Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-02
RUSSIA OFF SLATE.
SAYS Mr.. ASQU|1A
Allies Will Eventually Win Be-
cause Great Spiritual Powers
Are Theirs.
PRETENSIONS AND INTENTIONS
Former Prime Minister of Great
Britain on Spirit of
Germans.
BY HERBERT ASQUITu.
Former Prime Mini.tcr of Britain.
international News Bureau

international News Bureau
LONDON, June lit is true. in the
case OF the sea, that the development.
in defiance alike of international
usage and of the plancst dictates Of
humanity, of the submarine warfare
has made such inroads on our mercan-
tile marine that 1t has become the
primary duty of the allies to increase
and to increase largely. and to in
crease without delay, both in pace and
quantity. their output OF merchant ship
ping. 1t is true also that on land the
enemy has been able. owing TO the
collapse OF Russia. to transfer large
numbers of divisions and guns from
the east 20 the west. where at this
moment he confronts US in stronger
force than at any time sine, the be-
ginning of the war. But neither of
these new dangers. though they are
serious. and even formidable. I'LL me
with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as we are
in the Skill and the Judgment OF our
admirals on the water and our generals
in the field and in the tried and in
vincible tenacity of the gallant men
whom they command
/ have said that we still hold what
| have described as the KEYS of tho
position. But VIC cannot and ~ we
could we ought not to. divert our .v4s
from the tragedy which has been un-
folding itself during the last wear in
the east. and OF which perhaps no.
even yet have We reached the clinax
] remember an eminent diplomatist
saying to me in the carly weeks of the
war that Germany. notwithstanding all
II ia1 nd,
Of position. was bound TO fail in the
long run. asked him why. He was
Frenchman. and he modestly omitted
10 lay stress on the magnificent and
inGrained military instinct of our own
'e!io"-countrymen and their marvellous
co'nnlnatto... proved hundred and a
Thousand times in this war. Of dash
ana discipline. She will fail" he said.
sooner or later because she will find
mat she is opposed to the two crea,
Intangible powers of the world. Grea,
Britain and Russia. You cannot strike
blow ut the heart of either"
IL was in fact, he said the same nroh-
lem which hundred years ago bar1ed
napoleon, the most supreme military
genius the world has ever seen. That
characterization OF Russia was horne
out by everything we knew OF the
Facts OF her history and the psvchoIopv
OF her people. and onlv wear ,ro
"hen she still presented an unbrokon
ana heroic front TO the common foe
was being borne out again by her con.
duct of the war
let what is the case to-day?
RUSSIA STILL ENGAGED
IN DEVOURING ITS CHIIDREH
Io-oay. offered by those who have
'"c power 10 Impose it. the choice be-
t"ecn defeat and surrender. she has
~ '"e pens or those who profess to
act In her name. subscribed to an in
credioiy humiliating peace. Russia
during the last year has thrown off a
oad government without so far OBJ
tanning good one in it's place In the
ola phrase used more than hundred
years ago, the revolution is still en-
gagged in devouring it's children.
Russia is paying the penalty in ter
ritorial mberment and for tho
time. at any rate. in mili---v and
political humiliation, dragging after
her in her downfall gallant and nm
daunted Roum a.
DO not let us suppose however :,
Is going to be the end for ono sti,,
nrmiy hope and believe that the Rus
sis nation will yet find rallv;nc
point around which, not perhaps a,
once. but in time. there will ra,her
those great unifying forces. spiritnaI
as wen as material. which autocracv
ana us pest to smother. and which tho
FeNoiutlon has so far only succeeded
III oissipatiag and reducing to practical
impotence. The Russia Of the past
whose annals with many somber and
oiood-Stalned pages are illustrated 3y
great names and fine achievements in |
almost every sphere of human activity.
cannot be permanently degraded into
group of German and Turkish |,
satrapies
Yet. whatever hopes we NAV enter
tain for the ultimate emerrence after
this fiery ordeal of a regenerated and !
consolidated Russia. there are two
Facts to confront us as we survey tn.
immediate situation which are not only |
relevant but vital The first of course |
Is mat as an effective military factor
IN me war, Russia must now be treated |
as wiped OIL the slate. and the allies, |
Fe-enforced as they are by the worlds
democracies our kinsmcn in the United !
states. must lay their plans, strategic
and diplomatic. accordingly.
The other fact is the light thrown
upon the procedure of Germany in |
these so-called negotiations upon the
mind and methods of her present
rulers. There has rarely been a moro
instructive contrast between preten-
sion and intention. Count Hertljnr.
the German Chancellor. has recently
told the world that he accepts in prin-
ciple-there is much saving grace In
tho phrase Gin principlc"-the four
general propositions Of President Will
son. He declares. to use his own words.
that he would joyfully greet a court
OF international arbitration. He even
casts wistful and sentimental glance
In the direction of the league of ma
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