Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-15
EVENTS OF THE WEEK

The week opened with the startling news Of the re-
volt or General Kornilof, Cossack soldier, and COM
mander-in-chief Of the Russian armies. It closes with
sthe total collapse Of the rebellion, the organization ola
cabinet, the restoration of calm and confidence in
SPetrograd, the restoration Of some measure of order
among the troops who fled in panic from before the
Germans In the Riga district, and the apparent strength
entng Of the handsfof the provisional government.
M4@l @ " = + y Hgr e=@e-h
Russia is q country where the impossible is hab-
itual1y achieved. A nation of ITO. 00O, 900 people, it over
turned its government in a day and passed from the
= status Of a form Of government in~which the monarch
was technically absolute to a state of existence in which
no government at all existed. Yet within a few weeks
the Russian armies were marching in triumph through
Galicia. With these victorious and panc-stricken armies
flying in disorder across the territory through which they
had just marched as victors the end of all things seemed
at hand. And yet order was restored, after q fashion.
With both domestic and foreign affairs discussed and
muddled by q series of mass meetings, and with such
authority as existed distributed among conservatives and
anarchists the task Of reaching a solid footing seemed
hopeless, and when Korniloh, on whom the provisional
government had relied to bring order into the military
situation announcing his detection and demanding that
that the nation could not survive. And yet the Russian
situation appears today more hopeful than it has done
for some time. II.
. The attempted counter revolution headed by Korni,-
off appears to have been in substance the expression Of
the demand of the conservative classes for an orderly
representative government, and for the reputation Of
the wild beginnings of the lawless who oppose all re-
straint, and of the visionary idea1ists who hoped to found
a Utopia on the ruins Of the imperial system. The Cos
sacks had declared themselves in sympathy with the
more conservative spirit, and KerniIon, of that group,
had undertaken to use the army for the establishment of
a new order. The collapse of the movement is not the
end of government In Russia, but it rather appears to
foreshadow the more earnest participation Of the con-
servatives in the work of the provisional government and
the SOLDERING OF a large section Of the population which
has not yet had time to recover from the intoxication
of new-found power.
Thus far the fates have been with Kerensky, and op-
portunity is still before him. It remains to be seen
whether or not he has the capacity to handle the situa-
ton. 1t is certain that he cannot establish a stable gov
eminent on the basis Of the ideals which he formerly
cherished. He has given evidence of some understand
Ing of this. He has been warned by, the constitutional
democrats, who represent the conservatives in the new
government, that he must take still more positive ground
If the attempted revolution headed by Kornilof is not
repeated by others.
In diplomatic, circles interest has conferred around
the exposure of the relations between the German gov
eminent and either the government of Sweden OF a con-
sidrable number Of its representatives. The publication
without comment by Secretary of State Lansing Of the
text of the attritious letters which the Swedish diplomat
lists transmitted for the German representative a Buenos
Aires has been the greatest sensation Of recent months.
AS q matter Of course the offending German official has
been dismissed from Argentine, and the temper of the
people of Argentine is shown by the numerous anti-Ger-
man riots which have occurred in several Of the cities
of the republic. ~
The feature Of the case which has commanded the
GSISdlSSts IL IS Tile Whlch Inc exposures Will
have on the relations between Sweden and the allies.
While the sentiment OF the Swedish people is divided
the government is and has been strongly pro-Gerfnan.
It is taken for granted that the neutral position of
Sweden would not haye-been abused by the Swedish rep
resentative abroad in his Communications with his own
superior. at home unless it had been understood that his
action would be approved. The case, therefore, becomes
much more than the mere abuse Of HIS position by an in
divfduai The Swedish government itself isinvolved, and
very graveIy. 1t would be interesting to know in how
many other ways this sentiment in favor Of Germany has
IS exbrassGd itself and ~ How papy@ n co,Ipfr;os h n
Argentine Swedish officials have acted as the bearers OF
military messages from German representatives.
The case is likely to have a bearing ON the CONNER
cial relations Of Sweden. and it may be assumed that the
publication of the dispatches by Mr.. Lansing at this time
was intended 70 prepare the public mind for action in
restriction of commerce with Sweden made necessary by