New-York tribune., 1918-07-01
Konovaloff Tells Lansing
Russians Wait End
of Soviets
Present Tyranny Is
Worse Than CzarisIn
Says Refusal of Military
and Other Help Means
Return to a Monarchy


Minister in Kerensky's cabinet, who
escaped from prison and reached this
country through Siberia, says that
Russians consider the United States
their greatest and truest friend" and
that the American army is unique IN
the history of humanity"
Konovaloff, who recently presented
his views of the needs of Russia to
Secretary Lansing and Colonel House,
in a statement to The Associated Press
outlined the present situation and hts
opinion as to the future, which OF
course is altogether antagonistic to
claims of the friends of the Soviets:
unfortunately" said the statement,
Russia is performing her transforms
ton under the tightening grip Of Ger
man domination. Having entered the
revolution, when, after three years of
war, the country was on the verge of
economic exhaustion, Russia. through
further disorganization, is approaching
now critical degree of disintegration.
Disappointed and disheartened, Russia,
if not Immediately given proper eco
nomic and military help by the Allies,
will unavoidably return to reaction
which under actual conditions, can
bring about the count-y's return to
czarism, supported by German bayo-
nets.
Cites Bolshevik Tyranny
II am glad that the real nature of
Bolshevism is already properly under
stood in this country. The tyranny
reestablished by the Bolsheviki is
probably worse than the recent tyran-
ny of czarsm. They have annihilated
all civic rights, they have suppressed
the Liberal and, partially, the Socialist
press, they have arrested many promi-
nent and respected Liberal and Revo-
lutionary leaders. They have dissolved
the municipal councils and semstvos-
elected by the entire population on the
basis of universal suffrage, and have
crowned this tyrannical policy by dis
persing with bayonets the all Russian
Constituent Assembly.
The Bolsheviki have betrayed Rus
sla by concluding, against the will of
the people and against the expressed
the 'Brest-Litovsk peace which prac.
tically makes Russia a German colony,
and have brought the great masses of
that part of European Russia which is
under their influence to the point of
starvation.
"Now, after the real nature of Boil
shevism is clear to The entire world,
the Bolsheviki themselves do not insist
upon recognition of the Bolsheviki, but
fhA recnonition Of ho
crnment of the Soviets. This is a new
camoufage for the Bolshevist propa-
ganda in the Allied countries The
Soviets are class organizations, and if
they would be even ideally organized,
if the great masses of the Russian
peasantry and proletariat would fully
participate in them, which is contrary
to fact, it would not make them insti-
tutions entitled to speak for the coun-
try, because even in this case many
classes of Russia's population would
not be represented in the government
which speaks for the nation.
Russia needs immediate general
and military help. There is no doubt
that action on the part of the Allies
will be welcomed by an overwhelming
majority of Russia if the move is
preluded by "a joint Allied declaration
that the Allies are ready to do every
thing In their power, in accordance
with President Wilson's declaration, ia
free Russia from Germany's yoke, to
restore to Russia her lost territories
and to preserve the Russian democracy
by giving her the possibility for free
development.
"lt is advisable that the Allied com.
mission should be headed by a civil
commissioner, with an established
political reputation, accompanied by ar
Allied military contingent sufficient tx
combat the inevitable German and pro
German opposition. The Allied mis-
sion should closely cooperate with tn,
organs of local government, will
the municipalities and Zemstvos, which
will be reestablished as soon as tha
part of the country, where the AL
lied commission will enter, will retur,
to order and the sound democrati
elements will consolidate their force
to save the country,
"The country is prostrated by ter
rible sufferings, by lack of food, clothe
and fuel, and this is the Fundamental
cause of the Russian crisis. This ca,
be eliminated by generous financia
and technical help rendered Russia b,
her allies. On the other hand W.
still have hundreds of thousands O
patriots. veterans of this war. who viii
be glad to rally around the militar,
contingent accompanying the Alice
commission, as around the nucleus O
the future Russian army.
"The fate of Russia. as the fate O.