Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-01
Saturday, February I, 1919.


Qua" we WV
According to statements in the Rus
sian press at Vladivostok all parties
are alarmed at reports that the Allies
will retire from Siberia in the spring
or summer. Prominent men Of many
shades of political opinion declare
there will he carnival Of murder as
the sure result of the withdrawal. as
they say the situation points to war
Of determination of either the upper
classes or the Bolshevihi.
In this country are two strong
schools OF opinions, one insistently
demanding that We withdraw from
Russia land from Europe. for that
natter. and the other as forcefully
urging our duty to go into Russia
and stay until a stable government is
established and the prevailing era of
rapinc is ended"
In the United States Senate.
Wednesday. Senator johnson oe Cali
WI MA, OpCHCu ii ICdNs sun AAN 'P'ai
.hc Wilson policy in Russia. Military
activities in Russia were denounced
~ him as wicked and useless" and
criminal 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
We have engaged in a miserable
nisadventure, stultifying our profess
slons Of friendship for the Russians
and setting at naught our promises.
We suffer the odium and infamy of
uodcclared warfare"
Senator Johnson spoke in behalf of
hts resolution proposing that the sem
ste declare itself in favor of recalling
The American expeditionary force in
Russia. He also criticised delay in
the peace negotiations and declared
anew for an American policy to bring
nome all American troops from for
c.n soil at the earliest possible mo-
mcnt. warmly opposing their use to
maintain stability Of peace in Euro
pean 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 the 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 uncharted island.
but we are becoming accustomed to
he open diplomacy which. in daily
communicates with few words telling
nothing soothes the perturbed spirits
Of the democratic peoples OF the
world
Discussing the league Of nations.
Senator Johnson said:
If the president can return with a
league of nations which does not re-
,inquish our sovereignty. and which
in reality will be preventive of flu
ture wars shall welcome most glad
ly and enthusiastically this great ac-
complishment."
After citing President Wilson's
addresses and other documents re-
sarding Russia, he added:
Weak and vacillating and stupid
has been our policy with Russia. We
solemly promised we would not inter-
vene. and then. prating Of our love
for the Russian people. We did not in
tervene. Prating about guarding
stores at Archangel. We advanced 103
miles from that port, burned little
Russian towns and upset little soviet
governments. In the name Of pro.
tectins military supplies. We
shot down Russian peasants and our
boys are shot down by them ."
1t may not be our immediate bust
ness to interfere in Russia. Per-
haps VIC ought not to have sent an
expedition to Russian territory. either
in the north or the east. Some there
we're who would not have had us en-
.er Europe at all. 1t was not our
business, they said. to mix in old
world affairs. And Senator Johnson
is not the only one who is demanding
the instant return Of our forces. re-
CARELESS Of effect. Some Of these
have been crying aloud for pulling
cut Of Europe the minute the armis-
tic was signed. They would have left
everything to European nations to
settle in their own way. =
But would such a course be right
or justified in history?
Can we face the sure verdict Of un-
orejudiced historians on Americas
part in the world crisis, II we turn
our backs upon tho uncountcd mil
lions o: helpless. human beings who