The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-25

These are the outstanding facts or
the situation as revealed today.
There still remains the great DOUBT
as to the outcome OF the Mosco"
conference This summoning or the
newly freed people under the hand OF
Kerensky may prove his frankenstein
monster, and the United States and
the allies will not feel easy until
authoritative news has been received
that the young dictator has the Mos
SOW meeting we'll under control
The receipt of dispatch from Am
bassador Francis created striking
change in the attitude of Secretary
Lansing. He consented to talk about
the Russian situation. Ambassador
Francis dispatch was simply to the
eff ect that Boris Bakhmetief, the Rus
sian envoy here. had power to bind the
provisional government to "a loan IN
the United states and is authorized
to receive mony here for the ac-
count of the provisional government.
II la not believed that Mr.. Francis
would have sent such message were
he not convinced of the ultimate sue
cess of the new republic The mes
sage distinctly heartened all Wash
ington.
Ii eIdentified" the Ambassador. =
+ Furthermore it cleared up a techni-
cal detail which has been the cause
OF much conference among Secretaries
McAdoo. Baker and Lansing during
the last twenty four hours. 1t" iden-
titled" the new am bassador to the pay
ing teller OF the United States.
It's receipt was promptly followed
by the placing of further credit of
800, 900 900 to Russia's account. This
will facilitate the shipments to Ar
changed for which the shipping board
will provide three vessels Immediately
and others as they are needed. This
makes Russia s total debt in this coun-
try 1915, 900. 900.
Secretary Lansing's statement said:
The administration does not share
the pessimistic feeling indicated in
some press reports. Quite the con-
trary. we believe that the provisional
government is stronger today, both
| politically and militarily. than 1t has
been in a month
! Riga has fallen several times
Several times it has been evacuated
but the Germans have never actually
taken possession.
! The suggested change Of the CAPT.
tai to Moscow has been suggested
many times-even before the revo-
luton. Many Russians contend that
Moscow Is more of a center of Rus
I Sidu Ailc llidu ClIOHI 4o I1S dCtudl
movement of the capital would not
be a rnenacing omen"
| Follow Roots Advice.
Mr.. Lansing made it plain that the
( administration is following the re-
comm edation Of the Root mission and
| ths< the United states will stand by
4 Russia to the end and after.
J The fact that the railway line to
Kohl is completed. learned by the In
ternational News service from the
Russian embassy today. is a fact of
The vastest importance. 1t holds open
the door to Russia despite the cold
! Archangel the only other port in
European Russian available to entente
shipping Is on the White Sea. which
! freezes over early. Kohl is at the west :
ern most tip Of the coast and the water
/ Is warmed by an Arctic offshoot of the
/ gulf stream. Its port is open through
out the year.
There remains to be done ONLY so,,e
large and important work on the ter
minal facilities. The embassy feels
certain that the port will be available
to its maximum capacity before
Archansel is closed
4 With regard to the military situa.
ton. an offfcer familiar with IN.
problem said today that the only way
In which the military situation can bA
come serious 10 for the Russian armies
to be so decisively defeated and tho
| country 30 eravaged that the people
will demand peace.
As long as the Russian armies can
keep the Germans pursuing them the
allies will be served
! That the greatest need Of Russia.s
armies 10 again munitions. was ad-
/ mitted by an attach Of the embassy
today The first three ships to sail
forArchangel will be loaded with mill
tary supplies. Their arrival is expect
ed to stiffen the Russian resistance
Later the shipment of railway sui
plies will be made. scientific pro-
! gram OF priority has been worked out
| by Ambassador Bakhmetieff. ana he
believes that It will solve Russia
! supply problem.
The letter Of Secretary Lansing to
Mr., Bakhmetien contained the fol.
lowing:
The president. In full appreciation