The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-08
Intervention Would
Spread Bolshevism
Dispatching of American and
Allied Troops to Russia
Would Do More Harm Than
Good, Colonel Robins Tells
Senate Subcommittee.
BY James II. Nourse.

Warrington. March T-Intervcn-
ton of American ard allied troops In
Russia would do more to spread Boil
shevism to the rest Of the world than
ITO prevent II. Colonel Raymond
Robins told the Overman sub-com-
mittee OF the senate today. His tes-
timony was continuation OF the
story begun before the committee
yesterday. based upon his experiences
while In Russia as head OF the Amer
lean Red Cross mission.
Intervention would be only for
profit" Colonel Robins declared. eft
would mean that the nations intended
to exploit Russia This would be par
ticuiarly true as regards Japan. It
would be presented at the bayonet by
the whole Russian people"
Colonel Robins expressed In strong
terms his denunciation OF the Aneri-
can and allied policy which led to the
sending of troops into Siberia Ho
said that he believed the Russian
people should be permitted 10 get the
kind OF government they desire
without the use of foreign rifles to
try to force them TO adopt some other
kind OF government to protect some
foreign interest"
The sending Of these troops into
Russia, Colonel Robins continued had
GEtdtN0 u bpiftL oi UNREST III
and in Canada. where revolts were
started against the use OF force
against what was believed to be an
attempt to create a representative gov
eminent.
THAI was a bad cure for Bolshe~
vism," he said. land only made mat
tiers worse. | would warn those who
would reach a conclusion as to the
conditions In Russia that they should
be careful as to whose testimony re-
gar ding those conditions they will &C
cept.
EMPHATIC IN DISAvOwAL
Colonel Robins again disavowed in
emphatic terms that he supported or
endorsed the BoIshevik movement In
any degree. He declared that he
knew the beast" and true state
men or what Bolshevisrn means will
do more than anything else to turn
The peop|e OF America against 1t. He
said his mission to America was not
to advocate the policy OF keeping
hands Off Russia. but to propose the
sending of a competent mission to
Russia TO make correct stndy of the
situation. He added:
"If II should be found that the
Bolshevik government is the only
power In Russia. that Il is the kind OF
government the majority OF the ttuS~
sia people want then I should GER
tainly be In favor OF having that gov
eminent recognized by the United
States But am opposed to the use
Of American troops in Russia against
the Russian revolutionary govern
ment on a false statement of con-
ditions there We should be- careful
to know what we are doing. Such use
Of force will create in this country
and in other lands the feeling OF re-
sentm snt and will tend to stir UP
class against class"
Several times during Colonel Rob
ms testimony ne was drawn into vio-
lent clashes with members OF the COM
mitteo, especially with Senators Nell
son Of Minnesota and Sterling OF
South Dakota. both Republicans OF
the ''old guard" type. These two SON.
Atcrs exhibited such sigma Of hostility
to Colonel Robins attitude that upon
two occasions Senator Hiram johnson.
of California. who was seated in the
room. registered a vigorous protest
against the manner in which the wit
ness was being treated.
Senator johnson explained that al
though he was not a member the
com mittee. ne believed the witness
should have right to answer the
questions in his own way. He pro-
tested against the apparent. desire to
the two Republican senators to place
a false construction upon what Col
onei Robins said.