The Washington herald., 1918-03-12
The Presidents message follows:

FEe1LuemI1 message
sMay. 1 not take advantage Of
the meeting Of the Congress of
the SOviets to express the sin
eere sympathy which the peo-
pie of the United States feel for
the Russian people at this mo-
ment when the German power
has been thrust In to interrupt
and turn back the whole strug-
gle for freedom and substitute
the wishes of Germany for the
purpose of the people OF Rus
STA Although the government
of the United States In unhap-
ply not now In q position to
render the direct and effective
aid IL would wish to render,
beg to assure the people of Rus
sia through the Congress that II
viii avail itself of every Op-
portunity to secure for Russia
once more complete sover-
eIgnty and independence I'm her
own affairs and full restoration
to her great role I'm the life of
Europe and the modern world.
The whole heart of the people
people Of Russia In the attempt
to free themselves forever from
autOeratic government and be-
cmOe the masters of their own
life.
CSIgnedD
GwoODROw WILSON"
Refuse or Accept Peace.
The primary object of the Moscow
is to determine whether
he Soviets, representing the revolu-
.ionary committees set up Throughout
Russia, are to approve or repudiate
he German-imposed peace.
The outcome Of the Presidents mes
age will be awaited in Washington
With tense interest. Even should II
'ail to effect an outright rejection oi
he German peace, the government Al
has strong hopes that be-
lore long the Russian masses, awak'
sned at last to the danger threatened
BY the German conQuerors, will cast
aside the compact
In the meantime It is anticipated
hat the President. in exchanges with
he entente allies, will insist more
than ever on the necessity
# winning the Slav nation away from
he Prussians and blocking Berlin's
lream OF an eastern empire.
How directly the move will bear or
he Japanese-Siberian situation is a
matter OF interested speculation. That
t should follow the guarded and in
'ormal efforts of Washington to re-
train the japanese in their proposal
% intervene in Siberia is regarded as
significant of the purpose of the United
states to insist upon a policy that will
permit Russia the fullest opportunity
10 work out her salvation
Admittedly the step is a desperat,
one- 1t Is readily conceded among
hose who advise with the administra
ion that the task of arousing the Rus
sian masses in time to the real men
ice of the German government Is q
lerculean one. At the same time il
IS felt here that the necessity of tht
,ase demands that no efforts be
spared.
Must Meet own Peril.
The President is said to feel that
he Russians themselves must be re
led on to meet the peril. AS the
7iews of this country were expressed
Informally in the exchanges with
Japan and the European entente, the
United States believes that unasked
'or Intervention by any OF them would
serve to drive the Russians further
away.
On the other hand, the State De.
oartment, from advices received with
in the last fOrty-eight hours. ha!
strong grounds for its belief thai
the German invaders. by the yer!
of their advance int
Russia, are encompassing their uIti
mate ruin. Not only is Russia begin,
ming to see the terrible import o.
the German-made peace, but al
Scandinavia is now aroused. Whert
the advancing Germans have sough
to plant terrorism, dispatches fndi