Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-09
WAITING POLICY HAS
BEEN ABANDONED,IT
IS SAID UNOFFICIALLY
President ConferS With Lam
sing, Baker, Daniels Benson
and March on Americas
COurSe-MapS at Meeting

WASHINGTON. July 6.-America's
waiting policy in regard to military ac-
tion in Russia is understood to have
ended today at conference at the White
House between President Wilson and
Secretaries Lansing, Baker and Daniels,
Admiral Benson. chief of naval opera
tions, and General March. army chief
Of staff
There was no announcement after the
conference and probably will be none
for the present. but it was said unoffi-
cially that an important decision had
been reached.
President Wilson summoned the
heads of the state, war and navy de-
partments at 2 o'clock and Secretaries
Baker, Daniels and Lansing; Chief of
Staff March and Admiral Benson, chief
of naval operations responded. Maps
covering THE Russian project" were
taken &c the conferees shorty after
wards
In some quarters it has been said
that since the United States regarded
intervention purely as a military prob
lem, the president, heretofore an oppon-
ent of military action on the ground
of impracticability would be guided by
the decision of the supreme war coun-
Gil and General Foch.
Reports today that the war council
had given "A decision were not confirm
ed in official cables. Officials EN-
Ehasized the necessity of secrecy in
regard to any plan that might be adopt
ed and were not inclined to discuss the
subject.
Urgent Appeals Prom Allies
Urgent appeals from the allied gov
ernments for American approval and
cooperation in joint measures to meet
the German menace through Russia
have been before President Wilson for
several days. Until now, however, there
had been no intimation that he had
changed his position, based upon rec
concentrations OF his military advisers,
that successful military effort in
Russia was not feasible.
For military reasons. strictest secrecy
is observed concerning the exact ma
ture of steps proposed by the allies.
American and allied naval forces aow-l
are guarding war supplies both at Vlad- |
lvostok, terminal of the trans-Siberian
railroad, and Kola, terminal of the rail- |
road on the Arctic coast which is re- !
ported threatened by German forces in |
the interior.
Belief among the majority of Ameri. |
can military men that no expedition |
on an extended scale should be under |
taken in the east apparently has under !
gone no change. In fact one official |
more than intimated tonight that to-
days decision did not mean the en- |
barkation of any great military force
across the Pacific. AS to whether it |
meant operations by an international |
force of Japanese, French and British |
with Americans in sufficient numbers |
to demonstrate the participation of the |
United States no one would say.
Period of Waiting over.
Regardless of the secrecy observed |
however, the plain intimation was given |
that the White House conference marked |
the end of the period of waiting which |
began upon the bolshevik acceptance |
of the Brest-Litovsk treatey whereby
Germany gained control of a large sec
ton of Russia and paved the way for
extending her influence eastward far |
into Siberia.
Any military measures that may be !
put into effect along the Trans Siberian
railroad or southwark from Kola, will |
not interfere with the American plans |
for lending material aid to the troubled |
Russian people though business men
and industrial leaders who are being |
asked to undertake the task. An an
nouncement is expected at any time !
is to take and of the personnel of the |
first contingenet of peaceful rehabilita-
tors.
Heretofore the hope of the American |
government has been that Russia might |
be helped solely by peaceful means. 1t
is realized, however, that all these !
plans will require time to execute and |
that in the meantime Germany is busy |
extending and tightening her grasp up |
on the disorganized country and |
actually building a grave menace TO
the allies in the far east. The allied |
spokesman have represented that in !
stead of improving internal conditions |
in Russia are going from bad to worse |
The Bolshevik government has con- |
ceded German demands aimed at che |
political integrity of the country and is
declared to have shown no disposition |
to conciliate the element in opposition |
embodying the best of the Russian |
people