Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-08
REIGN OF TERROR
BASELESS, SAYS
RED CROSS HEAD.
Intervention in Russia Con-
demned by Robins; Advises
Against Recognition of Boil.
Shevik Government.

Washington, March 7.-Interven-
kon in Russia was condemned by
Raymond Robins, former head OF
the American Red Cross mission in
that country, testifying today before
the senate committee investigating
propaganda, as unfair to the Rus
slams and unwise from the stand
point OF the United States and the
allies.
Mr.. Robins said American SOL
diers and munitions should not be
used to crush a revolution which, he
declared, represented the wishes Of
the Russian people.
Opposed to Intervention.
II was his opinion that interven-
ton would solidify Russian factions
in support Of the bolshevik govern
ment, strengthen bolshevik tenden-
cies in England and France and ma
terially assist in laying a ground
work for the spread of radical doc
trines in this country.
Recognition OF the bolshevik gov
eminent was advised against, but the
witness repeated that If the Russians
wanted boishevism they should have
il: and he gave II as his opinion that
the Russian did want it. At the same
time he reiterated his belief that boil
shevism constituted the greatest
menace that had ever threatened the
democratic governments of the
world
Peasants Have Arms.
Mr.. Robins denied statements by
previous witnesses that Russian
peasants had no arms and were I'M
able to overthrow Lenine and Trotz-
ky. AS matter of fact, he said,
there were 100000 rifles availa-
bic in Russia and many of the COM
munities and towns possessed ma
chine guns.
Responding to question by Sena-
tor Nelson, the witness said he
agreed that intervention should be
resorted to il it was true that thou-
sands were being slaughtered in
bolshevik reign of terror, but he en-
tered a plea against such action be-
ing taken simply because there was
a prejudice and lack of understand
ing Of what he claimed to be the &C
tual conditions in Russia.
Can Remove Trotzky.
The witness thought the Russian
people could get rid of Lenine and
Trotzky at any time they desired.
Mr.. Robins emphatically denied
that the bolshevists had treacherous-
" attacked the Czecho-Slovak forces
after the latter had been disarmed.
He said the conflict grew out of de
signs which have not been laid upon
the table" and in this connection de-
clared that he knew that France had
tried to keep the Czecho-Slovaks in
Russia after offering to assist in
getting them out, as a means OF
overthrowing the revolution "at any
cost He charged that the Czecho-
Slovaks took bolshevist villages and
shot some bolsheviki without trials.
In Picture Gallery.
Mr.. Robins denied Madame Bresh-
kovkaya was driven out of Russia
by the Lenine-Trotzky government.
He said Lenine always knew where
the revolutionary leader was and
was not disposed to interfere with
her unless she became active in
eounter-revolutionary propaganda.
Mr.. Robins said he asked Lenine re-
garding his disposition toward the
aged revolutionary leader.
81 haven't any. She's in the picture
gallery" Lenine was said to have re-
piled.
The witness also denied that news
papers opposing the bolshevik party
had been suppressed while he was
III Russia, at least.
When Major Humes asked wheth-
er his interpreter, Alexander Gum
berg, a Russian Jew, who had re-
sided in the United States, was con-
nected with the bolsheviki. Colonel
Robins denounced "lying charges
that his interpreter was a German
agent" and produced a copy OF 9
contract between Edgar Sisson and
Gumberg, formerly Of the committee
on public information, calling for
payment of $1,000 to the latter
to aid American propaganda work.
Calls Northcliffe Bolshevist.
Mr. Robins did not agree with the
theory put forth by previous wit
nesses that "a small group at the
top" was running the government in
Russia. Mention of conditions in
England brought from the witness
4 reference TO Lord Northcliffe as
the we'll known bolshevist of Eng
land" .
Mr.. Robins concluded his testi-
mony with the statement that
American intelligence and institu.
tons would be sufficient to throw
out bolshevist ideas. The senate re,
port, Mr.. Robins thought, could
assist in "mobilizing the conscious.
ness and intelligence of the land" tc
combat the spread of bolshevism.
Iowa and Nebraska People