Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-15
MUST DRIVE HUNS
FROM RUSSIA, SAYS
BALFOUR IN HOUSE
Has Absolute Faith in Japan S
Loyalty to Allies. He
Declares.
PROBLEM A LONG ONE
rs Associated Press . Every Evening

BY Associated Press 20 Every Evening
London. March IL Debate on the
question If japanese intervention IN
Siberia IN the House of Commons today
brought from Foreign Secretary Balfour
the declaration that German penetration
in Russia must be combattcd The
Allies point Of view was that they should
heln Russia in protecting herself against
Germany Although he did not think
that Germany would send an army to
Nladivostok he said he had absolute
faith in Japans loyalty in carrying out
any decision reached by the Allies
Discussing the situation in Russia,
Mr. Balfour said:
IF Russia had not been At war It
would have taken many years TO com
plctc the bcncfccnt course Of the rcvo-
luton. When autocracv fell almost with
out blow. Russia immediately fell INTO
chaos. II is untrue to say the same thing
happened in the French revolution for
there the effect was not the dlslntegra-
ton but the Intcgratlon OF France. Pre-
ciselv the opposite happened IN Russia.
The revolution came and all the old dlvi-
sions between regions and creeks be-
came marked and prominent.
PROBLEM WILL TAKE TINE.
1T must inevitably take time before
We will lsec the end of that process and to
know clearly how much OF old Russia If
anv. ought to cease 10 form part Of new
Russia. and how new Russia will be con
stituted 1t Is very difficult process
in time Of peace and prosperity. but how
can YOU carry it on in time Of war with a
remorseless, perscverIng and quite un-
NJ hn
There will be classes. some from patri-
otic, Others from sell sh motives, ready to
welcome ANYTHING promising semblance
OF stability and order in the government.
When that time comes | can imagine
Germany irving TO re-establish pcss bly,
the old form OF autocratic goverrm mt.
We should then have Russia shorn OF some
of It's fairest provinces and with kind Of
autocracy far worse than the old autocra acy
beac1Ise II would lean upon a forcgn power
for continued existence. If that came
TO pass All our dreams Of Russian develop
ment and Russian liberty would be gone
and Russia would become q mere out
post Of the Central Powers.
That IS the Te;1 difficulty of dealing
with the problems raised IN this debate.
Mr.. Iees-Ssnith's speech IS strong
attack on what he conceIves Is the gov
ernmcnts policy with regard TO Japan
and Siberia II Is entirely obhviols OF
the faces | have just brought before the
House and Is based on q profound ms
understanding of what any human being
had ever thought, contriyed or desired
with regard to Allied Intervention, Jap
anesc OF other, IN Russian affairs
REPUDIATEs LIBERALS CHARGE
~ ]
tioning Mr. Balfour as to the British atti-
tude, had declared that if Japan entered
Russian territory and occupied 1t at the
mandate of the ALLIANCE. it followed with
almost absolute certainty that this
territory would not be returned.
Il cannot let this debate end" SAID
Mr.. Balfour in conclusion, without
repudiating to the full Mr. Lees-Smith' S
suggestion that Japan would be moved
bv selfish and dishonOrable motives in
any course which may be discussed in
Japan either among her statesmen or
with the Allies
Japan has behaved with perfect 10y
altv and if she gives promises with regard
to Russian integrity or on any ''uestion
connected with Russia, she wot.. i keep
them as she has kept all promises she
has made in connection with this war
or in any great public transactions with
the United States and the Allies | draw
no distinction in this matter between
Japan and the Allies who make up the
great body Of the belhgerents on the
Entente side
The decisions the Allies may have 70
take viii not be without difficulty, but
the principle upon which those decisions
NAV be arrived at will be neither ungen-
erolIs, unfair nor hostile TO Russia and tho
Russian revolution. Our object is t.
see Russia strong, intact, secure and free
and if these objects can be obtained then
and then only, will the Russian revolution
bring forth all the fruits its best friend
desire to see"