The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-13
Russian Authority of Chicago
ST" on New Republic.
RUMORS ARE GERMAN ORIGIN
Radicals CIamOr for Separate
Peace Not Popular.
Kerensky, WOrkingmen's Lead
er in Duma, Won't Give In.

absolutely no chance for the Germans
to get a separate peace out of New
Russia, and that rumors to that eff
feet are circulated by German or near
German sources for the purpose of
creating doubt and fear among the
allies, is the opinion of Professor
Samuel N. Harper of the University
of Chicago, one of the foremost Amer
lean authorities on Russia and Rus
sian economic and political condl-
tions.
Professor Harper prepared the fol-
lowing statement for the United Press:
BY PROF. SAMUEL N. HARPER.
written for the United Press.)
There is absolutely no chance for
the Germans to get separate peace
out of the New Russia. In Russia all
are rejoicing that we have come in to
help defeat Germany. Unfortunately
we will need to go thru some of the
experiences that Russia and the allies
have had, before we, as people, feel
as strongly as they do, that the war
must be fought to an absolute and
final victory.
No anxiety need be felt on this last
point of premature peace with regard
to Russia. Let us hope that the al
lies have no anxiety on this point
with regard to America.
irresponsible Radicalism There.
there are again rumOrs of Russia, aft
er recent changes, is considering
separate peace with Germany
But just in the same way similar ru
InorS current almost from the very first
days of the war, the source of the
rumors is German or near-German.
kilograms from Copenha gen or Stock
holm are often really German sources.
Only one dispatch from Russia itself
has seemed to support these rumorS.
This was the telegram of the London
Times correspondent, backed, however,
on articles in newspapers, the names
of which he did not give. There are,
of course, irresponsible radical ele-
ments in Russia, as in other countries
irresponsible radicalism has always
chara cteriZed the activities of a GER
tain group in Russia. These men are
not the leaders in the New Russia,
nor are they accepted or acknowledged
leaders of the working men.
The working mems leader in the
new duma, Kerensky, has come out
some of our newspapers under a head
line that seemed to indicate a separate
peace movement in Russia. 1t will be
recalled, however, the statement said:
If Kaiser Is Dethroned.
IF the German people will de-
throne the kaiser. then we might con-
slider the possibility of preliminary
conferences"
One of the leading German Social
lists has started for Stockholm. 1t
has been announced that his mission is
to get in touch with the Russian So
clal1sts. 1t has also been announced
that he has gone with the permission
and approval of the German chan
cellor. Real Socialist leaders in Rus
STA will not be deceived by this man
euver They have seen many in
stances in the past where there was
collision between imperial officials
and Socialist leaders in Germany.
some OF the Russian radicals in
America seem to be quite out of touch
with the present spirit in Russia, and
they would seem to be playing mad
vertently into the hands of another
pro-German intrigue, the aim of which
| is to make us anxious about the real
| situation in Russia.
Detafn Returning Exile.
One of the best known exiled Rus
sian radical leaders is Leon Trotzky
! He set out for Russia last month but
has been detained by the English at
Halifax. 1t is possible that Trotzky
interpreted the new change of the
| government in Russia as making for
peace, and that he talked of this be-
| fore leaving America possible eX-
| PLANTATION for his detention by the Brit
| ish. One recalls the many proclama-
| tons that have been issued in the last
| thirty months from the acknowledged
/ Socialist leaders in Russia. One sees
above all the official statements of the
radical Socialist leaders in the new
| government In both sets of pro-
nouncements. it has been definitely
stated that the workingmens cause in
| Russia will be endangered by a Ger
man victory and that any working
mems movements will now be treason
| to the comrades Fighting at the front.
| One can accept then the attitude of
responsible leaders and ignore the ru-
mors coming from German sources
and the SpeecheS of mere individua IS