Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-11
Friday. October 70. 1919.
An Explanation Due.

The American public has asked re-
peatedly through it's representatives
in both houses Of Congress anu
through the press for a definite state
ment of the administrations policy
toward Russia. None has been forth
coming and guess work has been the
only guide to attempt to explain why
the United States has alternately
embraced and spurned the bolsheviki,
why it undertook to fit out an ex-
pedition to feed them last spring,
WHY American soldiers are serving
in a country with which we have not
been at war, and why the peace con-
ference, having kept troops there Tor
so many months, now has definitely
decided to withdraw all aid and as
sistance from the loyal Russian
forces under Admiral Kolchak and
General Denekine.
The Russians themselves think
they are entitled to some information
about the withdrawal of the Allies,
and the central committee of national
defense in Vladivostok has issued an
open letter to the leaders of all
political parties in the United States.
England and France. declaring it the
duty of the Allies to publish clear
explanation Of their policy, showing
their opposition to bolshevism and
their sympathy with the movement
for the regeneration of Russia.
The letter states that in the far
East the American military authori-
ties declared that they considered the
bolshevist band a de facto govern
ment Of Russia. 1t is claimed that
the action of the peace conference in
inviting the bolsheviki to the pro-
posed conference at Prinkipo on
equal terms with the representatives
of loyal and patriotic Russia was
bolshevism. and that the peace con-
ference has, without listening to the
representatives Of Russia. approved
various separatist tendencies that
aim at the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Russia.
Russia's confidence in her allies has
been shaken by the above events. by
the French abandonment of Odessa,
without any visible cause" by the
interference of the Allies in Russian
internal affairs, and by the humilia-
ton to which the patriotic feelings of
Russia are constantly subjected In
view of all these things. the central
committee considers it just 'and
necessary that clear declaration of
policy be made.
1t has been pointed out repeatedly
that Russia would inevitably be driv-
en- into the arms of Germany if she
were to be deserted by the Allies.
Recent dispatches from reliable anti
bolshevist Russian authorities state
that the first effect of the withdrawal
of allied military aid will be to force
the ibolshevists to seek some
kind of agreement with the bolsheviki
and that Germany is trying to bring
about such an understanding. This
has ralready happened in the Baltic
provinces and it is confidently as
serted that Kolchak and Denekine
will be obliged to do the same thing if
the Allies refuse to supply them with
arms and ammunition. Both these
men have up to this time pursued a
policy of loyalty to the Allies, and it
is only since they have learned that
the Allies are about to desert them
that they have even deigned to con-
slider the offers of mediation and help
held out to them with many bland
ishments by the Germans
Without Allied aid the possibility
of Il victory over the bolsheviki is
made very remote. and without such
victory the loyal Russian forces can
not hope to achieve the first step
toward regeneration of their country.
y more serious fact is indicated by
hints coming from all sources that
the Russian people as whole are
very. very weary of war and that
both bolshevist and anti-bolshevist
armies are on the verge of collapse.
This condition will permit Germany
to do practically whatever she likes
and can find the men for putting into
execution. Her plans for the de-
vclopment of Russia were made some
TOUR or Ave years ago. it is said. and
with some slight notifications can be
made to At into present conditions.
The annual statistical edition of
the Galveston Daily News comes to
us, being a 50-page number Of Oct. l