New-York tribune., 1918-03-01
Radicals See Hope
In Messages TO
Russian, "Reds''
They Believe Washington Is
Taking More Sympathetic
View Of Pacifists' Aims

"The Washington authorities: are
seeking to encourage the Russian revo-
lutionists to resist the German invasion
by showing them that the radicals OF
Amer ca are in sympathy with them.'
This was the deduction made by
pacIiicists, Socialists and other radicals
yesterday following the news that the
government is permitting tbc transmits
sion OF messages directed to the Boil
sheviki.
Ever since the Bolshevili came into
power at PetroRrad the various radical
groups in New York have cndeavored
to communicate with the Russian capi-
tai. Their efforts however met with
official disfavor 1t was not until
Wednesday, as announced in The Trib-
une yesterday, that the official embargo en-
was removed and the radicals were told
that the wires were open for the send
ing Of their messages.
ut means that the Washington
authorities, are taking more kindly to
the pacitists." said Louis p. Lochner.
secretary of the Peoples Council, 1873
West Thirteenth Street. at is plain
that the government at last has
awakened to the fact that the Bolshe-
and therefore thought j. had been
abando-.ed by the rest Of the world.
This was because America as we'll as
the other Allied countries refused to
permit Bolshevik sympathizers to COM
municate with the Russian revolution
lists. Now, when the Germans are al
most in Petrograd, Washington sud-
denly discovers it might encourage the
Russians 10 resist if we showed them
that American radicals are with them.
Sees Friendship Toward Pacifists
''For months the Peoples Council
tried vainly to send messages to the
Bolsheviki, telling them that Ameri-
cans looked with admiration on their
glorious stroke in democratizing Rus
sia. The announcement now that the
government will permit the transmits
sion of messages from any radical or
ganization shows that we were right in
the first instance. 1t also indicates a
more friendly attitude on the part of
the government toward those who are
working for peace"
Algernon Lee, head of the Rand
School, who sent messages through
government agencies to the Socialists
of Denmark, Holland and Switzerland
urging them to communicate with the
working classes of Germany and Aus
tra, said that Socialists throughout the
country were being urged to stir up
opposition in Germany against the
Kaisers advance into Russia
''We want our comrades in the neu-
trail countries to send into Germany
appeals to the working classes to op-
pose the German domination of Rus
sia." said Mr. Lee. Owe are telling
Socialists in the neutral countries that
America looks with horror on Ger
many's occupation of Russian terri
tory, and we want them, if possible, to
stir up demonstrations in Germany"
viii Encourage Bo!sheviki
Lincoln Steffens, who recently re-
turned from Russia, said he WAS con-
fdcnt that the radicals messages to
the Bolsheviki would encourage them
to resist the Germans.
"The Russians feel that it is not
alone them, but also US, who would
lose by the German advance" he said.
"They feel that they have been fighting
our fight. and if they lose We lose"
George Creel, chairman of the Com
mittee on Public Information, at Wash
lngton yesterday said that the messages
written by TIE New York radicals had
been received. approved and sent back
TO New York for cabling to Petrograd
and that the expense of sending them
had been borne by those who initiated
the plan.
"Thc Bulletin" the weekly publica-
ton which is being circulated through
out the country by the Peoples Coun-
Gil, appeared yesterday with another
attack on the universal military train
ing bill now pending in Congress-