New-York tribune., 1919-02-25
Albert Rhys Williams Tells
Senators of Atrocities
and Looting in Russia
Urges Aid by Americans
Testifies Revolution Was
Born of Greed for Land,
Not Because of Ideals
Neto York Tribune
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Something
like an agreement as to actual condi-
tIons in Russia under the government
OF the 3olsheviki was reached at the
Overman propaganda inquiry commit
tee hearing to-day when Albert Rhys
Williams, who stated frankly that he
was a violent partisan of the Soviets,
admitted, in some degree, most of the
accusations against them by previous
witnesses. He conceded there had been
MANY atrocities, much looting, great
craft. "iron fsted" control, and unfair
representation.
But" he declared, "anybody who
focuses his mind on the fringes and
horrors of the revolution is doing him
self an injustice. He is not seeing and
understanding the heart and purpose of
the revolution. All of the witnesses
who went out to help the people, while
they know all of these things, see the
larger purposes and they love what is
going on in Russia"
"None of the witnesses here has as
sailed the form of government in
Russia" commented Senator Overman.
"What has been assailed has been the
practices of that government. Your
idea, take it, is that these practices
are not enough to outweigh the hope
and promise of the revolution"
Exactly" said Mr.. Williams.
No Red Funds Spent Here
Mr. Williams also demanded of the
committee an investigation not only
of the Bolshevik propaganda in this
country but of the source of the funds
which he said are being spent by the
Russian Information Bureau to bring
about Allied intervention in Russia.
He said Russia had not spent any
money in America for propaganda pur
poses. OF the 100000 rubles which
he admitted had been appropriated for
propaganda he said that 99.5 per cent
had been spert in work against Ger
man and Austria and the rest in Brit
ain and France. The idea Of the Boil
SueNlhl, ne Sdlu, WAS W llSHI lHOSe VINO
fought them. Since they considered
America had been less offensive than
the other Allies, they had spent no
money here.
Mr. Williams began by an admission
that the decree for the naturalization
of women had probably, on the evidence
submitted. been passed by a certain
soviet. But he declared it was not
typical.
"Do you mean every soviet is law
to itself?" asked Mr.. Humes.
NO" he replied "That was more
or less so at first, but the chief criticism
now is that the power is becoming too
centralized. The indications are that
1t is swinging to the other side very
strongly"
Few Boilers From Bolshevism
"Well, is not that compatible with
the charges of q dictatorship ?"
Yes, if you want to put it that way.
he attack that is now being made BY
the other groups is that the soviet is
TOO strong"
He denied, however, that there was
evidence that the great majority of
the people were no longer Bolsheviki.
While he admitted swing away from
bosshevlsm among the people, includ-
ing the working classes and peasants
ne said the fact they they had not
rallied 70 the opportunities offered by
lne Allied troops, and that in the one
absolutely free election held in Russia
recently. that in Nladivostok, the Boil