Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17
RUSSIA GIVES ROOT
PLEDGE TO STAY IN
WAR FOR Liberty
Governments Attitude Ex-
pressed by Minister of s.
Foreign Affairs. y
CONFIDENT OF POWER ~;
TO MEET THE SITUATION
Ringing Words Voiced in Re-
sponse to Message of Good
Will From America. g.
MINISTER'S RECEIVE MISSION
Former New York Senator Invites
to Partnership Of Honor In 4
Great Struggle. sis
IRy Associated Pre,n.l

PETROGRAD Juno Is (via London.
juno 16).-"The Russian people con-
slider war inevitable, and will continue
| It. The Russians have no imperialfstic
wishes. We know that you have none.
we shall fight together to secure ,lib-
crty. freedom and happiness for all the
world am happy to say that I do
not see any moral idea or factor be-
tween America and Russia to divide az.
We two peoples-Russia lighting e..
ranny and America standing al the
oldest democracy-hand In hand will
show the way Of happiness to nations
great and small" a..
These ringing words, expressing tho
attitude Of the Russian governme emit To-
ward America and the American mfg
sion, headed by Elihu Root, were voiced
Tonight by NJ. Tereschtenko Minister
or Foreign Affairs. responding for tho
| Council Of Ministers to Mr.. Roots sd-
crcsS of sympathy and good will ON
the part OF the American government.
The American ambassador, David r.
Francis. presented the Root mission to
the ministers in Marinsky Palace AK
| planning that the members Of the mis-.
sion had come to Russia to discoysr
| how America can best cooperate a=!tS
its ally in forwarding the fight against
the common enemy. Tho presentation
was very formal. only few Russian
officials and the members of the Amer
! lean embassy attending. NJ. Kerensky,
the youthful Minister of War, just back
from the front, wore the khaki bxopss
Of common soldier. ,SsN
MINISTER'S LISTEN
CLOSELY TO ROOF
The ministers listened with rapt at.
tention to Mr.. Roots address. -
| NJ. Tercschtenko rose from sick bed
to attend the presentation, and "a.
sponded without notes. expressing
great joy In welcoming the commits
sion from America. He said that RfS..'
| sia's revolution was based on the won.
derful words uttered by America in
| 1116. He read part of the Declarations
OF independence. and exclaimed: Rus
sia holds. with the United States. that
all men arc created free and equal.
NJ. Tereschtenko said Russia faces
two problems-the necessity of creating
strong democratic force within its
boundaries and the fighting Of an AK
| ternal foe. Then he declared for war.
and expressed unbounded confidence in
the power OF Russia to meet tho sttuai
tion. s.'7's
America sends another messare to
Russia. that we are going to fight. and
have already begun to fight, for your
freedom equally with our own, and wa
ask you to fight for our freedom
| equally with yours" said Eithu Root.
head OF the American mission to Rn..
sia. in addressing the Council Of M,n.
listers tonight
ROOT, IL -.
U. S. DISINTEREsTEpyEs
Mr.. Root. In his address, laid stresa an
American disinterestedness in tho var
except so far as conserving democ.ncy
was concerned. In Russia, he declared.
America sees mo party. no class. Nut
great Russia as a whole. ono mirhty
striving. aspiring democracy"
Mr.. Root said: -
Mr.. President and Members of the
Council OF Ministers:
The mission for which I hav. fhs
honor to speak is charged by the rov-
ernment and people of tho United
States OF America with a message "a
the government and people of Russj..
The mission comes from a democratfo
republic. It's members are. commits
stoned and instructed by President
who holds his high office as chief execGa~
tive OF more than 100000 900 free nee,
pie by virtue Of popular election 81
For l+o years our people have baer
struggling with the hard problem. ~
self government. With many short
comings. many mistakes, many imper
fections. we still have maintained order
and respect for law. Individual free.
dom and national independence Under
the security OF our own laws, we haya
grown in strength and prosperity. But
we value our freedom more thar
wealth. We love liberty, and -.
cherish above all our possessions ira
Ideals for which our fathers fought ana
suffered and sacrificed that Amaric.
might be free. -
HUMBLE AND OPPRESSED
TO RE LIFTED TO FRsEpnSs
we believe in the competence of-thes
power OF democracy. and In our heart
of hearts abides faith in the coming
OF a better world, in which the humble
and oppressed OF all lands NAV M
lifted up by freedom. ~
The news OF Russia's ncw-fonr6
freedom brought to America universal
satisfaction and JOY From All the
land sympathy and hope went out to
the new sister in the circle of democ. ),
racies. And the mission is sent to Ars-
press that feeling.
The American democracy sends ~
the democracy OF Russia a greeting az
sympathy. friendship. brotherhood, God.
speed. Distant America knowa littiA
OF the special conditions Of Russian lifss
t1yht lob, vtx.A fN- a. -