Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22
us. TAKESSTEPS
TOSTOP WANTON
:. ACTS IN RUSSIA
Wants Civilized World to Pro-
test Against Terrorism
of BoIshevik Rule.
PROPOSAL is SEPARATE
FROM CONDUCT OF WAR
ENJOYS Requested to Take Matter
Up With Neutral and
Allied Countries.

In an effort to align the civilized
world against the terrorism in Russia
under bolshevik rule, the United States
government has directed its ambassa-
dors and ministers in neutral as we'll
as allied countries to ascertain whether
the governments to which they are
accredited will join in some immediate
action ''to impress upon the perpetra-
tors of these crimes the aversion with
which civilization regards their pre-
sent wanton acts"
The proposal is to take steps en-
tirely separate from the conduct of
the war; that all civilized nations
register their abhorrence of such bar
barism.
Tells of Conditions.
The message to the diplomats says
this government is informed that the
peaceable Russian citizens of Petro-
suffering from an openly avowed
campaign of terrorism. that thou
sands of persons have been shot
without even form of trial and that
ill-adminiStered prisons are filled be-
yond capacity.
Great Britain and France. hating
virtually declared the bolSheviki put
laws, will not be lnterrogated. fbut
have been advised by cables of the
action of the American government.
1t is made plain that the United
States is acting solely in the interest
of the Russian people themselves, and
to aid them in reconstructing their
nation upon principles of democracy
and self-government.
How Instructions Read.
The instructions to the United
States representatives at foreign capi-
tails follow:
''This government is in receipt of in
formation from reliable sources re-
vealing that the peaceable Russian
citizens of Moscow and Petrograd
and other cities are suffering from an
terrorism, and are subject to whole
sale executions.
Thousands Of persons have been
shot without even a form of trial; ill
administered prisons are filled beyond
capacity, and every night scores of
Russian citizens are fecklessly put to
death. and irresponsible gangs are
venting their brutal passions in the
daily massacre cf 1ntold innocents.
In view of the earnest desire of the
people of the United States to befriend
the Russian people and lend them all
that Is possible of assistance in their
struggle to reconstruct their nation
upon principles of democracy and self
government. and acting therefore
solely in the interest Of the Russian
people themselves. this government
feels that it cannot be silent or re-
frain from expressing it's horror at
this state of terrorism. Furthermore,
1T believes that in order to check the
further increase of tho indiScriminate
slaughter of Russian citizens all
civilized nations should register their
adherence of such barbarism.
You will inquire, therefore. whether
the government to which you are ac-
credited will be disposed to take some
immediate action. which is entirely
devoid from the atmosphere of belli-
serency and the conduct of the war
to impress upon the perpetrators of
these crimes the aversion with which
civilization regards their present
wanton acts"
Precedent for Action.
A precedent for this action on the
part Of the United States has been
found in a situation Of a few years
ago, when this country, after making
a formal protest against the indis-
crfminate massacre of the Armenians
by the Turks, called upon the nations
OF the world to take similar action.
This alignment of the civilized
powers. of the world had an imme-
diate effect. inasmuch as Germany,