South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-09
j. s. POLICY ON
RUSSIA STILL
KEPT GUARDED
British Ambassador Holds
Hours Conference With
President MOnday-Sup-
poSedly on Problem.

WASHINGTON, July a.-Abso-
ute silence was observed among
I nigh officials and diplomats Monday
4 concerning the new policy toward
Russia 70 which the United States
government had agreed. There
We're intimaions that a sta tement
from the white house was under
consideration. but it could not be
esta blished that this was likely TO
be forthcoming in the immediate
/ future.
Nav Not Divulge Plans.
The feeling grew that details OF
the lire Of operations 10 be pursued
under the plans discussed at the
white house conference Saturday
had NOT been worked out and that
even when this mas been done
silence might be expected FOR
time because of the possibility OF
jeopardizing the program by per
hitting Official information as 10 its
nature 10 reach Germany.
The attitude which the entente al
lies and America should adopt in
dealing with Russia has been dis
cussed from so many angles in the
press that one official remarked
Monday that any announcement
that might De made or any actual
operations revealing its nature.
could not come as a surprise TO the
public
White House Conference.
A conference AT the white house
during the day. lasting an hour.
between Prest Wilson and the Brit
ism ambassador. was Immediately
connected wi-h the Russian situa-
ton which DO is known is the sub
iect OF active exchanges between
me entente ca pitfalls and Washing
ton Ii was assumed that the am
Ia ssa dor called 70 hear Of the con
illusions rea ched Saturday when the
president went over the question
with the state wsr and navy secre-
taries. and the chief military and
naval officers
Among observers not in the gov
ernmentS confidence. the consensus
OF opinion is that positive action
is TO De taken either AT Vladivostok
or AT Kola on the Arctic ocean. or
perhaps in both places TO give aid TO
any elements in Russia or Siberia
that are ready to offer armed re-
sistsuce to the Germans
Would Rebuild siberian Railroad.
American engineers attached 20
the railroad commission headed by
John r. Stevens a. Hardin in Man
churis and AT Nagasaki Japan. are
intent on resuming their work of
improving the transportation fscil-
tiles OF the Siberian railroad, and il
is suggested that If they are to
prosecute their pioneer work Of
opening up this road as a CONNER
cial and military channel OF i'm
portance. they must have some pro
lection, as their experience has al
ready demonstrated III armed
guards are sent along. the expedi-
ton might test the temper OF the
local population along the Siberian
railroad.
Uneasy About Francis
Nothing has been heard from
Ambassador Francis for TWO weeks.
He last reported from Vologds. The
sion for his safety, though il is not
certain that his wire communica-
tions had been cut off by the 0olshe-
Wiki. The situation as 20 the Amer
lean consulate at Moscow, practical
~ the only agency through which
the state department is holding any
communication with the bolshevik
government. Is even worse. as no
word has been received 4 ON that
quarter since June is. u IS be
lieved that the Germans must have
cut off the consuls disps tches II
the bolshevik government ever per
mitted them 10 start from Moscow.
Though stul lacking official con
frmation of the reported ASA ssina-
ton OF the German am ba sador at
Moscow the officials here have &C
cepted the report as accurate and
are specializing interesteoly as TO
the probable effect of this tragedy.
Generally the idea seems 70 be il
viii be beneficial 10 the allies. as
tending 70 hasten the crisis I'm the
/ relations between Russia and Ger
many Should the latter resume the
wa upon Russia as punitive meas
ire. il is believed that II would i'm
stautlv determine the vast ma ority
OF the Russian people to call FOR al
lied assistance and bring Russians
/ into the field against Germany.