The Washington herald., 1917-11-13
SAYS SEPARATE
PEACE,FOR RUSS
IS IMPOSSIBLE
Neither Faction in Position
to Treat with Hun, De-
clares Writer.
BY TRACEY HAMMOND LEWIS.


Official messages received by the
State Department yesterday after
being relayed through Persia, said
Kerensky had reached "army head
quarters" and that the uprising Of
the Bolshevilxis would apparently be
short lived" This is the first con-
, frmation that our government has
had Of the great turmoil in Russia
: and yet no direct word has been re-
ceived from Petrograd since the last
revolution began.
In view of the lack of any informa-
tion other than that contained in the
press upon which to base an opinion
the State Department refuses to give
any "official'' statement as to its view
concerning the improvement in Rus
sian affairs. Unofficially, however, it
is predicted that the overturn of the
Kerensky government will be only
temporary.
RussIa's Hands Tied.
There is a feeling of expectation in
Washington, however, that the par
ticipation of Russia for many months
can De counted upon IN ONN d
uegative way. Even though Kerensky,
with the aid of his 10000 loyal troops
which are reported marching upon
PCtroGrad again is successful in seiz-
ing the reins OF government, it is
feared that it will be a long while
tcfore Russia can be considerd
military factor in the present war.
The most to be hoped is that. she
becomes sufficiently organized to pre-
vent the possibility of a separate
rcace and to serve as a potential
menace to Germany on the Eastern
front.
The Russian Embassy here Is far
from pessim!stic concerning the out
come. From the first they have
5sAllntainea that the Bolshevikis could
not endure and hat their overthrow
was but a matter of time. The chief
error made by Premier Kerensky
tscy say was in allowing too great
liseTty to Lenine. Trotsky and the
,.aXi.I3a'ists in league with them
This error was the result of the deli
cate position in which the provisional
Government was placed as the result
Of the jealousy with which the Rus
sian peoples regarded their new
found liberty.
Superfcially. it is difficult to con-
Ceive OF the recent traGical events in
Russia as a disguised blessing, but 1t
IS quite possible that the develop
rnents of the future may prove that
such is the case. If, by the fires OF
the present revolution, the Russian
people are purged OF the misconcep-
tiCns and Ctopian idealism which has
been burdening them. they will be a
far more effective, aide to their allies
than they have been. They will realize
that radicalism must be ruled with
stern hand and that any future at
tempts by self-seeking Trotskys or
traitorous Lenines, must be dealt with
GS treason.
Hun Influence Slight.
Russia is going through the most
difficult period in the life OF any ma
tion-the time when she Is taking
from few dictatorial rulers the power
that they have been exercising for
years and placing it in the hands of
the masses who up to that time have
been accustomed to following instead
OF leading. The new found liberty is
apt to be translated into license until
The public is brought to a realization
OF what license means. The people
have been through the looting of the
government buildings of their treas
ures and the lack of discipline the
evil Of Bolsheviki control. The Maxi
malists cannot last whether they are
thrown out by Kerensky or some other
savior OF his people.
Russians will not sell themselves to
Germany nor will Lenine, Trotsky nor
any Of the others be able to effect
the transaction without their consent.