New-York tribune., 1918-06-27
People Will Welcome Mill
tary Help, Says j. J. Sock
inc, Anti-Bolshevik
Agreement Is Reached
Statement by Bakhmeteff' s
Spokesman Regarded
as Official
Especial Dispatch to The T,1bune)

WASHINGTON, June 26.-John J.
Sookine, member CT the Russian Com
mission sent to the United States by
the Kerensky government year ago,
has just returned from Paris, where he
had the opportunity Of getting new and
important information from Russia
Mr.. Sookine asserted that "a complete
agreement between the Allies" OH the
subjct of assistance to Russia will mot
be lacking" and that it "shall certainly
be enforced under the moral leadership
of the United States, the great friend
of Russia"
Mr.. Sookine, who for the past year
sian Embassy here under Ambassador
Boris Bakhmeteff, in an interview as
serted that the most impressive opin-
ion obtained by him is that "the Rus
sian people will now welcome mill
tary action Of the Allies, even if few
months ago such an action would have
been intolerable."
Mr. Sookine conveyed to the Russians
in France his impressions and expert
cially concerning "the feeling of heart
felt sympathy for Russia and the much
appreciated sincere desire Of America
to aid Russia and respect the national
feeling of the Russian people,"
Mr.. Sookine's statements, which be-
cause of his position have an official
character, are regarded here as among
the most important utterances eman-
ating. from a pro-Ally and anti-Bol-
throw of the Kerensky government.
Independence Sought
After speaking of a powerful move
ment among the Russians and their
| friends to start active work for the
salvation of the country under demo-
cratic and non-partisan auspices, MI.
SooSine said:
"This movement is based upon the
desire of the Russian people to deter
mine for themselves their right to gov
ern their country Independently and to
protect national Russian integrity, for
which purpose all Russian elements
who care for the freedom of Russia are
united.
"Some Of the impressions 1 received
in France were so full of confidence
them with the American public: First
"A great and sincere desire to assist
Russia is widely felt in Europe. Second
In complete accord with the attitude
l noticed in America, the Allies are de-
termined to neglect nothing to further
the real desires and aspirations of the
Russian people themselves. Third
The determination is as firm in Europe
as in America that nothing of Russia s
sovereignty and territorial integrity
shall be sacrificed as price for for
eign help. Fourth--Also, not to impose
a warfare upon the Russian people in
SO far as it would not be upon their
own initiative. Fifth-A generous de-
sire is apparent to take into account
every sentiment of the Russian people,
however subtle or delicate it may be.
"All this led me to firm conclusion
that if the Allies should proceed to any
active policy toward Russia it would be
nothing but an act of assistance and
liberation. l would even refrain from
calling such all action by the name of
Intervention. An intervention and
forceful interference in Russia's actual
life is already taking place in Russia.
1t is the German intervention which we
have to combat. That intervention is
one of brutal violence and greedy ex-
ploitation of Russia's wealth, as we'll as
one of insidious propaganda and in