The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-07-09
RUSSIAN PREMIER
POINTS OUT NEED
OF AMERICAN AID
Wants Our Advice and Help
in Everything She viii
Undertake

PETROGRAD. July "a stan cor
respondent OF the Associated Press
has been received by Prince Lvoff.
Premier and Minister OF tho Interior.
who made a statement for the infor-
nation OF America on conditions at
tho Russian front on measures
whereby America can assist in the
struggle against German domination,
on internal and diplomatic problems
and on tho influence Of the rovolu-
tion and the war on world problems
Prince Lvoff began by declaring his
mistaken optlmism that, despite
grave difficulties 10 be faced, RUSSIA
is marching toward reconstruction
and stability and that the war is de-
velopina toward victory.
Regarding the war" continued the
Premier. say that the latest action
OF our army inspires in me full hope.
/ am convinced that the new ad-
vance. oven n temporarily stayed, is
not finished hut Is a prelude 90 much
greater successes.
The advance thoroughly confutes
tho pesslmlsts who unanimously pre-
dicted that an Offensive by our sup
posed disorganlzod troops was impos-
siblc. From actual intercourse with
delegates from tho army and with
other observers on tho spot, ! know
that the offensive spirit is spreading.
Naturally | am aware that not
everything can be done by cnthusi-
asm. give you frankly the good and
tho bad side. The good side is the
armys supply Of munitions and other
neoessarios, in which we are markedly
better OF than last yeLr; in fact,
guaranteed for the immediate future.
Tho bad side is the TRANSPORT diff
eulties which are still serious.
Even with stable political conditions
the creation OF efficient transport is a
problem OF years. Our great hope OF
speedy Improvement lies with the
/ stevens Railroad Commission Ohe
American Commisslon). from which
we expect much
with regard to American help
|
down no specific programme. 1t will
be simplest to say that all conceiv-
able American aid is wanted In every
domain. but the key 10 the solution
OF all our military and economic dif-
ficulties is transport amelioration, In
which it is impossible to do toe
much.
send my hearty thanks for the
| American project, the despatch OF
the Red Cross mission, as here we
have serious defects and deficiencies
IL hope also for further American
financial support. am unable to sag
what form this will take, presumably
q loan. But on this subject, oul
Finance Minister, NJ. Shingaroff, II
his duscussion with the financia
members OF the Root commission, M
doubt will produce a practical pro
gramme, which America can hell
realize America should note tina
we ourselves are ready to bear th'
heaviest monetary sacrifices and al
ready have passed moro drastic meas
uros respecting taxation on propert!
than any OF the other belligeren
powers. and arc ready to go mucl
further.
! Among our olneI cCouolliC pIop
lens tho most vital is food. Her
again the central question Is trans
port. and II America helps In thi
we can do the rest ourselves, as tn
total stock OF food is sufficient 70
both the army and the civilian pop
ulation. Our winter crops were yer.
good; our spring crops were injured
by droughts. but by the end of JUL
We shall know our exact position
and even II there is an especially ba'
harvest. which we have no reason 4
expect. we are absolutely secures
against hunger for the rest of tn
year.
For next years crops arises tn
problem OF an increase In the amour
OF agricultural machinery, and W
should be grateful II America sub
mits a plan to help in this matter o
a comprehensive scale"