New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-16
Russian Illusions

issued by the executive commltIee vi '0
Workmen's and Soldiers Council. Ihis
council is the real power to-day IN Russia
II gives a qualified support to the fro-
visional Government. But that govern
n,ent remains its agent and Is torced 10
execute its instructions.
The council could, in fact, take over
the government any time 1t chose 10 90 So
But it has preferred to stand in the pack-
ground, for the obvious reason tha' II Is
debarrod by its own programme from as
suming any governmental responsiveness
rf II assumes power, it must deal as
Government with the governments WHICH
ava still Russia's allies. But that IS ex-
oo.,v what the council wants to avoid
since according to its notions peace ough'
TO be secured and new order SET up III
Furone not through governmental action'
hu+ through compacts made among them
eo,vss bv the Socialist organizations IN the
various countries.
The councils attitude is frankly anu
rationalistic. 1t wants to ignore consul
.,,.od Governments and constituted nations
II wars on the theory that the classes WIFI
IN q nation can have common interest
ord he united for the attainment OF COM
mon political purposes. 1t wants to array
the proletariat everywhere against 'he
other elements, to destroy the proetarlat 5
auec;ance to any form Of government IN
which other elements participate ana 10
transfer allegiance to an international 80
cia,;st organization. The chiefs OF that
oroan;zation are to rule Europe and TO re-
dpce all so-called national governments 10
the condition of dependency in which the
rresent Provisional Government OF Russia
already finds itself.
Notbinp counts in the eyes of the Work
mons and Soldiers Council but the tri-
urnh of international socialism. Yet no.
r,hors else in Europe has the Socialist
rartv shown any purpose to divorce It's
interests from national interests. TO pre-
sumo that any such divorce can be erected
while the menace of German conquest con-
tinues is the widest folly.
The programme of the Russian Social
lets calls for the conclusion of a peace
compact with the Socialists OF Germany
Austria Hungary and Bulgaria, without
reference to the ideas and wishes OF the
tournaments of those countries. But who
can guarantee that the Socialist deiega-
tions from the nations in the Teutonlc ALL
ance can deliver their governments? Those
delegations have not had the hardlhood
even to claim that they can impose their
terms on the two Kaisers and on Gar
Ferdinand. Nobody outside Russia has
the faintest notion that they can do this.
The majority Socialist faction IN Ger
many, headed by Herr Scheidemann, is
working in harmony with the government
Scheidemann Is one Of Bethmann-Holl.
wegs pet diplomatic agents. His first
allegiance Is TO Deutschland Gber Allies
He is a German nationalist before he is a
socialistic internationalist. His chief role
N in any peace conference would be to serve
German interests by proposing settlements
which would divide the Allies, knowing
we'll that nothing he said or did would bind
the government or the people for whom he
pretended to speak.
II the German government were also ir
the hands Of council of workmen anc
soldiers, there would be some substance t
the Russian peace dream. Then conven
ton representing the ruling forces in the
two empires would mean something. It's
decisions would hold good because these
forces would be able TO speak for the ma
tons they controlled. But until the Ger
man Socialists overthrow absolutism and
substitute their own will for the Kaiser's
will, there can be no basis for peace ne
gotiated through the agency Of an inter.
national Socialist organization. Herr
Schcidemann and his associates must prove
their faith by their works before they car
be accepted as the responsible spokesmen
Of militant German socialism.
Russia IL little intoxicated with hcr
new liberty. Her thought is confused. She
IL too willing 20 take German peace pro
LESSONS al their face value. But her idea,
may clarity 4 little closer association
with German Socialists Of the Schcdc
mann type may teach her leaders tina;
German socialism is still tool OF Kaiser.
um-that Germany must be conquered