The Washington herald., 1918-06-13

II seems time for America to
and to look some Of the facts in
the face.
Only by so doing can We achieve
anything like success in our af-
fairs with that turbulent country.
In the first place. the debacle Of
last year has embarrassed us tre-
mendously. We can never gain
ground now which We lost then
or which We might never have fall
len upon had we gone about the
affair as though we knew the peo-
pie of the stricken country. Our
only play now is to leave Russia
very much alone, and to hope that
the rapidly revolving events in that
country will bring its people soon
to a recognition of their own as
to what is their best course.
In other words, we must let Rus
sia find out itself what is wrong
with II. Our efforts to impress
the thing upon Russia have won
the country over to the German
peace cry. Our further EFFORTS
might win Russia over to a point
where We would make 1t a posi-
tive and potent ally of the German
cause. (There are some, in fact,
who say that very little is yet to
be done to achiev that end)
BY leaving Russia alone. however.
we do not mean that we must neces-
sarily lay down in that country.
There are some ways by which we
can work with individuals and
groups in a rather informal and
entirely. unofficial way-in the man
ner of educators-to help them to
arrive at that state OF mind where
they can see things our way.
All of which is submitted by
numerous members of Congress as
a sane solution for some OF the
Bears troubles and the solution
which this country should realize
is the only one which will help 1t.
We confess to a belief that Sem
ator Borah's "oepn diplomacy" reso-
luton was intended, in part to
either make President Wilson in
dorse literally what he said in his
message Of January s. or else am
plify his views in such a way as
to indicate that open" did not
mean within sight of the entire
world at all times. There are sew
eraI members Of the Senate who
subscribe to this view and who.
moreover, confess that from a par
tisan standpoint Il was not a bad
move for the Presidents alleged
predicament to be displayed to the
members of the Upper House and
possibly to the people Of the coun-
try.
Talk on the hill indicated many
more curious things underneath the
surface, than would probably devel-
ope in any debate of the subject.
This itself is proof that were treat
les to be discussed in the Senate
before the public. there would be
vastly more sybrosa activity than
the people should be subjected to.
under an open work plan.
Credit for the enactment of the
smoot pension bill will 60 to the Re
publicans-at least, Representative
Reavis says so in an extended re-
marks speech in the House. The
document. which he pours his par
tisanship into, appears to be fraught
with political possibilities, and there
side of the chamber who say they
will be surprised IL 1t does not find
general circulation amonge the vet
Grams when election time rolls around
No one is peeved, OF course, because
Mr.. Reavis made this statement, be-
cause the credit for pension legis-
lation is something the members fire.
quently debate over. and both par
ties claim in the Anal analysis-and
each gets some of the credit when
the votes are counted in the fall.
We wonder IL the glee with which
several newspapers Jumped into Sec
retary, Lansing's statement about
fighting the German people Is re-
fiected In the White House. The
newspapers have indicated that Sec
retary Lansing had thoroughly purg-
ed their minds OF the belief that we
could fight Germany and still feel
friendly to the German people. The
President said II this way. so some
Of them contend, but they now note
with some satisfaction that Secretary
Lansing has more than rent asunder
our anomalous situation in this re-
spect. The attitude of the German
people. judging by their actions. is
one Of sympathy with their Kaiser.
But the. attitude of the German peo-
pie. were IL possible to read their
minds. might be different We believe
that II is. But this Is such an in
tangible thing, i'm war OF such pro-
nounced tangibilities. that we can no
longer take cognizance of IL So the