Republican farmer., 1918-03-15
WILSON PLEDGES
RUSSIANS AID OF
US. GOVERNMENT

Washington, March 12-"The whole
heart of the people of the United
States is with the people of Russia
IN the attempt to free themselves for
ever from autocratic government and
become masters of their own life"
This is the concluding sentence of
a message to the Russian people from
President Wilson, cabled to Maddin
Summers, American Consul General
at Moscow.
Mr.. Summers is instructed to de-
liver the Presidents message to the
Congress of Soviets, which is recog-
nlzed as really representative of the
RUSSIAN people. The congress meets
today in the old capital to consider
the treaty of peace forced on the Boil
sheEik government by Germany.
President Wilson does not advise
the delegates to the congress to reject
the peace agreement, but the trans
mission of such message at this
critical moment in the struggle of the
Russians for democracy, it is felt
here, is certain to have the effect of
Strengthening the resolution of those
who are opposed to bowling the knee
| to Germany.
Despite the unhappy developments
which have followed each other in
rapid succession, President Wilson
has maintained a sympathetic view
of the political struggle that has been
going on in Russia since the Gar
| was dethroned. He has earnestly
hoped that a strong coalition Govern
ment representing all major political
! parties would arise on the ruins of
the old autocracy and stand deter
minedly against the Central Powers.
The message made public last night
is more than a message of sympathy
| from the people of the United States
to the people of Russia. It is a def
mite promise of assistance by the
American Government at every op-
portunity in the future.
| 1t is recalled that Ambassador
Francis a few days ago, at Vologda,
expressed the hope that the Con-
gress of Soviets would not ratify the
German peace pact, and, on his own
| responsibility, pledged recognition and
| material assistance by the United
States for any Government set up by
the Russian people which would con-
tinue the struggle against Germany.
Mr.. Francis assured the Russians of
the continued good will of the United
States and declared that we had no
territorial ambitions in Russia.
1t is regarded as an open question
here whether the congress will ratify
! the peace treaty. This course is ad-
vised by Premier Lenine on the ground
| that Russia is not at present able to
| offer effective resistance to the Ger
man army and it would be better for
mally to ratify the pact and then set
| about reorganizing Russia.
| The State Department has received
no confirmation of the press report
that Ambassador Francis and M.
| Uchida, the Japanese Ambassador,
are ching detained by the Bolsheviki
| Officials place no credence in the re-
port. having yesterday received a dis
patch from Minister Morris at Stock
holm, stating he was in communica-
ton with Mr.. Francis at Vologda, The
| latter made no mention of having
been detained. The understanding
here has been that the American Am
bassador planned to remain indef-
nitely at Vologda.
| Another dispatch from Minister
| Morris quotes Swedish press reports
as saying that the German occupation
of the AIand Islands was the result
of All understanding with the Finnish
government and that the Germans
would remain only long enough to re-
store order.
Confirmation also was received
from Stockholm of the resignation OF
Trotzky as Bolshevik Foreign Minis
ter. The despatch added that Gen.
Hoffman,, German military delegate
to the Brest-Litovsk congress, apollo
gized to War Commissary Krylenko
! for this further advance of German
| troops into Russia after the signing
of the peace pact. The State Depart
ment's advices indicated, however,
| that the advance continues
In an authoritative official quarter
yesterday it was declared that Japan
has an open mind" on the question OF
sending a military expedition into ST.
IBERIA. The expression of America s
veiws in opposition to such a project
has had the effect of postponing a
final decision and causing both the
Allies and Japan to give the matter
most serious consideration.