Evening journal., 1918-08-23
WILSON DELAYS
a. AID FOR RUSSIA
President, After Confer
,ssences, Decides to With
.oa : hold Commission
MILITARY FORCE
Is1as HAS BEEN SENT

WASHINGTON. Aug. 23.-The sendins
ec5s United States commission to ST.
51serla to extend aid to the Russian peo-
pie OF all political cults and faiths,
,and to reorganize and rebuild the shat
stared economic and agricultural forces
or that country for protection of its
1lyepples, has been indefinitely post
cpQned
After talking over the entire situa-
zion with relation 10 Russia with his
official advisors and with Col. House,
the. President has determined TO call
,rcff the sending Of the commission at
present. The postponement is ad-
n1ttedly Indefinite, depending on the
Developments in Rnssia and the prog
sfess Of the Czecho-Slovak and other
nlnyements.
1.-The President has not. however, It Is
stated on good authority, abandoned the
idea Of sending a large commission OF
business. commercial, agricultural and
financial men TO Siberia to work west
ward, organizing and aiding and giving
help to the people.
-vs Fhe military forces that were to he a
.paft Of the commission, "a police force
90. efford It and the supplies that were
to be used IN rebuilding the fullest
. measure Of protection" has already
beeu IN large part dispatched and some
s=units are on the ground. There are in
addition a goodly number Of Japanese,
who were to be part Of the military
force. already in Siberia. They Will
|, ipfflfect the huge stores Of American
Y easfiplies that We're left IN Nladlvostok
and along the Trans-Siberian Railway
} wRen the Russian Government was
.oRerturned by the revolutionists
The exact whereabouts Of these sup
plies. including munitions and a large
saniuunt OF railroad equipment, is not
known The military forces viii locate
tiiefn and give them a full measure Of
-proteotion without antagonizing the
utople. The officers Of these units will
hlxe time to familiarize themselves
.yYitii conditions in their respective 10
cailties before members Of the COM
mission arrive.
President Wilson. 10 Is understood,
discussed the situation with Col. House
ard with members Of the Cabinet and |
Of the Foreign Relations Committee Of |
ibs, Senate and the House personally |
,&nd. by correspondence, Senator Borah, |
Of the Foreign Relations Com |
nltee. had a lengthy conference with |
the Chief Executive, and though he |
las,s non-communicative it is known he |
discussed the Russian situation. The |
question Of the commission was also |
taken up by the Cabinet
Reorganization Of the commission and |
seieqtion Of men TO head Il and its
uaiss has been somewhat delayed This
f@tsnk viii not, however, be stopped.
Z aNsanization will go ahead so that the
-s=nxurnment win be ready to move az
.s4ny-time the right opportunity presents
Itself There has been some difllculty
III -1getiing suitable men. In every line
Of endeayor some Of the most adapt
able men for such delicate work as VIII
be required are already serving the
government. and Il has been found that
many other men are unwilling TO so TO
the country from which are coming !
constant reports Of riotlng, famine. !
sudden deaths, pestllence and disease. |
A contingent OF propagandists, who |
were scheduled TO leave this country /
early in August, more or less as an ad- /
vance guard has not sailed. Many Of /
the men are still in Washington. |
Whether they will so independently TO
carry the word Of American ideals and |
purposes to the Russian people is not
definitely known. Il is likely, however,
they VIII await decision on the COM
mission.