The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-29
DEMAND POLICY
OF GOVERNMENT

! OF Wv GtklN4y4G14N
CONTINUED on page 81
moval of economic barriers; four,
for the reduction of national arma-
ments, and five, for the impartial
/ adjustment of all colonial claims. ap-
parently have been submerged In
weiehtier questions and no longer
agitate the oyerburdened minds OF
statesmen The sixth peace point,
regarding Russia, / will mention
hereafter.
"All of the other peace points, with
the exception of the league OF nations
deal with territorial adjustments.
Now, the difficulty of the president
in interpreting his peace points as
to territorial acquisitions is that long
ago England, France and Italy reach
ed their conclusions and the presl-
dent is up against the contracts.
lsigned. sealed and delivered and IN
the pockets Of the allies.
| The secret treaties which were
executed before our entrance INTO
the war were quite definite In form
and apportioned territories to the
three great belligerents and also TO
Russia. These secret treaties with
are deemed effective and binding;
nor do | doubt that substantially the
TERRITORY they embrace will be diyid-
ed In accordance with their proyi-
sions."
| Taking up the Russian situation.
Johnson demanded immediate return
of American soldiers. He declared
this governments policy of Grim
inal Intervention has heightened the
life of the bolsheviki and is result
ing in starving. not the bolsheviH
Headers, but the women and children
OF Russia, for whom this and the
allied governments profess love.
| Russia's treatment by the United
Estates and the allies shows that our
jideahstic statements on the rights or
self-determination have gone into OBJ
livion with the rest" he said.
/ Declaring he does not defend in
any degree the soviet power OF Lee
nine and Trotsky," Johnson said:
But our dealings with Russia have
not only been an exhibition OF the
rashest stupidity. but have contrib
lifted to the awful tragedy there
Johnson then put into the record
a document hitherto unpublished in
the United States which was sent to
the allies by the soviet government
in March, 1918. A favorable answer
to this, Johnson said, would have
prevented signing of the Brest-
iLitovsk treaty and would have kept
Russia in line with the allies.
/ I'm this document the soviet gov
eminent asked what aid the allies,
particularly the United States would
give in the struggle against Germany,
If the Brest-Litovsk treaty was de-
nounced.
This communication was received
apparently with indignation and con-
Itemptuous silence" said Johnson.
ut may be proper" he said, but
ipointed out that the United States
government had begged New York
socialists and anarchists to cable
Lenine and Trotsky to refuse the
Brest-Litovsk treaty and continue the
war.
''If the emergency and the crisis
justified the government in using the
anarchists of New York to communi.
lcate with the anarchists of Petro-
grad. it would have justified the
United States government answering
the communication of the soviet gov
eminent without recognition of that
ing it by its answer to renew the
war with Germany" said Johnson.
Johnson cited examples of allied
Ico-operation with bolsheviki. He
said:
That British and French troops
lco-cperated with bolsheviki troops IN
keeping order in Petrograd.
That the bolsheviki let George
lCreeFs representative use their print
ling press to run off copies of Presi-
dent Wilson's speeches and appro-
lpriated funds of the soviet govern
lment for the purpose.
That the allied military missions
helped train the bolshevfki red army.
That the Red Cross mission rfrou
America had the full protection OF
the bolsheviki In Petrograd and Mos
COW for seven months after CreePs
man had fled
why did we enter Russia ?" John
son asked.
II answer for no, very good reason !:
and we have remained for no reason
at all.
What is our policy toward Russia ?
II answer we have no policy. We
!. have engaged in a miserable nisad-
venture, stultifying our professions
and setting at naught our promises
: We have punished no guilty: we
|, have but brought misery and star
vation and death to the innocent.
We have garnered none of the fruits
of the victory of war. but suffer the
lodium and infamy of undeclared war
flare. We have sacrificed our own