New Britain herald., 1917-05-02
WARNS OF MENACE
 TO ROOTS PARTY
Yale Professor Says Members May
 Be Discredited Abroad

Be Discredited Abroad
 New York, May 2.-Professor Alex ander Petrunkevitch. son of the first S door, leader of the first Russian Duma, and now a professor at Yale, warned gathering of representative men at the Hotel Astor last night that, be- cause of the activities of socialists in this country. the proposed American commission to Russia. and notably its : head. Elihu Root. would be met there on its arrival with the distrust of the Social Democrats. now in power. He said ne knew the socialist press in New York was writing already about the personnel of the commission and that they would cable information about 1t to Russia. T know that the men will be met there with distrust," !" ila declared
 Professor Petrunkavitch added that despite reassuring reports to thescon- trAry there existed a real and very grave danger Of the new Russia mak- lnk separate peace, particularly if the
 
 cellor Is reported about to offer coin fides with the demands of the, Social Democrats. The effect. he said, would bet fiyc-ycar war for France, Eng land. and the United States. To offset these grave dangers he urged his influential audience to appeal to President Wilson and Mir. Root to piace on 1t men acceptable to the Rus sian Social Democrats. He did not. however, advocate Mir. Roots re-
 The speech was delivered at tho fortieth meeting of the Economic club, of which Frank A. Vanderiip is nresident, and the gathering, which overfowcd the grand ballroom of the hotel and filled the rose room. in- ciuded some of the best known and wealthiest men in the country, and ambassadors and ministers to the United States from half dozen Among the speakers were Charles B. Hughes, Sir Ernest H. and Ambassador Gerard. Professor Petrunkevitch said in part:
 lsss Flan Fraught With Danger.
 ''The President of the United States has decided to send a commis- sion to. Russia with the high purpose of Strengthening the Russian govern ment in it's first steps to make Russia a. free republic. q dem0cracy among the democracies of the world There can be no higher purpose. and cer- tainly everybody, in this >country ought N applaud our president for this de- sire, but. geAEen1An, this plan Is fra1ght with nker and the danger lies in the s133cfion of. the members for this connaissfon.
 sT persopally have the highest ad- imitation fol. Becfetary Root. I do not know who the other members on that are, but know that the press-tlle socialistic press in New York--is already writing about them. and know that they are going to cab4c over into Russia I know that tl1e men will be met there with dis trust. I know that unless there are members on that commission who will bc personally acceptable to the Rus sian Social Democrats the Russian 4Fess will create the impression that tltes commission was sent for the special purpose of fighting down the Social Dembcrats which are now in the ascendency in Russia. sV K M
 You think that Is not SO, but I have talked with many Russians rixhtl here in New York city and I know what they are thinking over in- tho other country, I know how old in-t sinuations are revived, and nothing is more difficult than to combat in- aiiiuations. If those present here had some means of conveying to the presi- dent, or. to Senator Root. the neces- sitys of having on that commission men who would be acceptable to the S6cial Democratic party in Russia, they. would really be doing a great n6triotic act for this country. It is a necessity, a distinct necessity, gentle tho part of the Social Democrats will lead to dissension, will open forth a wxY Of attack on the government and yod think that they do not attack the eOvernment. will give you an example that they do. On my desk in New Haven lies letter from Miiu- koff. written three months ago. and signed by him, and in that he states that Russia needs Constantinople: he gf1es the reason why. He dwells at length on that subject, and mean while the Russian government was forced to announce that 1t is against the policy of acquisition.
 sa All Is Not We'll in Russia.
 .sMeanwhile the Russian govern
 ment was forced to announce that the Russian soldiers are going to control the supply of food and of or dGf in the army. Not everything is nojnK well in Russia. And just be- en3Ise I feel conviction for this, my ' ad Spted Mnd. just because in my in- te6lse desire to see right triumph over