The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-06-27
RUSSIA ADOPTS U. S. IDEAL

Ambassador to America Formally
Pledges War Until German Au-
tocracy Is Overthrow.
Petrograd, June 26.-There was not
a dissenting voice when the All-Rus-
sian congress of workman's and SOL
diers' voted yesterday for immediate
Russian offensive.
The congress represents the mass
es Of the whole country. The Petro-
grad council of workmen's and SOL
diers' delegates is only an infnitesi-
NAL part Of it. The days of arbitrary
rule" and wilful interference with
the provisional government by the
Petrograd council are over. In the
thunder of fight to the finish" let
loose by the enthusiastic representa-
tives of the bulk Of $50, 900 900 people
the shriekers for peace by the hand
full of ambitious denagogues were
lost like the piping of. mice in a roar
ing hurricane. When it came to voting
they were so thoroughly convinced OF
what the verdict of all Russia would
be, should they dissent, that they as
scented.
Throughout the country the spirit
of aggression is returning. Optimists
predict a new Russian drive before
autumn. Pessimists concede that II
the change from the country's mood
is permanent nothing can stop the re-
turn of the Muscovite member OF the
entente as a full-fedged active ally.
Immediately after it's vote for an
offensive, which was coupled with an
undivided expression of confidence In
the coalition government, the All-Rus-
sian congress formed a war cabinet,
among its members being army and
navy leaders. This body Is to assist
the government in effecting q thor
ough reorganization Of the army so
as to make possible a powerful ofen-
sive.
Washington, June 26.-Russia will
fight to the last ditch. There will be
no separate peace between the new
republic and the kaiser. Only a last
ing universal peace without annexa-
lions or contributions will be recog-
nized by the Russian government.
These promises were made to the
United States and to the other allies
Of Russia today by Boris. Bahkemetien
ambassador Of the e Russian gov
eminent in the first interview he has
given since the arrival Of the Russian
mission in this country.
The ambassador announced this as
the policy of his government:
"The provisional government, re-
jecting in accordance with the whole
people of Russia, all thought Of sep
arate peace but it openly avows as It's
deliberate purpose the promptest
achievement of universal peace; such
peace to presume no dominion over
other nations, no seizure Of their na-
tional property nor any forced usur-
patton. Of foreign territory, peace with
no annexation or. contributions, based
upon the free determination by each
nation of its destinies.
Being fully convinced that the es-
tablishment of democratic principles
in it's internal and external policy has
created a new factor, in the striving
Of allied democracies for durable
peace and fraternity Of all nations,
the provisional government will take
preparatory steps for an agreement
with her allies founded upon its de-
c~laration of March 81. The provisional
government Is conscious that the de-
feat of Russia and her allies would be
the source of the greatest misery and
would not only postpone but even
make impossible the establishment OF
universal peace on a firm basis.
The provisional government Is con-
WINGED that the revolutionary army of
Russia will not allow the German
troops to destroy our allies on the
western front and then fall upon US
with the whole might Of their weap-
ons. The chief aim Of the provisional
government will be to fortify the
democratic foundations Of the army
and to organize and consolidate the
armies fighting power for its defen-
sive as we'll as offensive purposes.
After outlining this program, Am
bassador Bahkmetieff stated:
The last decision o f the Russian
convention of the workmen's and SOL
diers' delegates the decision of the all
Russian peasant congress, the deci-
sion Of the duma; the voice Of the
country as expressed from day today
by almost the entire Russian press in
resolutions adopted at different con-
ferences and congresses-all these
confirm their full support to this ma
tional program and leave not the
slightest doubt that Russia Is decided
as to the necessity to fight the Ger
man autocracy, until the conditions
for a general and stable peace in Eu-
rope are established.