New-York tribune., 1919-01-28
The Truth About
Russia" Committee
Starts Work Here
Group of Liberals, IncIud-
ing Some Editors, Plan
to Keep America Informed
on Bolshevik Activities

On the theory that "Bolshevism must
be faced as reality and that re
pressive action has resulted only in the
strengthening of the Bolsheviki hold
upon Russia group known as The
Truth About Russia Committee, COM
posed Of well-known liberals, made its
initial bow yesterday to present, i'm
partially and candidly, to American
public opinion, authentic information
on events in Russia.
The facts are CLEANED from a mass
Of documentary material now in this
country, and the committee is COM
posed Of the following members: Alvin
Johnson, OF "The New Republic"
Henry R. Mussey, Albert ]. Mock, and
William Macdonald. of "The Nation'; F.;
Paul L. Kellogg, Of "The Survey; ;
Martyr Johnson, Harold Stearns, and
Robert Morss Lovett, of The DIAL;
Frank p. Walsh, formerly of the U. S.
Commission on Industrial Relations
and recently joint chairman with
William II. Taft, of the National War
Labor Board; Jane Adams, ellison
Gardner, j. A; II. Hopkins, Alan Mac
Curdy, Amos Pinchot, George p West,
Albert Bon and Lincoln Colcord
Committee "Not Bolshcvil''
The committee is not "Bolshevik or
Socialistic,' according to Mr.. Colcord,
who directs the work. He declared that
the best move to check brewing class
war is to face the facts about Russia
and to get at the heart of what has
rpHIlN bonnnnoI ~, bnt
now going ON. The first statement Of
the committee says:
The Truth About Russia Committee
heartily indorses the action of the Su
preme Peace Council in Paris in invit-
ing all political factions in Russia to
send representatives to meet with rep
resentatives of the council at the
Princes Islands, in the Sea of Mar
mora. This action signifies realiza-
tion upon the part Of the Allied gov
ernments that Bolshcvlsm must be
faced as a reality Rcpressivc activity
hitherto undertaken has resulted only
in strengthening of the Bolsheyik
hold upon Russia.
"The bulk of the information which
reaches the committee tends to show
that the Soviet government is stronger
to-day than it has been at any time
since the October revolution of 1917,
that it is governing Russia in an or
derly fashion, and that it has the sup
port of an overwhelming maj ajorlty Of
the Russian people.
Two Conflicting Policies
"Briehy, there are now two conflict
ing policies being advocated by Soviet
leaders in Russia. Lcnine leading the
more moderate Russian faction, has al
ways expressed d willingness to CO.
operate with the Western powers. He
has always advocated the policy Of
compromise, an! has been prepared to
concilate the Western powers by re
dceming the Russian loans and conhn-
ing activity TO efforts at internal CON
struction. Lenine's programme is that
accepted by the Russian majority.
Trotzky, on the other hand. has fought
from the beginning for extreme pol
icies.
"The attitude of the Soviet govern
ment to-day distinctly is a reflection Of
Lenne's point OF view. 1t shows that
his influence still is the dominating one
in the Soviets, in spite OF recent Euro
pean propaganda to the effect that he
had been arrested and oVcrthrown by
Trotzky. He is the man in the Soviets
with whom America and the Allies can
deal, His advances do not spring from
a weakening Of the Soviet power.
"Evidently, these are the facts which
have been taken into account by those
better informed statesmen in Paris who
have established the recent Russian
policy Of the Supreme Peace Council,
American public opinion, once it has
the facts at its disposal, will quickly
rally behind this policy