Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-08
THE RUSSIAN SITUATION

It has often been stated that the Allies have been
.culpably negligent Of their ewn vital interests in not TAX
ing steps long ago to hold Russia together as an effective
military power in active opposition to the Germans. Per-
haps the criticism is merited. But it is not certain that
it is just. 1t cannot be said that the Allies failed to I'M
derstand at the, outset of the Russian collapse that that
collapse would be very costly to all the other Allies. The
difficulty lay, not in failing to understand that serious
trouble was brewing, but in ability to decide on the
proper way to meet or avert it. %
Some philosopher has said that in order to train a
seems that to do much with Russia it would have been
necessary to begin several generations ago, o. to wait I'M
til the present fever had at least partially run it's course.
The situation that existed in Russia when Nicholas was
dethroned was the product of generations of repression,
oppression and paternalism. Among the Russian cars
have been some amiable men, but whether they ruled well
or III, they all ruled as of divine right, and as the distrib-
utors Of favors which they were graciously disposed to
grant to their subject people. The Russian people had
had no experience in self-government, nor had there been
created in the minds of the masses anything resembling
a conception Of national unity. There was utterly lack
ing the understanding Of a common interest. 1tNcan be
said for the old autocracy that" evil though it was in its
tendencies and in its results. while it existed it held the
people together in some semblance of unity. 1t was all
that stood between the people and mob rule. When the
old system was destroyed the mob became ascendant.
Armed Intervention on a large scale by the Allies was
out of the question. To send forces Of sufficient size to
make any real change in the Russian situation would
have demanded troops which could not be spared from
the French front, and the transportation of which, with
their supplies. would have been difficult, If not impos-
sible. And the presence Of a large Allied force in the
early stages of the revolution. even had it been possible.
would have been misinterpreted by the Russians, and
would almost certainly have driven them into the wait
ing arms Of the Germans. 80
There is at least room for the opinion that it was
necessary for Russia to pass through her recent>experi-
ences before 1t was possible for any outside power to rem
der effective aid. Granting that the Bolsheviki could
have been suppressed by outside interference, the Boil
sheyik spirit would have remained, and there would al
ways have been used the argument that if outsiders had
only kept their hands off all would have been well. AS
it is, the Bolsheviki have held full sway. They have had
an opportunity to show the Russian people Yin general
what Bolshevik rule would mean. And there are indica-
tons that the Russian people do not like the sample.
With the failure of the Bolsheviki demonstrated, with
chaos everywhere, and with the populace crying for re-
lisf. the conditions appear to be much more favorable
now for the Allied activity than they have been at any
previous time.
And the Allies are active. The czecho-slovaks are
active in Siberia. The Cossacks have a powerful organ
ization in the valley Of the Don. The Ukranians have
cause to regret their bargain with Germany. Arrange
ments have been made for the participation of Japan
in the work Of settlement in the east. British troops have
landed at Vladivostok. Allied troops are in possession Of
the Thurman coast and have been welcomed by the pop
ulace at Archangel. The conditions now appear decid-
edly favorable. and 1t is not certain that they could have
been made favorable any earlier.