Evening star., 1918-12-26
The Allies and Russia.

A dispatch from Paris states that
the allied governments have decided
against further intervention in Russia
for the present, owing to the immense
difficulties and dangers of an e1pedi-
tionary movement. 1t is apparently
agreed that there shall be every effort
to aid in the restoration of order in
the former empire of the car through
. the provision of supplies to districts
that can be reached without the aid of
armed forces and that encouragement
is to be given to those governmental
establishments that are not allied with
the bolshevik group.
Russia is in a sad state of chaos.
The bolsheviki are in control over a
large part of the country, their author
ity resisted feebly. Parts of the for
mer empire are now Independent of
the central government-the Ukraine,
Finland and section of Siberia An
allied force occupies small area in
the extreme north, with Archangel as
the base. The Czecho-Slovaks hold a
long line in the east, abutting on Via
.dirostok.
Little is definitely known regarding
the true state of affairs. From time to
time come reports of outrageous op-
hu Tho ocfo hin
ing the injustice of the radicals with
the atrocities Of the Germans. Through
out the land, however, there is dire
want. Supplies are scanty and badly
distributed.
Confidence in the bolshevik govern
ment is wholly destroyed. Its origin
is smirched with inspiration from Ber-
lin and its leaders are directly accused
of Teutonic affiliations. That they can
work out an honest, progressive, sub
stantial government looking singly to
the welfare of the Russian people is
not expected. The animosities early
manifested against the bourgeois class
= have gone to such lengths as to de-
stroy hope of a union of the substan-
tial factors of the Russian people for
just government under present aus
pices.
Without allied military intervention
the process of readjustment must be
slow, if it progress at all. Yet to send
an army into Russia would mean the
reopening of the war on a great scale.
It would be most difficult, probably
Impossible, to put an effective force
into the country without arousing the
animosities Of the people and rallying
them, against their real interest, to
the aid of the de faeto government.
e At Paris the problem of Russia must
be attacked. 1t cannot be neglected.
A definite policy must be adopted. Rus
sia cannot be permitted to remain an
uncertain quantity in the world equa-
ton. If there is to be no intervention
the hope rests with the Russian people
to take up directly the burden of over
throwing the bolshevik government.
That means a renewal of the revolu-
ton, which in turn means renewed
bloodshed.
There remains just chance that the
bolsheviki, finding themselves isolated
from the family Of nations, ignored in
the making of peace terms, and unable
to secure recognition, may yield the
task of seeking to establish an accept
ed form Of government. They can
have nothing to hope for from Germany.
Union with any factor in German poll
tics will add only to the penalties they
must eventually pay. Thus a moral
influence is exerted upon the Russians
TO urge them to clean their own house
as preliminary to inclusion in the in
ternational organization that is con-
templated as a guarantee of peace and
progress.