The Washington herald., 1918-06-13
Going Into Russia.


ment that the situation in Russia must be met by
positive measures, that Germany cannot be allow
cd to encompass the ruin of the once. great Savis
power unopposed, opinion is as hopelessly divided
in the entente nations as to the proper way
to proceed.
A large number Of persons not especially distin-
guished for knowledge of Russian conditions are
saying that it is time for the allies go into Rus
sia. The exact route to be taken is not sketched
is the public taken into confidence to what
is to be done on arrival 1t is apparently enough
to say that something insult be done, and done i'm
mediately.
Let hope it is permissible to break in on
these giyers of easy advice to remark that Russia
is some distance away, that it is large country,
and present is in condition of considerable
fusion. Its doorways for the most part closed.
Via the Baltic it is impossible to CO. via Finland
where rules dummy government that Germany has
set up Constantinople is still in the hands of the
Turk, and Archangel will be frozen before ex-
pedition could be fitted out Central Asia and the
Turkcstan desert have reverted to the control of
wandering tribesmen. Vladivostok still affords a
means of ingress, but except for little distance
toward the coast Siberia is in the hands of Boil
shevist- German combination.
Even if our entry to Russia proper could be
effected by an expeditionary force, which what
ported? Should we be Bolshevist anti-Bolshev-
of the various factions and parties would be sup
ist? If the former one can imagine what would be
tn eattitude of the masses of Russia as we tried
to shoot them into obeying Lenine, the German
agent who is Russia's present autocrat. If anti
Boshevis Russia would probably believe the charge
that we had come in to restore the Gar. Should
we be friends with Moscow, Kiev would be our
enemy. 40 attempt to compel reunion OF Russia
would bring against all the separatists.
The New York Globe points out the desirability
OF expelling the Germans from Russia is SUFFICIENTLY
manifest. But deal with a condition, not a
theory. War exists between the intelligent and the
uninteIgent of Russia, and numbers with the
latter they have the power to do as they please.
They please to follow leaders who engineered Rus
sia's withdrawal from the and in every prac-
tical way showed themselves docile German servi-
tors. With the best will to help the abiding Rus
sia to make her free, and to allow her to develop
her revolution as she wishes one has yet pointed
ont how any good will come from active interven-
tion.
II Russia is to be freed it viii be in consequence
OF events in France. If Germany's military power
is crushed then everything will happen of its own
weight. On the contrary, if Germany's military
power is not broken, and she dictates victor
or gets compromise peace, then the greater part
OF Russia will be a German province for an indeh-
mite period. The place for this country to help
Russia is in FrFance Any Russians in this coun-
try who wish their country to escape the German
yoke can best contribute to its emancipation by
going to France. So far as Russia herself is con-
cerned, her plain duty and interest-an obligation
she owes as much to the world as to herself and
TO the revolution whose fruits she would preserve
IS to resume the war which she should never have
lett off No form of words is substitute for such
action Russia if willing face such sacrifices as
other countries have made and are making, still
has great power. This power eventually will accrue
10 the benefit of Germany, which would enslave her
and reduce her various parts to vassal states ruled
by German principles, to the benefit of the
friends of Russia and the world in general AT
present Russia is assisting Germany. and as long
as this is her attitude ally government is likely
to place at her disposal materials OF war that she
might turn over to Germany.