The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-07-11
The Struggle Over Russia

IL Is not generally known that Count Mrbach,
the German Minister recently slain in Moscow, made
secret proposition to the mdde-of-the-road Russians
about May 20, Offering in Germany's name to throw
over the bolsheyid and revise the treaty Of Brestt
Ovsk more literally for the Russians, if the Russians
would agree to this separate peace and keep the allies at
arms length Count Won Mirbach promised the Russians
that German force would enter Moscow and Petrograd
and drive the boIshevid out within twenty-four hours
from the signing Of the protocol.
The Russians who received this proposal from the
German Minister rejected it instantly. Nevertheless,
they did not question the intent of the German govern
men to execute the proposal to the letter if should be
accepted The proposal mere piece of German du-
pcty but was evidently in pursuance of Germanys sol
id conviction that the boshevik could not retain their
hold upon Russian affairs with German support
Germany being unable to overrun Russia with soldiers
must exercise diplomacy while the struggle along
the western front Russia is certain to coaesce the
scattered elements of political union in FORM Ev
en- chaos evolves some limitations and works toward
der The Russian necessities will compel the creation Of
kind of government 1t cannot be bolshevik gov
ernment since the cornerstone of boshevism is dscrm
nation which sets neighbors to Sitting anothers
throas and dputing all authority Trotzky at this
ment engaged in the task armng poor peasants
that they may rob the rich peasants. If this is not
sure method of avoiding in government none
ever invented
Since the Germans practical and forsee the nevi
table downfall of boshevism in Russia, it is quite rea-
sonabe expect them to cast about for element in
Russia which, win organize government and make sep
arate peace to suit Germany No doubt this work is 60
ing on with great energy Unless German intriguans
and corruponsts busy at work amony Russian po-
tcal parties and leaders, the brains that engineered the
wonderful disntegraton of Russia have lost their
ming.
1t is to Germanys advantage to have friendly gov
eminent in Russia, not mere anarchy There is no ad
vantage to the enemy in attempting to swallow Russia
at any rate not 1t is costly to support weak gov
eminent and dangerous to support treacherous one.
Germanmade government in Russia that is an iron rule
by German military governors would be costly neffec-
tive and perous, besides interfering with Germanys OBJ
vious plans in other parts Of the world Theremore the
best plan for Germany to adopt that which Count Won
strong element to be set up in place of the bolshev
If that is Germanys aim in Russia, having in view of
the most speedy exploitation Of Russian materials
for German USE then the task Of the allies is made
what clearer Evidently it is not wise for the allies to
deal with the bOlshevik for they are important now
and would surely be destroyed by Germany they should
last long enough to make deal with the allies The all
lies should lose no time in advising the Russian people
that plans foot to aid them to recover possession
Of their government in every foot and branch The
Russians should be warned not to countenance anv bar
gain with the Germans through any political party or
agency under any guise matter how pausiby the adj
vantage of separate peace with Germany NAV be set
FORTH They should be reminded that offers to revise
the treaty of BrestLtovsk are empty assurances of
changes in scrap of paper Germany violated the
treaty before the ink was dry
The resurrection of Russia is not the long and heart
breaking task has been held out to be- if the allies will
undertake it promptly and effect according to we'll laid
and workable plans It is struggle of wits more than
OF guns although there will be bloodlettng Let the al
lies always work with and through the Russians for the
Russians and they will win The regeneration should he
gin in Siberia where the people are unaffected nv bo
'hevism and opposed to separate peace With Sib
ria strong and organized the redemption of great Russia
would follow in spite of German intrigue and German
guns Washington Post
No automobile accident to report yet today. Automo-
bile mix-ups becoming almost an every dav occur
upon Streets and the great wonder is that bore