The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-12-12
JOHNSON WANTS
TOKNOW TRUTH
Why Are We at War With
Russia?-Denies Sympa-
thy With BoISheviSm.
SEVERELY CRITIC ISES
Intimates That Delay to Go.
Operate Contributed to Sue
cess Of Bolsheviki.

II true? Is ii true? liz II true?"
Senator Hiram Johnson. of Califor-
mia, this afternoon propounded a Sc
ries of startling questions TO the
United States government on It's
policy In Russia, and introduced n
resolution In the senate calling for
all documents on the Russian policy
and information on the numbers and
activities OF American troops in Rus
sia.
These were Senator Johnson's
questions:
rs 1t true:
81. That the soviet government
offered to the American government
a basis of military and economic CO.
operation, and sought our help to
prevent ratification of the Brest
treaty, and that this government
never replied?
"2. That the assistant secretary Of
state. speaking for the president in
March last. when Intervention was
urged to save the Russian people
from the rigors of starvation and the
red terror. before the unity OF the
peasants and workers against the al
, lies had been established replied
that to intervene In Siberia would
be doing in the east exactly what the
Germans are doing in the west?
Trade and Commerce.
"3. That the soviet government
offers a program for making the
United States the most favored OF
foreign nations in trade and COM
merce and involving the control by
the allies of all supplies most desired
by the central powers?
II. That American Red Cross rep
resentatives remained in Moscow
until Oct. s, and in Petrograd until
Oct. 16. unmolested. even while
American troops were fighting the
soviet government, and then were al
lowed to depart under safe conduct
of the soviet government?
"5. That the state department has
refused to allow the Red Cross to
ship supplies to Moscow and Petro-
grad for the relief of returning Rus
sian war prisoners, and was this re-
fusal based on Creel information and
the fear that these supplies would be
turned over by the starving people
to Germany?
Co-Operation.
&c. That the ambassador and the
British high. comwissioner recom--
mAnded Cos operation with The soviet
government through the American
railway mission, and that the soviets
promised to place the Siberian rail-
way in the hands of the mission, but
that the recommendations were re-
jected, largely because of the mis-
information received through the
Creel committee, supported by lead
ers and representatives of the old
regime in Russia?
~. That the refusal of these rec
concentrations prevented the evacua-
nf
plies. which subsequently fell into
the hands of the Germans?
"3. That the British high COM
missioner stated over his signature
that the soviet government had CO.
operated in aiding the allies and that
he believed that Intervention in CO.
operation with the soviet government
was feasible as late as May 5, 1918"
80. That the American govern
ment so delayed cooperation with
the Kerensky government as to con-
tribute largely to the overthrow OF
Kerensky and the success Of the boil
shevik revolution"
johnson made it plain he had no
sympathy with "bolshevism", but at
the same time thought the time had
come for full information. Bear in
mind" he said, that the news which
comes to us from Russia is all col
ored. l have no doubt that terror
exists. that many worthy people
have been cruelty and outrag eously
murdered. l have no doubt that
starvation stalks among the people.
but, as l read of the net of steel
cast around Russia by the allies and
ourselves by which no food can enter
that unhappy country. l ask the
question:: Can 1t be that we, in any
degree. are responsible for the bloody
terror there existing? Van 1t be
that we, in any measure. are respon-
sible for starving poor and misguided
peasants?"
The Creel bureau, Johnson de-
clared, apparently has been engaged
not in developing facts for our peo-
pie, but in justifying course subse-
quently pursued at variance with our
wrods."
Meaning Of Change.
Johnson asked the meaning OF the
change in the terms of the armistice.
as regards the evacuation Of Russian
territory.
what field for speculation this
modification Of the armistice terms
presents" he explained. Can 1t be
that the German bribed bolsheviki,
acting in conjunction with Germany,
and doing Germany's will, must be
kept in order by German troops"
Continuing his question, johnson
asked:
Policy Of Nation.
What Is the policy of our nation
towards Russia? Are we now en-
gagged in destroying bolshevism? II
we are, what have we decided shall |
fnI v,1a uya q On n, IN nttf
the Romanoffs upon the throne? Do |
we seek a dictator for this starved
land? Is there single faction. is
there single individual we intend |
to put in power, after we have waded |
through blood to Moscow and Petro-
grad? When we have buried our |
dead of cold, of privation, and of
fatigue, and those who were slain " |
battle, are we, with the American |
flags flying in the streets of the Rus
sian capital, to set up one kind OF
government as against another kind.
one set of men as against another,
or one man who comes out Of the
old regime? l ask these questions in
the utmost good faith. do not know
our policy, and / know no other man
knows our policy. I do know that
we are killing Russians. and they,
when they can, are killing ours, and
that hits, we are doing upon Russian
soil. Is 1t presumptious upon the
part of one in this chamber to ask
why we are slaughtering Russians
and why do we sacrifice our own
blood? warn you OF the policy
which God forbid this nation should
evW enter upon. Of endeavorlng to
impose by military force upon the
various peoples of the earth the kind