Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-24

iiueIty-ioNHlk ndJlOTS VI tne "Oiiu VI
aggressive capitalistic sordidness, may
perhaps come to scoff. But if they do
appear, it will at least display the cour-
age of convictions. Reputation of the
Ententes offer, predicating nothing be-
yond conference, would thoroughly
warrant the elimination Of the soviet
regime from consideration. If it is re-
calcitrant, protests against concerted
foreign action against it, undertaken for
the restoration of order and sanity,
would lose validity. The burden Of proof
is now on Moscow and other head
quarters of diverse factions.
The protest already registered in
Paris Of such dnti-BolsheUist leaders as
,Sdzonof and Lrof sound suspiciouslg
like CRIES for special aud un,carranted
fovoriiism. The justice Of a cause Of
which fair examination is discoun-
tcnanced is indeed questionable and the
bitterness Of these special pleaders in
Paris bears ugly implications Of resent
ment orer the possibility of a defeat for
purely selfish interests. Sorgius Sazon-
of wdS former minister Of the Car.
He is Under peculiar obligations to prove
his sincerity.
Fortunately there is as yet no indica-
tion that such men as he, making the
most of the old associations between
France and the former Russian mon
archy, speak with final authority 1t
will be madness and clear confession
of moral weakness for any of the
Russian governments" to reject the
inquiry. A response from all factions
seems unavoidable and doubtless will yet
come. The Russian situation as rjetCcd
from special propaganda circles in Paris
is seen only from a rery obijque angle.
Moreover, it is more than probable
that an ensemble of really honest
champions of other than Bolshevik in
tcrests may be Of profound import.
If their governmental structures are
jerry-buit, inquiry will reveal that
weakness. Facts to the contrary, how
ever, may prove to be of the highest
moment in the worlds monumental re-
construction task. Coordination of these
Slavic movements might conceivably re-
suit in the extinction of Bolshevism.
1t should be understood, none the less,
that such an event is not the aim of the
sincere invitation. The Allies, empower
ing President Wilson in this instance to
he their spokesman, solemnly declare
that they regard the Russian people as
their friends, not their enemies and are
willing to help them in any way they
ave willing to be helped" and that they
'arc seeking some way to assist the Rus
sian people to establish order"
The means employed is in the quintes-
sential spirit of the new code of interna-
tional dealing which unprecedented free
men everywhere insist must be the re-
ward Of all the years of strife and bloody
sacrifice. Grandeur and most winning
frankness are combined in the sympa-
thctic offer enabling Russia to clear her.
self. The formation of binding league
of nations will not be more tittingly in
tune with the ideals Of the age, since
the inevitable condition precedent to
ltdCt Is NHc IuHCIIOIlllS Ol UOtltSL ana
orderly self-determination throughout
one-eighth Of the land surface of the
globe-Russia.
1t is particularly noteworthy that the
unique message which the radio is deliv-
cring to all governmental seats in Rus
sa recognizes "the revolution without
reservation" and stipuates that the
Powers will in no way and under no
circumstance aid or give countenance to
any attempt at counter-revoution.
Accompanying passages make it clear
that the stupendous change specified was
the overthrowal of Carbon. Explicit
wording forbds misconstruction on this
significant point and, indeed, misconcep-
ton of the logic and sanity of the whole
document is impossible save to the pur-
blind. The proposal and unimpeachable
integrity of the efforts toward its eXecu-
ton constitute by far the finest tangible
fruits thus far of the Presidents unre-
mittng labors in Europe.