Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-15
SEES .. S. LEADER
IN WORLD AFFAIRS
DIR. E. ]. Dillon Praises
Russian Policy as Proper
Method
PRAISES PEACE REPLY
Noted Correspondent Refers
to Russo-Japanese Nego-
tiations as Evidence
PRAISES PEACE REPLY

spondent of the London Daily Telegraph,
arrived at this port on Saturday and
Is at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel while
awaiting steamship reservations for the
last lap OF his trip. Mr.. Dillon expects
to leave here soon on his Nmission and
is engaged in completing some arrange
ments In New York and Philadelphia.
Doctor Dillon was one of the out
standing diplomatic figures during the
Russian-Japanese War and is perhaps
the best posted of all authorities on Rus
sa as country and as a commercial
factor in the worlds post-belum COM
merce.
Russia" said Doctor Dillon. "is too
big subject to treat from any one
angle and apply that finding or be-
lief to the entire country. There are
80 many nationalties and factions at
work there. That and the fact that the
country lacks unity of any kind makes
Is impossible to cast any prediction as
to what the future holds in store for
Russia.
The great question now is, Can Rus
sia be reused out of the comatose state
into which she has fallen?' and my own
opinion is that II will be exceedingly
difficult. but that It can be done. 1 also
think that the general lines upon which
President Wilson has planned to help
Russia are the right lines. That is to
say, he has not only eschewed violence
of any kind, but he has also declined
to put any kind of pressure upon the
people which they would be likely to re-
sent.
Wilson's Policy Correct
Russia will have to be restored by
her own people She may and must be
helped by friends from without, but
helped only in a friendly way. That,
1 believe, Is the basis of President Will
sons policy toward Russia.
81 have just finished reading Presi-
dent Wilson's reply to the last German
note and l believe the conditions he
names are indispensable to permanent
peace. l feel perfectly confident that
we, on the other side, should have lost
this war already had 1t not been for
the Intervention of the United States
The tide of battle has certainly turned
since the dark days of last year. Hav-
ing helped Europe SO far and In SO
many ways, 1t is desirable that Presl-
dent Wilson should crown his work by
enabling the Allies to achieve dplo-
matte unity.
'The fact that I am visiting the
United States while she is at war causes
me TO cast my mind back thirteen years
to the time came here from st. Peters
burg near the close of the Russo-Jap-
anese War. / came then as the friend
and adviser of Witte, the Russian pleni-
potentiary and chief of the mission sent
TO discuss peace terms with the Japan
ese delegation at Portsmouth.
From the middle OF the Atlantic.
dispatched the longest wireless message
that ever had passed over the ocean
Besides being the longest. the message
was also the most important that hat
L., e. kSo
time. 1t was transmitted by sever
ships and was published by the Londoi
Daily Telegraph and various newspaper
in the United States. 1t embodied al
account ofsea conversation i had hat
with Witte, who wished me to put be
fore the world his far from hopefu
view of the errand on which he wal
coming and his appreciation that
might lead to nothing.
"Witte construed his mission as al
inquiry into Japan's Willingness to enc
the war on reasonable terms. and h
ventured the opinion that Japan's no
tion of what was reasonable would diffe
so widely from Russia's view as to pre-
clude the hope of an accord.
THAT telegraphic message dampene'
the enthusiasm Of friends of peace OF
both side of the Atlantic and seeme'
to warrant the pessimtstic forecasts
that were published in the press of ST
Petersburg and Moscow. and by tn
time we reached New York the feelinl
was general that the peace conference
would end in words and the war woul'
80 on much longer
United States Deciding Factor
But In these forecasts one importan
factor was left wholly out of considera
tion-the -benefcent influence of the peo
pie of the United States. As soon as
had a conversation on the subject wit
the President at oyster Bay I discerne
at Nonce the existence OF the incalculabl
force of that factor. whereupon too
a much more favorable view of tn
work. Later on at Portsmouth the bal
ance seemed to be in favor OF going o.
with the war, and I was charged b
Witte with the drafting of a telegrar
10 the Car announcing the failure @
the negotiations and ascribing 1t to tn
Japanese The specific weight of thl
American influence then made itself fel
The war scale rose Immediately and tn
result Of our conference was the peac
which the civilized world so fully de
sired.
To-day much more destructive wa
Is raging. The civilization Of the Angle
Saxon, Latin and Slav races was nc
merely menaced but would have sue
cumbed before this time had II not bee
for the generous intervention of the pee
Pile of this great land. who have bee
and are contributing everything to tn
threatened cause. Today, however the
are no longer merely a beneficent factc
in a monstrous struggle. They are Il
deciding factor. The leadership of III
Entente.s of the civilized nations OF III
world. IS passing to the United State
am proud TO reckon mysof one OF tn
pilgrims to what will be the new worl
in every sense Of the term
"I come to this country in a spirit
admiration and gratitude. 1t is trr
that america was not the first TO form
uiate, the fruitful doctrines which al
about to constitute the ethical basis
the new ordering OF the world. but 81
did more. She drew them from tn
dust of libraries into the sunlight
human interest and caused them
strike deep roots among the peoples
the earth. Fearlessly she threw hei
self across the mighty currents Of ey
that were sweeping away the mainsta,
OF our culture and saved the noble he
itage OF mankind from ruin.
"Her conception of progress Is spi
cious. lofty and systematic. II Al
men with enthusiasm and impels the
to eficacious endeavor. In order to rea
ize these things In full for the wei
being of the human race. all that woul
seem to be needed now Is continuity
policy md perseverance"