Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-29
PRESIDENT MUST RETURN TO EuROPE
Withdrawal of All
Yanks In Russia Is
Demand of Senator

4
demand for immediate withdrawal
OF American troops from Russia
was made in the senate today by
Senator Johnson of California, in
an address vigorously criticising
the Russian course of the United
States and the allies.
Military activities in Russia were
denounced by Senator Johnson as
wicked and useless" and "crim-
inal policy of intervention" which
had helped hold the Bolsheviki in
power while starving the Russian
people.
Declaring again that America
has no policy in Russia, Senator
johnson added:
I'VE have engaged in a miser-
able misadventure, stultifying our
professions of friendship for the
Russians and setting at naught our
promises. We suffer the odiUm and
infamy of undeclared warfare"
Senator Johnson spoke in favor
OF his resolution that the senate de-
clare Itself in favor of recalling
the American expeditionary forces
i'll Russia He also criticised delay
in the peace negotiations and de-
CARED anew for an American pol
icy to bring home all American
troops from foreign soil at the earl
lest possible moment, warmly op-
posing their use to maintain sta
bility of or peace in European
countries.
Bring home American soldiers"
said the California senator, resume
our own democracy. Restore its
free expression. Get American
business into normal channels Let
American life, social and economic,
be American again
Speaking OF the Paris agreement
calling for a meeting OF Russian
factions the senator said:
I'VE are wholly in the dark as to
what is contemplated when all
parties meet on an almost unchart-
I'd island, but we are becoming ac-
customed to the open diplomacy
which in daily communicates, with
the perturbed spirits OF the Demo
cratic peoples of the world"
Senator johnson said he would
not subscribe to the sentiment re-
Gently expressed by Senator Lodge
in favor of use of American troops
to aid in setting up and maintain
ing independent countries in
Europe.
81 would not shed the blood OF
American boys in the internal dis
turbances of Esthuuia, Livonia,
etc" the senator said.
'I will not concede that it is the
duty OF the republic to maintain or
der in a Jugo-Slav. or Czecho-Slo-
wax state"
Discussing the league OF nations,
Senator Johnson said:
If the president can return
with a league of nations
which does not relinquish our SOW
ereignty and which in reality will
be a preventative OF future wars,
shall welcome most gladly and en-
Enthusiastically this great accom-
The senator suggested that the
nations, some by secret
treaties, which would be enforced
were likely to thwart the altruistic
purposes expressed by President
Wilson in his IA principles. The
frst point for open diplomacy. he
declared, had been largely ignored, !
while the second point. regarding
freedom OF the seas, has been lost
for a considerable period now in
historical mystery and rests in OBJ I
I;vion with the unrealized dreams I
Of the "Akound of Swat
''The third. fourth and fifth +.
points OF the president on removal Z
If economic barriers. reduction OF /
and impartial adjust
ment OF colonial claims" he said, |
apparently have been submerged 4
in weightier issues. and no longer 3
,gitate the over-burdened minds OF |
statesmen"
Regarding territorial adjustments /
Johnson said:
The difficulty Of the president I
IN interpreting his peace points /.
' is that long ago England, I
France and Italy reached their /
and the president is up I.
against the contracts, signed, sealed /
and delivered, and in the pockets Of ;
he allies"
If the president could cause these
secret treaties to be diSreGarded
md compel the al-ruistic peace OF .
which he has so often spoken
said Senator Johnson. ''it would be ,
lie greatest achievement Of any /
of any time.