The sun., 1918-08-01
RUSSIAN SOCIALISTS
APPEAL TO ENTENTE


Bolshevik Government denies us every
possibility OF open discussion or OF
struggling for what we consider Rus
sia's only hope Of salvation, namely,
the summoning OF constituent as
sembly and the reestablishment OF
popular organs for local admlnistra-
ton: in word, placing all the power
In the hands of the people?
6. Are the Bolsheviks right when
they assert that all the other Russian,
Socialist parties are seeking not to
free the working classes from the
despotic oppression Of a small minority.
but a concert OF the bourgeois and
monarchist elements TO bring about .
counter revolution?
After making this proposal for COM
mission Of inquiry the appeal continues:
I'VE are concerned for the honor OF
the International We consider II abso-
lutely insufferable that influential Sec
lions OF the international labor move
ment. without having made the least ef-
fort to obtain satisfactory and impair
tial information, should give moral sup
port to the anti-democratic policy OF the
Bolsheviks and be the involuntary ac-
cessories in an unprecedented historical
crime
Referendum IL Demanded.
The Socialist parties Of Russia have
proposed again to the Bolsheviks that
the problem should be solved in a free
and democratic manner by an appeal
to the people In the shape Of a referen-
dunn or the election OF new constituent
Assembly. The stubborn refusal OF the
Bolsheviks TO accept such a proposal or
TO admit any limitation of their despotic
powers has created situation from
which. exactly as in the case OF Car
ism, there is no way out except through
force.
at must not happen that the Interna-
tional, by giving moral support to tho
Bolsheviks, shall weaken Socialist oppo-
sition and SO help the reactionary ele-
ments to bring about a liquidation Of
Bolshevism in their own interests, which
are Numerically oppoyed to those of the
soclalistic democracy. We are convinced
that the International will do all that
Is possible to establish commission OF
inquiry and send II to Russia by doing
this II will fulhl the desires OF the prole-
tariat not only Of Russia but Of all coun-
tries"
1t Is impossible to deny that this long
and moving appeal. Of which the above
IL Oully SUMMARIZED version, suDStan-
TALLY Is justified by the facts, although
the signers In condemning the Socialists
of western Europe for the moral support
that they are inclined to give the Boil
shevik regime hardly make n sufficient
allowance for the almost insuperable diff
f1culties in obtaining Satisfactory and
impartial Information from Russia. All
the more is 1t desirable that this un-
questionably authoritative statement OF
the plight and feelings of the Russian
democracy should obtain the widest pos
sible publicity abroad.
All the latest information received
here from Russia seems to indicate that
at last the Bolshevk regime really has
reached the end of its tether and that its
supporters abroad soon will be deprived
Of even tho excuse OF opportunism. II
this view OF the situation is correct such
commission OF inquiry as is proposed
might do much in the near future to give
conference to the will OF the Russian de-
mocracy. might indeed achieve in the
political sphere results closely parallel
| to those now visible as achieved by other
forces in the military sphere.