New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
Agent
Here Assails
Allied Project
Bolshevik SSAmbassador' TO
United States Analyses
Report of Proposal for
the s'Feeding of Russia

This piece of Bolshevik propo
ganda acas issued yesterday in re-
spo1ase to neacs from Paris that the
Allies had decided upon a plan to
feed Russia Through neutral COM
missions il the government of Le-
nine and Trot-ky would agree to
cease hostilities. 1t came from the
office Of l.. c. A. K. Martens, self
styled Bolsheuik Ambassador to the
United States.
"The news from Paris and Lon
don, in as far as it refers to the
Russian situation. certainly does not
make clear the rear situation and the
actual attitude of the Allies toward
Russia. We have the statement that
the Allied peace council has decided
to feed Russia through neutral chan
nels. We do not know what are the
details of this plan, but if it means
anything it means the establishment
of some kind of trade relations with
the Soviet government. The news
paper dispatches state that the crowd
of Russian counter revolutionary en-
igres in Paris, the Sazonoffs and Bakh-
meteffs, are objectng to the plan
kind of relations are being establshe ed
with Moscow.
Provisions for Imports Probable
"There must be something in the
proposition which defines the nature Of
the relations between the Allied powers
and the Soviet government and which
has not been made public.
'Inasmuch as the best method of
feeding Russia lies not so much in i'm
porting food products to Russia from
other countries as in the opening the
way for manufactured products to re-
store the industries and railways of
Russia, the plan, if accepted by Mos
COW, probably contains something pro-
vding for such imports and also pro
viding for q cessation of military in
reference with Russian affairs, mas
much as the military Intervention is
one Of the greatest obstacles to the
feeding of Russia with products of her
own soil.
The dispatches from Paris say that
one Of the conditions for the establish
ment of relations is the cessation Of
hostilites on the part of the Soviet
government. Whatever fighting there
is in Russia is not due to the aggres-
siveness of the Soviet government, but
is defensive, necessitated by the fact
that foreign troops are attacking
Soviet forces and invading Russian
territory and that groups hostile to
the Soviets are being armed and sup
ported by foreign powers.
Wants Aid Denied Monarchists
"The cessation Of fighting in Russia
thus does not depend upon the Soviets
but on their opponents, and the Allies
are in a position to stop that fighting
by ceasing to aid, directly or indirectly
the Russian monarchists, in compli-
ance with the policy several times an
nounced by the American government
which has given assurance of non-ln-
| reference in Russian internal affairs
We hope that decision has been ar
rived at in Paris which will lead tc
necessary steps in this respect.
at is, of course, difficult to har
monize this theory with the speech by
Lloyd George In his reference to the
Russian situation Mr.. Lloyd George
comes into conflict not only with the
policy suggested in the above men
toned news dispatches, but also witt
many of his own remarks.
"a consoling feature. however, il
that, irrespective of sayings of this OF
that diplomat. mutual economic
necessity is working for reastablish
ment Of trade relations between the
United States and Russia. Diplomatic
formulas in the long run will have tt
adapt themselves to such necessities
We count upon a speedy reopening
without any fringes of neutral aid a
straight trade connection between til,
United States and Soviet Russia"