Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-26
SENATE PAYS HONOR
T0RUSS|AN MISSION
Ambassador B. A. Bakhmetieff
Pledges New Republic to
Cause of Democracy.
OUTLINES AIM OF PEOPLE

republic-Russia. Headed by Special
Ambassador B. A. Bakhmetien. the
Russian mission was accorded the
privileges of the floor of the Senate.
The ambassador delivered ringing
speech. in which he pledged the new
Russia to the cause of democracy and
denied that she would make a separate
peace. .....
Russia wants the world to be safe
for democracy" said Ambassador Bakh-
metieff. TO make it safe means to
have democracy rule the world
Vice President Marshall welcomed
the Russian mission in an eloquent
address. He said that the clear-cut
central figure which stands out today
in the midst of the turmoil of war
is the dauntless man who draws the
sword either for himself or for an
other. for the right of self-government
and liberty. He congratulated Russia
and the Russians upon throwing on
the autocratic yoke and turning to
democracy.
Special precautions were taken by
the police to prevent any demonstra. 1so
Capitol today. Plain clothes men were
stationed in all the corridors and in
the galleries. If there were any suf-
fragiStS present they made no attempt
at a demonstration.
The Russian mission was escorted to
the Senate chamber by a committee
of senators. The members OF the SEN
ate and the occupants OF the galleries
rose and applauded the mission for
moro than minute as they entered.
Greeted With Applause.
Ambassador B. A. Bakhmetieff. head
of the Russian mission, was greeted
with prolonged applause as he rose to
l "a 0nnraCiQfinn or
the welcome given by the Senate and
by the United States. He said. in part:
That bonds of friendship and SYM
pathy united the people of the two ma
tions we knew before we departed from
Russia. They were amply manifested
during the early days of the revolution.
The act of prompt recognition OF our
new government has been of incalcula-
BILE value. For the brotherly encourage
ment which you gave us. and for the
noble manner in which you so gen.
erously stretched forth a helping hand.
sia, to express to you our deepest and
most heartfelt gratitude
I'VE have come here as we'll to make
clear the spirit and meaning of the
great events taking place in our coun-
try. A thorough understanding Is In
dispensable to enable our mission to
accomplish the Important task Of es-
aesn eperation between es' the o two se countries
Tor common action and common cause.
with the greatest OF hopes do i look
forward to the results Of such COOP
form a league of honor among the ma:
tions on the smoking ruins OF German
autocratic militarism- At this moment
all eyes are turned on Russia Many
hopes and many doubts are raised by
the tide of events in the greatest of
revolutions at an epoch in the worlds
greatest war. Justifable is the atten-
tion. lawful the hopes. and. naturally
no viafv ThA Of NJ
nations. the fate of the world Is at
stake. all dependent on the fate OF
Russia. Freedom and peace will be the
blessings of the future IL Russia hap
PLY energies from the struggle a pow
erful democracy. sparkling with the
gallantry Of her army returning from
fields won in common strife with her
allies.
IAN unprecedented epoch Of spiritual
depression. new period of strenuous
and anxious military depression. would
follow, should Russia fail to accomplish
her task of political regeneration, or
should she collapse for economical rea-
sons or the insufficiency of her arms.
In all frankness and sincerity do ex-
pose my cause. confident in your good
Will and paying tribute to the mani
fest feelings of sympathy. may / say
affection.
Grave Task Ahead.
'T am not going to conceal the srav-
ity of the situation that confronts the
Russian provisional government. The
revolution called for the reconstruction
OF the very foundations of our national
life. 1t is not easy to comprehend what
democratic lines. Such work Involves
the whole Of our social. economic and po-
ltical relations.
we shuld not forget that in this i'm
mense Transformation various interests
will seek to assert themselves and un-
til the work of settlement is completed
struggle among opposing currents is
inevitable and exagserations cannot bs
avoided.
I'm exposing to you a true picture of
the situation l feel that il is my duty
To present to you two considerations
which make me feel that Russia has
passed the stage of the world when the
future appeared vague and uncertain
'in the hrst place. it is the firm con-
siction OF the necessity of legality
which is widely developing and irmly
establishing itself throughout the coun-
try:
In the eyes of the Russian people
this principle Of legality is based on
the fertile democratic doctrine that gov
ernments derive their just power from
the consent of the governed, and hence
that strong government must be Gre
ated by the will of the people
My latest advices give ioyful con-
hrmation of the establishment of a Arm
power. strong in its democratic pre-
cepts and activity. strong in the trust
fepoSed IN IL Dy the people in its abil-
tty to enforce law and order
In the second place, and no less i'm :
portant, is the growing conviction tina I
the issues of the revolution and the fu-
ture of Russia's freedom are closely
connected with the fighting might of
the country. 1t is the force of arms
which alone can defend and make GER
tain the achievements of the revolution
against autocratic aggression.
There has been period closely fol-
lowing the revolution of almost tota
suspension of all military activity. a
period of what appeared to be disin-
tegration of the army, a period which
gave rise to serious doubts and To
gloomy forebodings. At the same time
there ensued unlimited freedom Of
speech and of the press, which afYorded
opportunities for expression of the
most extreme and anti-national views,
from all Of which resulted widespread
rumors throughout the world that Rus
sia would abandon the war and con-
clude separate peace with the central
powers.
No Idea of Separate Peace.
with all emphasis and with the deep
est conviction may 1 reiterate the
statement that such rumors were who'll
ly without foundation in fact. Russia
rejects with. Indignation any idea OF
separate peace What my country is
striving for is the establishment Of a