The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-19
IN HONOR BOUND
TO AID RUSSIANS
IS EXPLANATION
OF LORD NILNOR
Tells How Allies Are
Keeping Armed Forces
In That Country
WAS A MILITARY
NECESSITY FIRST
Had TO Save Supplies And
Protect Their Czecho-
Slovak Allies

London, Wednesday, Dec. 1s.-In
response to protests in the press
against the secrecy maintained con-
corning military operations in Rus
sia and the insistent demand by lib
eral newspapers that the govern
nent explain and justify the contin-
uance of these operations. Viscount
Miner, the secretary for war, has
issued statementSto the effect that
the allies have an obligation of hon
or TO protect the Russians and otI-
ers who have aided them against the
BoIsheviki.
For the allies to scramble out Of
Russia now would threaten to in
volve the whole country in barbar-
ism. the war secretary declares. The
cabinet member in his statement,
which is in the form Of arletter In
reply to a correspondent. goes over
the situation created by the success
OF the Bolsheviki in gaining control
OF Russian affairs. and points out
how their acts were adversely af-
fecting the cause of the allies in the
west and otherwise hampering the
winning of the war by the allied ma
tions.
you ask" says Viscount Miner,
What right we ever had to send
British troops to Russia to meddle
with the internal affairs Of that
country, and how long we mean, to
keep them there now that the war is
over.
Were Aiding Enemies
: "The question itself shows that
you misapprehend the facts as well
as the motives of the government.
The reason why allied, not merely
British forces, were sent to Russia
is that the BoIsheviki. whatever
their ultimate object, were in fact
assisting our enemies. 1t was owing
to their action that hundreds of
of German troops were
let loose to hurl themselves against.
our men on the western front. 1t
was owing to their betrayal that Ru-
mania with all its rich resources in
grain and oil, fell into the hands of
the Germans.
at was they who handed over. the
Black Sea feet to the Germans and
who treacherously attacked the
Czecho- Slovaks when the latter only
desired to get out of Russia in order
to fight for the freedom of their own
country in Europe. The allies. ey-
cry one OF them, were most anxious
to avoid interference in Russia, but
it was an obligation OF honor to save
the Czecho- Slovaks and IL was a
military necessity OF the most ur-
gent kind TO prevent those vast por-
tions Of Russia which were strug-
Cling to escape the tyrany OF the
Bolsheviki from being overrun by
them and so thrown open as
source of supply. to. the enemy.
I say nothing OF the enormous
quantities OF military stores. the
property of. the allies at Archangel
and Vladivostok and which were in
Cling to escape the tyranny OF the
Germans until the allied occupation
put an end to the process.
"And this Intervention was sue
cessful. Rioting was stopped. The
Czecho- -Sloyaks were saved from de-
struction. The resources OF Siberia
and southeastern Russia were denied
TO the enemy. Then the ports of
European Russia were prevented
from becoming bases for German
submarines from which our own
North Sea barrage could have been
turned.
These were important achieve
nents and contributed materially TO
The defeat OF Germany.
Have Saved Millions
II say nothing of the fact that a
vast portion OF the earth's surface
and millions OF people friendly TO
he allies have been spared the un-
5peakable horrors of Bolsheviki rule
But in course of this allied interven.
ton thousands of Russians have
taken up arms, and fought on the
side of the allies. How can we, SIM
ply because our own immediate pur-
poses have been served. come away
and leave them to the tender mercies
of their and our enmies before they
had time TO arm. train and organize
10 as to be strong enough to defend
1t would be an abom-
nable betrayal, contrary to every
British instinct Of honor and human
ty.
You may be quite sure that the
last thing the government desires is
10 leave any British soldiers in Rus-
,ia day longer than is necessary
10 discharge the moral obligations
We have incurred and that, be-
ieve is the guiding principle OF all
he allies.
IF the allies were all 10 scramble
out OF Russia. at once the result
would almost certainly be that the
oarbarisrn which at present reigns
n d part only of that country, would
spread over the whole part of &c. The
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