New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
Civilization Is
Passing Crisis,
Says Russell
League Only Can Avert
Famine and Bolshevism
Which Threaten Europe
Wilson's Stand Weakened
Socialist Asserts Pledge of
Senators to Oppose the
Covenant Hurts Prestige

fallure to consummate a league o1
nations, coupled with economic distress
and the preaching of Bolshevik doc.
trine, would bid fair to result in the
overthrow of all government and the
collapse of civilization in Europe, &C
cording to Charles Edward Russell
who returned from Paris yesterday or
the Nieuw Amsterdam.
Mr.. Russell admitted President vii.
sons influence at the peace conference
would be weakened by the pledge of
thirty-seven United States Senator's to
defeat ratification of the league COW
enant.
He said this was because a number
of the representatives of other nations
were already secretly opposed to the
league, but that it would in nowise
lessen the Presidents prestige among
the people Of Continental Europe.
Mr.. Russell went to Paris two months
ago as a delegate from the Social Demo-
cratic League of America to enlist sup
port of pro-war European Socialists for
the fourteen points" The other dele
gates were William English Walling,
who is still abroad Frank Bohn, who
is on his way home, and George D.
Heron.
Establishment of the league of ma
tions to satisfy the ethical aspira-
tions" of European masses and the re-
sumption by the United States of a
"selfrationing system" to feed them
will make short work of Bolshevism, in
the opinion of Mr.. Russell. Under those
conditions, he added, the Bolshevik rule
in Russia could endure only till such
time as the anti Bolshevik elements in
that country organize and arm them
selves to cXterminate it.
U. S. Labor Against Bolshevism
"Organized labor in the United
States is against Bolshevism,' he con-
tinued, "and so is the great mass of
agriculturists. There might arise GER
tain conditions, due to unemployment
and the like, which would occasion
sporadic outbursts Of Bolshevism here
and they would be very unpleasant
U
spread or seriously menacng Bolshe-
vik movement in the United States is
unthinkable.
"Of course, if the pillars of society
were pulled out and the whole house
came down with a crash none could
tell what might happen. If there were
serious trouble in Europe we would be
bound to experience refexes of it
here"
1t is this very contingency Mr.. Rus
sell declares must be obviated by graft
flying the hopes and appeasing the
hunger of the common people of Eu-
rope.
League Will Satisfy Europeans
"The plan for the league of nations" !"
he said, "is not exactly what the ad-
vanced radical thought of the world
hoped for-we would like to have had
it 90 further-but it is, after all,
tremendous step forward in civilization
If put into operation it will practically
prevent war 1t is the only thing in
sight that will satisfy or come near
satisfying the aspirations of the great
masses of Europe.
"For while these people have been
looking so eagerly forward to new
foundation their economic condition
has been growing worse every day.
Famine is threatening over q large
part of the continent east of the Rhine.
Three Grave Menaces
add to this widespread desttution
a bitter disappointment, such as fail
ure to form league of nations would
be, and the effects of the preaching of
Bolshevik doctrine, which is sub
versive of all civilization, and you have
three very real menaces. They are
menaces that might easily overturn the
foundations of civilization"
Mr.. Russell said that Germany's
condition in regard to food was some
what better than that of some other
sections east Of the Rhine, notably, Ga
licia, Silesia, Rumania, Armenia, a
large part of Turkey and some sections
of Austria. Bulgaria he declared, had
already "blown up" and was in state
of anarchy except where occupied by
allied troops.
Criticism Doesn't Impress Him
MI. Russell asserted the criticisms
voiced by the opponents of the league
of nations did not impress him.
He said the effects of the Interna-
tional Socialist conference at Bernc
rad been injurious because the seating
Of German delegates served to "con-
done German offcnscs" He charged
that some one had forged the names of
Gompers and Van der Velte, the Bel
gian Cabinet member, to the Bernc
call.