New-York tribune., 1918-07-14
Member of Russian Mission
Says Revolt Would Not
Succeed
Mirbach Duped People
German Aid to Bolsheviki and
Reconsideration of the
Treaty Offered

WASHINGTON, w July 13.--In q pre-
pared statement to-day John Sookine,
of the Russian Mission, declared again
that only the help of the Allies could
restore Russia, and, as an example of
German diplomacy, charged that Count
Won Mirbach, the assassinated German
Ambassador at Moscow, has proposed
German aid for the overthrow of the
Bolsheviki and reconsideration of
the Brest-Litovsk treaty.
"The elements for national move
ment tending to liberation from Ger
man grip exist in Russia, as revealed by
the Moscow revolt and the valiant
Czecho-S Slovak movement" said Mr..
Sookine. "The apparent failure Of
| this national movement through COM
, bined German Bolshevik attacks proves
! once more that no matter how sincere
and genuine the anti-German feelings
which inspire the peasants and popular
organizations, any attempt of ma
tional character would not succeed
without friendly Allied help"
The statement follows:
"The always changing conditions in
Russia have passed in the last few
days into a new critical phase which
modfies almost entirely the whole sit
uation, unveiling new hopes and pos
sibilities. Two important events have
happened: the Moscow revolt is being
suppressed and the valiant Czecho-
Slovak troops are seriously threatened
by combined German Bolshevik at
tacks.
Prevailing Factors in Russia
"The following factors prevail in
Russia's present conditions:
81. The elements for national
movement tending to liberation from
the German grip exist in Russia, and
revealed themselves through the
Moscow events. these elements origi-
mating directly from the peasant and
popular organizations which the So
cial Revolutionary and Social Demo
crat parties undoubtedly are
"2 The apparent failure of this
national movement proves once more
that, no matter how sincere and gen
uine the anti German feelings which
inspire the national Russian, any at
tempt of a national character would
not succeed without friendly Allied
help, and this on account of the fact
that the watchful eye of Germany,
her propaganda and authority with
the Bolshevik government, will un-
doubtedly oppose and crush every
attempt of that nature, which would
be real threat to Germanys sue
cesses in Russia, and, if developed
might be the mortal blow we here
wish that Germany should receive
from regenerated Russia.
'3. AS to the fact which appears
to-day beyond any doubt-that Ger
many has direct interest in oppos-
ing every move that could lead to an
uprising of the national spirit in
Russia would simply quote that
the present attitude Of Germany has
openly expressed her satisfaction,
and even congratulations to the Boil
shevik government for the happy
suppressing of the revolt Further
more. Germany is even willing to
pass over the murder of her ambas-
sador in Moscow, which under other
circumstances she certainly would
not have done"
"But feel that it might be timely
to reveal to the American people all
that we know Of Count Mirbach activi-
ties in Russia. This adroit Prussian
diplomat, while entertaining the most
cordial relations with the Bolshevik
government and flooding the country
with false news and deliberate misin-
formation. was simultaneously making
all efforts to tempt the moderate Rus
sian groups to accept German mill
tary help for the overthrow of the
Bolsheviki. He was assuring the ma
tional Russian organizations that Ger
many had certainly a real interest in
having in her neighborhood a moder
ate government which would agree to
friendly relations only with the Central
Powers. Mirbach went so far as to
promise an immediate reconsideration
of the BrestLitovsk treaty.
Mirbach's Proposals Rejected
''The Russian national proups AL
though not conceding their hopeless
condition and growing despair from