The sun., 1918-12-18
WILSON ACTS TO FIX
, POLICY ON RUSSIA
Discusses SEav Problem With
" French Statesmen.


q
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.--The Russian
Aproblem has been taken up by Presi-
sdent Wilson with French statesmen. 1t
was learned here to-day, and the de-
termination OF a definite policy on
which all the allied countries and the
United states may agree will be one
Of the first things undertaken at the
preliminary meetings that arc to pre-
cede the peace conference.
Russia's plight and the attitude TO
DE adopted by the victorious associated
.nations is recognized as one of the
most serious problems OF the confer
eence, Every proposed solution so far
is said to have been blocked by the
Unanswered question OF who is quail
'ified to speak for the Russian people.
=. On,sk Group a Disappotntmcnt.
j. The Government at Omsk. O. which
ihe United States and other Govern
ments expected much Is now in the
shands of a dictator and split into fac
stions. The Entente nations have
mot given UP hope that the Omsk au-
sthoritiss may yet evolve q stable form
Sof government for Russia, but this has
mot been accomplished now and none
sof the allied Governments has recog-
Sptzed the Oms.k regime officially, al
Though all OF them are dealing with
SRussian representatives who are in
sclose touch with Admiral Kolchak and
shis Government.
Prince Lvoff, who was Premier in
1.-THE Kerensky Cabinet and who has
tdavatad ynoaf Of biS 1Sfa ~ the dayaIDsn-
tment of the zemstvo system in Rus
lsia. and Boris Bakhmeteff. the Rus
yslan Ambassador in Washington APP
pointed by kerensky. as we'll as Prof
PAM Miliukoff. Kerenskys Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, are on their way to
paris or already there, with other
prominent Russians, to do whatever
they can TO aid the Allies in the solu-
stion of the Russian problem. But
whether they represent the people OF
Russia at this time is a question which
ut privately is admitted cannot be an
severed here.
MiliukcR On Way to Paris.
Prince Lvoff has recently been in
washington, where he discussed the
Sftuation in mis- country with Presi-
adent Wilson and Secretary OF State
Lansing. Pro-. Miliukoff, whose stand
Eng in Russia under the Gar and dur
ing the Kerensky regime was very
high, has reao ned Constantinople from
fhe heart Of Bolshevik controlled Rus
fia by a route not yet divulged Somt
months ago It was reported thar Prof
Miliukoff has come under the influ.
ence of the Bolsheviki. but it Is re-
Sarded as evident from his opinions
Expressed IN Constantinople that he Is
mot Bolshevist now.
Alexieff, Denekine and other CosSacl
leaders are in control in the Cossacl
districts on the Don and at Orenburg
and are maintaining government
more nearly stable than any other II
Russia at present. unless 1t is Arch
angel, which is operating in accort
with the allied forces in the north
THE Cossacks also are extending theii
control over nearly all Of the Ukraine
Far from according any recognition
20 the Soviet regime at Petrograd, tn,
United States some. time ago called
upon all civilized nations 10 condemn
the Bolshevik reign of terror.
Joint Expedition Considered.
Even when a set of leaders is recog
nized as Russian Spokesman the
United States and the Allies must fac,
the great question Of how they can b,
aided In setting up n stable govern
nlent and in preventing famine. 10,
the benefit of Russia herself, as in tn,
interest of the peace of the world.
Until the armistice was signeS
troops and supplies could be sent t,
Russia only through Siberia, two
thirds Of the way around the world, o.
by Archangel. which was not feasible
for extensive operations because O
the transportation facilities.
Now, however, the Black Sea, tn
Baltic Sea ana the railroad line
through German and Austrian terri
tory offer better means 1t is be
Meved by officials here that the Ian,
route through Germany and Austri,
would be the best and most practica
way of reaching Russia.
II is stated that in conslderinJ
whether joint expedition should b.
sent to deal with and thereby inter
fere with Russia's internal affairs, tn
representatives of the United State
and the Allies must decide whethe
the Bolshevik movement is such
serious menace to civilization as (,
Justify extraordinary steps to sllml
nate it,
To aid him in the conferences witt
fhe Allied leaders, President Wilson
has taken a corps of Russian expert
wntNH lf 20