New-York tribune., 1919-01-24
GUARANTEE
The Russian Parley


conference has at least broken the Rus
sian deadlock 1t has adopted no policy,
but it has committed itself to parley
which may bring a solution or suggest
one In this sense Wednesdays agree
ment, largely influenced by President
Wilson, may be said to reflect progress.
Everything remains to be seen Mean
while the situation presents some strange
inconeruities-
The peace conference consents to deal
with all factions alike, including the Mos
COW TerroIists- II invites them to send
representatives to Princes Islands and
obliges itself thereby to receive them on
q basis OF equality with the representa-
tives of the anti-Soyiet groups with
which the Allies have been maintaining
political and military cooperation.
Apparently the Associated Powers
drop that cooperative role and assume
the new role of umpire and mediator be-
tween former friends and former enemies
It is a quick transition Conditions
have changed, but the Red despotism in
Lansing wrote, on September 21 last, in
note suggesting protest on the part
Of the neutral powers against its mur-
derous excesses:
This government is in receipt of infor-
nation from reliable sources revealing
that the peaceable citizens of Moscow
Petrograd and other cities are suffering
terrorism and subjected to wholesale
executions. Thousands of persons have
been shot without a trial; ill-ad-
ministered prisons filled beyond
capacity, and every night scores Of Rus
sian citizens recklessly put to death,
and irresponsible bands are venting their
brutal passions in the daily massacre Of
untold innocents.
'1n view of the earnest desire of the
people Of the United States to befriend
the Russian people and lend them all pos
sibe assistance in their struggle to re-
construct their nation upon the principles
of democracy and self government, and
acting, therefore, solely in the interest of
the Russian people themselves, this gov
eminent feels that it cannot be silent or
refrain from expressing its horror at this
existing state of terrorism. Furthermore,
1t believes that, in order TO successfully
check the further increase of the indis-
criminate slaughter of Russian citizens.
all civilized nations should register their
adherence of such barbarism."
Secretary Lansing's note so impressed
una neutral powers that they filed a pro-
t"st at Moscow against the Bolshevist
atrocities and subsequently severed rela-
tlons with Lenine's government
There is one unfortunate ambiguity in
the statement issued Wednesday by the
peace conference. The paragraph which
defines the scope Of the Marmora gather
ing contains this limitation: 'Provided
IN the mean time there is a truce of arms
among the parties invited and that all
armed forces anywhere sent or directed
against any people or territory inside the
boundaries Of European Russia as they
stood before the war, or against Finland
or against any people or territory whose
autonomous action is contemplated in the
fourteen Articles upon which the pres
ent negotiations are based shall mean
while be withdrawn and aggressive mill
tary actions cease
Sent or directed by whom? BY the
oo'lets and the anti-Soviet groups alone?
Or by the Allies as well? We can hardly
,nlnk that this paragraph requires the
AIMED forces to be withdrawn from 81
oeria, Northern Russia or the Ukraine
as a condition precedent to the Marmora
'enue~Vous The proceedings there are
0niy IN the nature of preliminary con-
VersatIon If the opposing Russian
groups cannot agree chaos in Russia will
commune and some other road must be
taken toward European peace.