as
devoid of secrecy and red tape as any
thing Washington has witnessed in a
long time. The members arrived this
morning on regular train. and
throughout the day smilingly an
swered inquiries and seemed anxious
to help in every way to disseminate
the information they had acquired.
Final work on the report began
shortly after their arrival. and 1t was
ready early this afternoon
MISSION WITH PRESIDENT
FOR ABOUT AN HOUR
The mission. headed by Mr.. Root.
called at the White House at o'clock
in the afternoon and remained with
the President about an hour. Mem
bers Of tho National Woman's party
made futile attempts to use a banner
addressed to Mr. Root. but he entered
and left the White House yard by a
side gate while the women waited for
him out in front
The work of the commission now is
virtually ended. It's members will re-
main here few days and. with the
exception OF the army officers then will
return to their homes.
In Mr.. Roots opinion. only the over
whelming of the country by German
armies, making impossible further de-
velopment in the formation OF the new
government. can prevent the erection
OF the Russian republic.
Internal difficulties are being over
come. and the process OF capitalization
Is going on rapidly. The extreme ele-
ments which threatened serious trouble
have been brought under control. and,
given due opportunity and time. and
such assistance as America can render
In materia! and moral support. in Mr..
Roots opinion. the Russian republic Is
certainty
In explanation Of the apparent ease
with which the Russian people have
thrown OF the forms OF a despotic
monarch and turned so readily to the
Idea OF representative government. Mr..
Root referred to the fact that the pop
ulation is nearly so per cent agricul-
tural. The farmers had long been ac-
customed to the idea of local self
government through their Mayors in
their little communities. and. In
larger way. through the Zemstvos,
which gathered in every district and
exercised large measure of control over
local affairs. 1t was comparatively
easy to expend tho idea OF local self
government to national self-govern-
ment.
EXTREME ELEMENT
GOTTEN UNDER CONTROL
Tho extreme element: that favorins