The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-28
CURRENT COMMENT
Recognizing the Revolution.

Recognizing the Revolution.
We need not heed the report from
Paris that Marshal Foch had much to
do with the accepting of the new Rus
sian policy, believing that its failure
would revive sentiment for intervention,
1t is plain, however, that many interven-
tionists hope for the outcome, Much will
depend, however, in case of the failure
Of the Princes islands conference, upon
the causes OF the failure. 1t certainly
will not strengthen the case for inter
vention if the anti-bolshevik factions per-
sist in their present attitude toward the
invitation Of the powers. Probably their
delegates will not be required to "sit
down with assassins"; it may serve the
purpose of the council to call in one at a
time the delegates who profess to speak
for some part of Russia, hearing claims,
getting facts, making proposals, sug-
costing compromises. 1t is improbable
that all the warning groups will reject
the proposal, and those who accept it
will have so obvious an advantage that
the rest may have to fall into line
Those who have closely watched the
trend in Russia will not find it sur
prising that the proposal exctes most
adherence among those who have been
leaning most heavily upon the allies for
support. The bolsheviki, Of course, have
known that it was useless to ask aid of
any sort from the allies; their position
such as it is, is self-sustaining. They
have not as yet replied but word comes
from Moscow that while surprised that a
proposal for a truce should be made
when they were having such brilliant
victories they do not refuse the princi-
pie of conference. kerensky's party,
the social Tevoutionaries, holds no ter
ritory, but is presumably included in the
invitation, which some of its leaders
have already accepted. The attitude, on
the contrary, of all the so-called govern
ments which the allies have been pro-
tecting on Russian soil is intensely hos
tile to the conference, and it is impos-
sible to ascribe this hostility entirely to
hatred for the bolsheyiki.
1t can hardly have escaped the least
observant that while the experiment of
Intervention was in progress there was
extreme unwillingness to have the facts
in regard to Russia put before the world
Facts in this connection, may be taken
TO mean not bolsheyik propaganda but
a clear statement of the actual situa-
tion in Russia and the strength of the
various contending elements there. This
information can no longer be withheld
and the Princes islands conference would
inevitably yield food of light; this is
by no means the least of the reasons why
1t is opposed by those factions which
have little popular support in Russia
but which have hoped by the aid Of for
eign armies to be able to dispense with
popular support.
That some entente diplomats have
encouraged these hopes is unquestion
ably true. The full extent Of these
commitments is still unknown, but the
French ambassador M. NOulens, in
speech on leaving Archangel to 90 to the
peace conference, certainly made prom
ses which if made with authority would
Justify a charge of bad faith. But a
French ambassador could not possibly
commit the great powers, and France
alone could not execute his promise; it
is to be supposed that he exceeded his
authority. Unfortunately there seem to
be many such cases, and it is to be feared
that bitter accusations Of treacherous
desertion will follow This is among
the evil fruits of the secrecy practiced
in regard to Russia; secret diplomacy
has been making unauthorized pledges
the carrying out Of which public opin-
ion will not support.
In so far as this is the case the pow
ers owe what amends can be made, and
as matter of common humanity they
of course owe some provision for the
safety of those who have been depend
ing on the support of the armies of in
PREVENTION. But to help them overthrow
the revolution is another matter, and
the sting lies less in the proposal of a
conference than in the recognition of
the revolution. This does not mean rec
ignition of the bolshevik government
nor does it mean approval of all that the
revolution has done. But it does mean
recognition Of the revolution as fact
not simply the political revolution
which ousted the car, but the economic
revolution which followed 1t implies
that Russias internal questions are for
Russia to settle--Springield Republi-
can.