New-York tribune., 1918-02-20

tu1e OF the Russian subject by one
IS Ve7'y interesting also IN another u
q man OF long Wall Street training-
Russl0 on q Red Cross e?'yand and
Botshevlkl. He mo1U is one of THEN
country. He 1uas once said to be o,
collars of his oac1a money to be used
m0ny, but achetheY he did actually d
10 the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: duly read Professor Petrunkevitch's
letter printed in The Tribune of February
b, IN which he speaks Of the "regrettabe mis-
statements and neutrality-suspicious." made by
me IN a recent address about Russia The
professor, l am sorry to see, has taken quite
some grounds against the idea of working
mems government in Russia.
The professor asks whether I know that
the chief objection to Kerensky himself on
the part Of the Bolshevki was that Kerensky
stood for war while the Bolsheviki clamored
1or peace" 1t is true that this was an OBJ
Jectlon on the part of the Bolshevki to
Mr.. Kerensky, though a minor one: their
chief objection that he sought to main
tam a coalition government, which included
the property owners as we'll as the WORKING
men. L had hoped that Mr.. Kerenskv wonld
De able to carry through this coalition idea
70 the end, but the Cadets, as the party of
property was known, objected to coalition
winch included labor, and grew uncontrol-
liable IN their objection to his manner of
prosecuting the war. The Korniloff and sim
mar counter-revolutionary plots, inspired BY
Inc Cadets, and, Of course, aided by the Ger
mans' were interpreted by the common peo-
pie as designed to shove the great, rejoicing
democracy of Russia back under the restraint
OF 1orce These movements terrified the nro
letariat and made inevitable workinpmen,s
government, with the properted class ex-
cluded
Lawiessness Exaggerated
Inc professor asks me whether know of
the Petropavlovsk horror, the SLAUGHTER of
officers at Vborg and Riga and various acts
or rape and pilage which have made his
lace red with shame as a Russian. Of course
hho" That some lawlcss things happened:
puO great number that were reported never
dld happen. They are the inventions of
German propagandists and of rival noliti
clans. For instance, I am sure the professor
VIII be glad to have me tell him. from NV
own knowledge, that the reported outraees
of the Women's Battalion, The destruction
OF Moscow" and the wholesale massacre of
young military officers after they had sur
rendered never occurred The killing of the
o'hcerS at Viborg, Riga and the Russian
snip fetropaviovsk occurred not under the
bolsheVlk government, which the professor
IS deploring, but during the Kornilotf affair.
two months before the Bolshevik government
was formed. Those outbreaks we're due to
the excitement and terror of the army and
navy at the prospect of a successful counter
revolution
lhis mornings newspapers contain a dis
patch saying that one hundred people were
killed IN Petrograd riots day or two ago
don't believe ten were killed. The same old
eAaggeratlons are going on every day, and
'he PITY OF 1t ls that apparently most of
US continue to swallow these stories whole
AS an American citizen interested in helm
ing the Russian situation in practical wav
so as to try mutually to serve nv own coun-
Try and the Russian people, I believed that
'ie herehsky government was going in the
iieilC ulrectlon. But because the Cadets tho
property owning classes and German prona-
sahdlsts deliberately wrecked coalition there
is no reason to my mind for aband thesa
people. Because they are now irving tho
experiment OF a workingmen's government 7
see no reason why all the Allies should NOT
give them square deal
other American Observers Concur
Regarding the professors argument AGAINST
me recognition Of the Bolshevik government
OIL Nussla | know that he Will be glad to have
me inform him Of personal Telegram, to me
GATED January 90 from Raymond Robins Of
ohlcago, one of the well-known public men
or this country, now in Russia:
PElROGRAD, January 23, 19lS-Soviet
government stronger to-day than ever be-
fore. Its authority and power greatly
consolidated by the dissolution of the Con-
stltuent Assembly, which was led and con-
trolled by Chernoff as permanent president
Acceptance of this dissolution as final
without important protest, is general
throughout Russia. Chernoff's propramme
is not essentially different from the Boil
shevlk industrial and social programme.
but it criticised the Bolsheviki as unable to
conclude peace. Had control finally rested
with this Assembly under such leadership
the chances are that a separate peace
would have been concluded without regard
to the principles controlling the Bolshevik
leaders. 1t becomes increasingly evident
that the present leaders, without regard
to the consequences, Will refuse to abandon
the principles adopted in negotiations with
the Central Powers. Cannot too strongly
urge Importance OF prompt recognition OF