The sun., 1918-07-20
CECIL ASKS SPEEDY
AID TO SAVE RUSSIA
Lord Robert Urges That Allies
Give Support to Czeeho-
SlOvak Army.
WILL SAVE MANY LIVES
Starvation and Disease Threat
en- Helpless Population I'm
less Order Is Restored.

LONDON, July 19.-Lord Robert Cecil.
who has just let the post OF Minister
OF Blockade to become Assistant Sec
rotary OF State for Foreign Affairs. In
an interview with the Associated Press
tonight urged the necessity of the En-
tente Allies sending immediate help to
the Czecho- Slovak forces along the
Trans-Siberian Railroad.
1.-The presence of C1echo-SlOvak
army in Russia at this time is, ! be-
leve, one OF the miracles OF history"
Lord Robert said. I'VE have beheld
one of the greatest empires of the
world plunged into such an appalling
state OF disorganization that nothing
like It Is known in modern history
situation SO unprecedented that the
world seemed merely to stand aghast.
hopeless.
Then suddenly we find this Czecho-
Slovak army. well. drilled. carefully or
sanizsd and ably led we suddenly find
this army stretched across the back
bone OF the Russian Empire over line
nearly 5000 miles long. II Is the only
organized force we know of In the whole
of Russia to-day making for even the
elementary principles of order and civill-
zaton,
Must Not BE Left In Peril.
"If the Allies allow II TO be. wiped out
for want Of ammunition, food or moral
support there is absolutely no leaven
left to leaven the lump. and small hope
remains OF preventing the Russian peo-
pie from being overwhelmed by terri
bic series OF economic disasters during
the coming winter.
II recently have heard men who know
Russia well speak OF what IL likely to
happen there during the coming winter
under the present chaotic conditions.
One authority estimated that 20.O00.000
persons would perish as a result OF dis
ease and economic disasters which are
inevitable unless some unforeseen allie
Walton comes and comes soon. IL we
can tide the Russian people over this
difficult winter | believe they will begin
TO get their feet again.
"One of the tragedies of the Russian
revolution has been that it resulted in
dispe rsion and disunion. rather than in
any united effort toward a united de-
mocracy. Wherever you get two Rus
sisns together to-day you hnd two po-
litcal parties--there are almost as many
political parties as there are Russians.
There are many uniting forces In
Russia IL they are given chance, but
Kuesia must have breathing space:
Unless some strong. helpful force can
be brought to bear soon i am firmly
convinced that Russia is faced with the
most terrible winter Of hunger and dis
ease which any nation has ever known.
Delay Costing Lives.
AS long as the present state OF dis
order continues 1t is certain that the
present disorganization in economic in
dustrial and commercial life must be
continued. II is my apprehension for
the coming winter that has been one of
my strongest reasons all along for urg-
ing the Allies to assist Russia from the
east am convinced II is the only pos
sibe way to help Russia.
I'VE are told we should perhaps wait
for a formal invitation from the Rus
SLAMS themselves. But the masses OF
Russia are inartlcuiate and there is no
voice which can express their will We
know they need help and II seems our
duty TO extend them that help in the
best and quickest way we can, for de-
lay must inevitably mean the loss of
millions of lives from hunger and dis
ca Sc :"