The sun., 1919-03-23

from July, 1917, to June, 1918, land
" do not know more of the Russian
situation In that time than any other
allied representative l neglected my du-
ties and opportunities. saw Lenine
and Trotzky three times week for
six months"
Never Got Down 70 Roots.
He said that the Lvoff and Kerensky
governments never got their roots down
into the national life their day Of power
was simply tho intermission between
the old order and the new. Beneath
the defeatist propaganda and German
intrigue there was paralysis Of the
economic arm"
The Colonel did not think much OF
the Campaign Of education" underta-
ken by George Creel's Committee on
Public Information in Russia He said
1T was telling the peaaants Of the
power OF America how 10000 American
airplanes would fly over the western
front within a year and finish the war In
short order. The Russian mujik read the
placards and said: We've been fighting
three years and lost 1000. 900 men. Since
the Americans are 70 strong, guess Wen
go home and let them win the war
"Col. Thompson" tho speaker con-
tinued. saw that Il was necessary to
convince the Russian mass that the way
to save the revolution was to defeat
Germany. He said. You've got to show
the Russians that the German army has
the old Russian grand dukes at Its back,
ready to step in and take the land away
from the peasants We made plans to
publish a paper in the peasant patios to
convince them OF this.
"Col. Thompson gave a million dol
lars of his personal fortune in an effort
to maintain and stabilize the Kerensky
Government He never gave a penny to
the Bolsheviki; the million was given
to prevent them from getting into power
When this money ran short we cabled to
America for Sl,000,000 in ten days
and 100000 in three months For
three weeks we got no reply. Then there
came an uncertain voice that this was q
questionable matter. but that America
was sending very capable representa-
tive OF the Committee on Public Infor-
nation to make an inquiry. When he
arrived the Bolshevik had been in
power two weeks
"Kerensky told me one day that he
had to talk liberalism two-thirds of the
time for the benefit OF the allied repre-
sentatives and Slavic socialism the other
third to keep the Provisional Govosn-
ment In control Between the two Keren-
sky was crucifed."
Called Them yellow Dogs.
illustrating the attitude Of some OF the
allied representatives Col. Robins said
that at meeting In the Red Cross Office
In Petrograd when II was plain that
Kerensky would accept the Soviet form
Of Government II the Allies would rec
ognize II. Gen. Knox. the British mill
nd hn mil ~
attache said that the Russian soldiers
were yellow dogs" At that the Rus
sian General who was present flushed
with anger and left the room.
Col. Robins insisted that he supported
Kerensky until the overthrow. Then
had an interview with Trotzky and told
him that while I had supported Keren-
sky when the latter was in power 1 knew
corpse when saw one. and regarded
the provisional Government as dead. I
told him that SO far as I knew his pro-
gramme was against II. but that had
been sent here TO help the Russians.
"Trotzky never broke faith with me.
and he put power behind every statement
he made. Although they did not deny
they were engaged in a world revolution
knew that when they bgan shooting
their propaganda II would be toward
Germany first, so said. Shoot your dis
organising formulas into Germany and
Austria, for 1t will help US to win the
war"
Col. Robins repeated the testimony he
gave the Senate committee on March
that Leinine and Trotxky would have re-
fused to ratify the separate peace of the
Brest- Litovsk treaty IL the Allies had
promised the requested cooperation
Trotzky said he was willing to have
American officers stationed at the Russian
frontier to see that no Russian NUM-
tons and supplies went to the Germans.
because Gen. Judson. the American mil
itary attache. talked with Trotzky about
this proposal. because he did one OF the
intelligent things that have been done
In Russia by the Allies" the United
States recalled the General. according 10
Col. Robins.
Z. 8. Railroad Mission.
He instanced American refusal OF
Trotsky's offer to provide military
escort for the American Railroad Mission
1.-THE eating Its heads off at Nagasaki,
as one OF the evidences OF the CON
tinuing stupidity of allied representa-
tives who listened only to what the
per cent tea ia BILE indoor mind in Rus
sia was saying" and would believe moth
Ing except that all Bolsheviki were
thieves. murderers and German agents.
Col Robins said that for three weeks
after the armistice was signed he tried
to ascertain the American policy to-
ward Russia. but was unable to do So
and that having been mustered out Of the
serv4cs he felt bound to speak out.
Intervention by the Allies" he said.
"has only strengthened the Soviets, and
the spectacle Of American soldiers ad-
vancing into Russia with Japanese flags
and commanded by japanese officers. In
the mind OF the Bolsheviki. lent color
to the assertions of the Bolshevlki that
after all America was only capitalist
republic"
He said he would stake his life on
the assertion that the Fourth All-Rus-
sian Soviet was composed of genuine
delegates OF whom two-thrds were peas
ants, and he did not believe that In
any rural community the Soviet was
forced upon the people.
Mime. Breshkovsky," he said, "whc
has seen fit TO lend herself TO propaganda
against me, Is a noble and courageous
old woman who has done possibly the
most significant work of any person OF
her time. She now gives herself &c
| delay the distribution Of the land which
she taught the peasants to demand and
in Russia there is now no person &C
| low as to do her reverence except out
siders ike myself. -
II asked Lenine what attitude he was
taking toward her. He replied. None
she belongs in the picture gallery. She
has -, feeling OF the defeated leader
and 1t is most tragic that she is beinl
used by skiltul and competent persons
| in the interest OF reaction, although
| she doesn't know II. II Is the supreme
moral tragedy OF the hour"
| OuaatInDar akad Col Rohins vxhx