Evening journal., 1918-03-15
WILL GERMAN CONQUEST
or RUSSIA BE PERMANENT?
PROBABLE
Nv
OF he for Lab and Democr

II the German conquest OF Russia. or
Of large part OF Russia. is permanent
or II Germany continues to dominate
these vast territories and populations
b. indirect means, Germany will have
won the war. The maximum original
ambition Of Germany was to conquer
the road 10 the Persian Gulf and the
Suez Canal This would have enabled
ner 10 dominate the continent Of Eu-
rope and the gateways 10 Asia and
Africa. The conquest OF Russia was De-
yond her dreams until the German
made Bolsheviki hove into sight and
gave the German ruling class a new
idea.
In the first few weeks Of the Russian
revolution Il appeared that Russia
would remain united and an classes
would support the government and
continue the war against Germany. But
it soon began to appear that the Rus
sian socialists were determined to weak
en- Russia from every possible stand
point. TO divide her geographically. to
Intensity the class conflict even before
the end OF the war, aud to weaken her
armies in many different ways
What was the cause OF this extra
ordinary state Of mind among the Rus
sian Socialists? The answer can be
given In two world: German Socialism
The party Socialism Of Russia, like that
OF other countries. Is a mere branch
Of German Socialism, tradltionully. in
tellectually, politically. and in every
other sense. But the German Social
lists had special influence over Russia
and this for many reasons-proximity
the lower cultural condition OF Russia
and the desperate struggle against
Czarlsm. and above all the presence OF
millions Of Germans and German-speak-
ing Jews Let it be always remember
ed that Yiddsh is a dialect Of German
and not form Of Hebrew. The letters
are Hebrew but only very small per
centage Of the words Any German can
understand Iiddish snd any Ilddi h.
speaking Jew can understand German
How Germany Used Socialists.
The German government has lone
looked with an indulgent eye upon
Socialism In other countries. especially
in Russia 10 had long hoped that the
undisciplined. non-Germanic peoples
woulu take Socialism seriously and Grip.
pie their armies TO such an extent a.
10 make German conquest easy. Bu
q did not dare to hope that they
would go TO the leneth TO which thel
have gone In Russia. Il therefore tool
several weeks last spring before thl
junkers fully realized their advantage
They could not at first believe lneii
eyes. that every Socialist party in Rus
sia was sim looking up to the German
Socialists as likely n lead the way q
revolution. and that they were taking
this assumption as the basis for thl
complete Generalization Of Russia.
The German government knew
could control the German Socialists
Here was a cheap but easy plan to con
mer the world such as no military ma
ton in history had ever yet laid be
fore it. All the German government ha
20 do was carefully to manage its ow
Socialist factions in order to swalloS
Up half the earth without any turthe
military effort worth mentioning.
The Kaiser's handling OF his Social
lists and their followers was intricat'
but its main lines were simple: IN
first bait held before the humble Rus
sian disciples OF German Socialism wa
an international Socialist conference.
n will be recalled that all the SC
cialists from the Central Powers TO ihi
conference were first instructed by thei
governments Later some uninstructe
delerates from the German Minmit
Socialists were allowed to attend, wit
a clear and distinct understanding
tbe limitations within which they weI
TO act
The Stockholm Trap.
The Stockholm conference AGITATION
IL was hoped, might also influence th
naci0sts in the Entente countries.
aid have an enormous effect in this d
rection. an effect which lasts over eve
TODAY and may yet wreck the Enten
cause
But the chief effect was in Russi