Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-20
SIBERIAN PRESS
FULL OF TRADES
AGAINST AMERICA
Systematic Campaign Being
Waged to Discredit the
United States.
CHARGE THIS COUNTRY
FRIEND OF BOLSHEVISTS
Accusation Arises From Princes
Island Proposal for All-Rus-
sian and Allied Conference.
WILL NOT HELP RAID VILLAGES
Refusal OF American Commander to
Engage in Pillaging Expeditions
Causes UnfuyOrable Discussion
CHARGE THIS COUNTRY
FRIEND OF BOLSHEWSTS
WILL NOT HELP RAID VILLAGES
Refusal OF American Commander to
Engage in Pillaging Expeditions
Causes Unfavorable Discussion.
TBy Associated Pres.

VLAD1VOSTOK, March 1e.-Neye-
since the landing here of troops in
August has there been such widespread
criticism Of he United States. The
newspapers are full OK TRADES and in
genious distortions of facts calculated
to sow discord among Americans,
Russians and Americas allies
1t is an unquestioned fact that there
Is a systematic campaign. Some news.
papers OF Siberia, it appears, have
been subsidized and are distinctly
hostile to the United States.
The Russians never over-conhdent
cans, have been ready listeners and
the legitimate Russian press reprints
and editorializes on the fabrications
that have been put in circulation
Beginning with the! disappointment
over the passiveness of Americas; In
teryention, the sentiment developed
IN many quarters to the Princes Island
proposal for conference of all-Rus-
sian factions with the allies justly or
otherwise credited to President Wilson.
AMERICANS DUBBED
FRIENDS OF BoLSHEVISTS
Americans were instantly dubbed
friends of the Bolshevists and the idea
was quickly utilized by an .unfriendly
circles of the Russians generally.
There is no effective means here of
comb batting this propaganda and the
few champions in any class party.
Reassurances by Major-General Will
liam S. Graves, the military command
partisanship. were offset in tho Rus
sian mind. which is little concerned
in the fine shades of interference and
non on-inteIference. by, definite. chagres
of pro- o-Bolshevism here and abroad,
arising from the refusals OF the
americans TO co-operate with its mill
in the Amur district.
The giving OF asylum to the Cos
sacks in revolt recently was construed
however. was the only one OF malig-
nlnG character to draw fire. Colonel
Henry d. Slayer. who has been active
troverSy, wrote to the newspapers an
explanation of the affair in which he
fully outlined General Graves stand.
MANY OTHER DIATRIBES
RECEIEVED IN SILENCE
Other diatribes have been received
in silence. and as consequence the
loyal friends of the United States
among the Russians are wavering.
the Americans is plainly getting on
the nerves of the Russians France
and England have few troops here.
and these are not actively engaged.
and counSelling the OmSk government,
with the result that they are being
credited with being the best friends
of Russia. The Japanese are regarded
as having rendered positive service in
a military way.
Only the Americans. to whom the
are considered to have failed. not be-
cause of their failure to send more
troops, hope which has long since
been abandoned. but for lack OF moral
and material support such as other
nations are giving.
RESENT PASSIvITY
OF AMERICAN TROOPS
This Is not solely the governments
pathy and aid. Among its officials
there are others who resent the pres
ence and passivity OF the troops and
the alleged encouragement by AMERICA
representative OF the Omsk govern
ment, in discussing the situation, con-
fessed himself and his superiors mys-
titled by the silence of the United
States on vital matters of policy.
He complained OF the misuse Of
American citizenship by former refu-
agitators here. and declared persons
Of this character were discredting
Americans.
The Omsk official also said there
OF eSpediency and necessity which his
government had taken. He said these
acts were not fully understood. lie
cited the recent arrests of members Of
the zemstve. which, he declared. were
justified and were made in accordance
with military law The arrested men
were safely lodged in jail at Prog
anitchnaya, waiting for n civil trial on
charges of reasonable conspiracy.
GOVERNMENT WANTS
SYMPATHY IN EFFORTS
His government wanted sympathy,
this official added, in it's efforts to re-
establish order and crater material as
sistance, but IL IL could not have 1t he
said he believed 1t was entitled to
strict neutrality toward It's enemies.
meaning. of course, the refraining from
encoura ement to the Bolshevists,
Among the troops and the villagers
along the railways there is a sullen- /
ness and unfriendliness which did not
exist a month ngo. This is due. be-
sides the Cossack incident. to a refusal
of General Graves to respond to ap-
peals by the Inhabitants along the Us |
surf and Amur railways and Suchan |
mines district, where the Americans
are stationed for protection against |
outrages by Russian soldiers.
To these appeals. as well as a re.
quest from the japanese in the Blagl- |
ovestchensk district for company OF !
troops TO fight the so-called Bolshe-
visits. General Graves has made the |
same reply namely that he would be |
exceeding his authority and violating !!
the American policy toward Russia
General Graves, entertains strong |
doubt whether all Russians who have |
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