Evening star., 1918-07-02
u. S. WILL OFFER HELP
TO RUSS GOVERNMENT
of Experts to Visit Russia
Is Plan-No japanese Aid-President
to Explain in Thursday IS Address.

painfully frank and in few clear,
concise words they will tell this COM
mission how America can help to
preserve Russia for democracy. They
at the same time, they will make
definite statements as to how and
what they can pay America in return
for this economic cooperation.
When the commission has gathered
sufficient data it will decide first how
mocracy and from the German mem
ace; second, what aid America should
give to Russia and what aid America
may expect in return which will help
has been no real investigation Of
soviet Russia by the allied govern.
ments. There has not even been real
contact. President Wilson's speech
Will be the first move toward the solu-
tion of gigantic problem--revolu-
tionary Russia-which has been SO,
little understood and appreciated by
American sentiment.
How q. s. Could Help Russia.
Should the commission report ia
vorably-I fail to see how it can do
otherwise once it actually gets in con-
tact with the soviet leaders-America
would enter the next phase of it's laid
to Russia" program. The immediate
problem would be to relieve districts
already being decimated by famine.
America would send grain as food and
for seed, agricultural implements,
cloth, leather, boots. etc. Railway
men would go to Russia to assist in
organizing Russia's transportation.
Army officers would go to Russia to
help. organize the new revolutionary
army Oil, coal and iron experts
I ,ot.
sources out of the ground. financial
| commission would give the govern
ment assistance-and Russia needs as
sistance in the worst way, because her
finances are about as badly muddled
as any nations finances ever were. We
would have in Russia a commission
to purchase and export certain raw
products. thus removing them beyond
Germany's reach. We would have a
commission in America to arrange
tonnage, purchase and control sup
plies and to cooperate in all ways
with it's colleague commission in Rus
sia We would establish credits for
Russia in America and any supplies
sent to Russia would be more than
compensated for by either Russian ex-
ports to us of raw materials or gold,
SO that Russia's debt to US would In
no way be increased.
The third phase would probably be-
gin when, on invitation Of the soviet,
the United States sent military units
into Russia to protect any supplies
she might send to Russia from pill
lage and from reaching enemy desti-
nation.
Intervention May Be Blunder.
But in all this program there is not
one suggestion of Japanese inter-
vention in Siberia. Why President
Wilson has opposed Intervention is
perfectly obvious to those who have
lived through recent events in Rus
sia. There are at least two men in
this country who are extremely we'll
informed about Russia. One is Pres
ident Wilson and the other is Col.
House.
AS it seems to me. fresh from Rus
sia, there appear several reasons why
Japanese intervention would be
fatal blunder on the part of the al
lies in general, and the United States
in particular. These same reasons
would indicate that a contrary policy
would aid the allied cause in general
and America in particular. Cooper
alton instead of Intervention would
aid Russian democracy instead of as
sisting a reaction. America is the
champion of democracy. and If Amer
lea is largely instrumental in preserv-
tain to arise in Russia feeling Of
gratitude for America.S
Reasons Against Intervention.
Here are a few reasons against in
tervention in Russia. either for or
against any existing or potential
power:
"a Germany desires it.
(2) Japan is reluctant to intervene
In Siberia