The Washington herald., 1918-06-24
Russia.

The end Of the road is approaching, far as
a continuance of the allied "watchful waiting" pol
icy towards Russia is concerned.
decision can no longer be suspended. Presi-
dent Wilson himself has stated that he is going
ito stand by" Russia. There can be only one
Interpretation of this phrase: that he is going to
protect the Russians, to the best of his ability,
against the plundering aggression of Germany.
That is what the President meant, for he followed
it up by saying, in effect, that peace would be
acceptable to the American government which left
Russia as abandoned carrion for the Prussian eagle
Now, how is the United States, how the
allies, Standing by" Russia today? By pursuing
a policy of negation; by allowing Germany to
wreak her will unopposed; by vacillating between
support opposition to the BolsheviE.
Now, it is vital that decision, right wrong,
be made by America and the allies. A positive,
active policy must be framed 1t is suggested, ALSO
that radical internal changes imminent in Rus
sia, for which the allies must be prepared. State
Department reports show a rapid disntegration of
'Bolshevist power. Whether this means a break
down of all government in Russia, thus making
the country utterly prey to Germanic infiltra-
ton, whether it portends return to power
of the cadet and bourgeois classes, revival of
the Kerensky regime, it is impossible to forete.
But Russia clearly is approaching crisis, and
it rests with London, Paris and Washington
whether this crisis is to be turned still farther to
the present indisputable advantage of Germany or
whether the allies to play trump card when
it comes.
There is report that President Wilson will re-
open the discussion the Russian question by
speech on July 4, which will define American aims
toward that country. The President clearly is
confronted with the alternative either of modify
ing the policy which he has pursued hitherto or
Of emphasizing still widely the rift in allied
councils regarding intervention. France, particu-
larly, is strong for sending an armed force in
Siberia. Perhaps a dominant element in the Brit
ish government also inclines to the same view
But Washington is opposed to it, because by
doing, according to the New Republic, President
Wilson would, by consenting to it, compromise
the constructive political aims behalf of which
he has asked his countrymen to enter the war;"
This may may not be true, but it is interest
ing to note that the political offensive which Ger
many will open as she has developed her
present military advantage to the limit of its ef
fectiveness will have Russia and the Eastern ques-
the basis OF the restoration of Belgium, the
alton OF France, compromise upon French and
Italian territorial demands, and the Brest-Ltovsk
and Rumanian treaties in the East, the allies must
offer something more than mere rejection. A really
positive, constructive policy in the East must be
shown if the German peace offensive is not to
have at least half a success in appealing to the
war-weary masses in France Britain and Italy
and in bringing about very real, perhaps even
substantial, and worrisome difference in aim and
opinion between Washington and allied capitals of
Europe.