The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-03-12
FRANCIS TELLS
OF BOLSHEVIkI

tee. Grave Menace Found. Ii Pres
ent Misru!c Of Russia Continues
Country VIII BE Exploited by Ger
mans.
Washington, March S.-David R.
Francis, who went to Russia as Amer
lean ambassador in 1916 before the
overthrow Of the monarchy and who
remained there until after the Boil
shevists had seized the government,
In testifying today before the senate
committee investigating iawless propa-
ganda, warned that should the Bolshe-
visits be permitted to remain in power
all Russia would be exploited by the
Germans. Within ten years under
such conditions, Germany would be
the victor Of the war in that the
nation would be stronger in every way
than it was in 1914.
Ambassador Francis told the COM
mittce complete and thorough un-
dcrstanding Of the Russian menace
convinces him that with the Bolshe-
visits in power in Russia, peace not
only in Europe but throughout the
entire world was an utter imposs-
bility. He said even now there was
good reason for believing German and
Austrian officers were with the red
forces operating in Northern Russia
and, he added the Germans were
steadily getting grip upon the vitals
OF Russia and her industries.
Mr.. Francis further testified that
information had reached him that
Raymond Robins, former American
Red Cross commissioner to Russia
had upon his return to the United
States carried proposal from the
Bolshevik government to President
Wilson. This proposal, he said, he
understood, was an offer Of certain
concessions to the American govern
ment similar to those granted Ger
many in the treaty Of Brest-Ltovsk.
The ambassador said so far as he
knew Mr. Robins was never given an
opportunity to present the proposal to
the president.
the committee, Ambassador Francis
said it was his understanding that
the soviet did not desire to make
similar proposal to Great Britain,
France and the other allies. On the
contrary his information, lie said, was
to the effect that the Boshcvists
wished to conceal the proposal from
the governments associated with the
United States.
The ambassador was asked what
would happen If American and allied
troops were withdrawn from North
,crp Russia and in reply asserted he
was positive the BolShovsts would
sweep in and engage III an orgy Of
murder and destruction on a scale
such as the world has never seen.
Reports that the BolShcvists were
sending their agents into Germany.
France and England were upheld by
the ambassador who said he believed
efforts in this country thus far had
taken the form Of money for use IN
spreading Of their propaganda. He
told of the delivery Of BOlshcvist prop
aganda to the armies Of tho allies and
the United States in France.
The ambassador said the soviet gov
crnmcnt had recently been petitioned
not to carry out the Standardization
Of certain banks. the objects of the
petitioners being, he said, to allow
German agents to obtain control of
the stock Of these institutions.
Mr.. Francis said it was not true that
the mass Of the Russians, favored the
rule OF the Bolshcvsts. As matter
,of fact, according to Ambassador
Francis. less than constantly dwin-
ding 10 per cent OF all the people in
Russia belonged to the Bolsheyiki.
Hc painted vivid picture Of the ter
ror that reigns and told Of an instance
where the cutters from a courtyard
in Petrograd actually ran with blood
from the victims OF the Bolshevists.
Many were killed without even charg-
cs being made against them and on
several occasions, the ambassador as
serted wholesale killings were indulg