The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-10
They Agree Something Must
Be Done but None Seem
Anxious to Act
PEACE is NECESSITY
Refugees Report Terrible Conditions
Raging in Bolshevist
Russia

LONOON, MarCn lU-AnQreW Do
mar Law, government leader in the
House of Commons, replied recently
to some questions raised in a debate
on foreign affairs that have been in
progress in the House. AS regards
Bolshevism, Mr.. Bonar Law said that
few people now had any illusions
about it. The Allies were agreed
that something must be done for
Russia, but none of them, he declared,
would recommend dispatching the
necessary forces to quell the anarchy
there.
AS to indemnities, Mr.. Bonar Law
said the government realized that the
country expected to get the best pos
sible indemnities from Germany, and
he emphasized the poinNthat it was
Great Britain's business to get every
penny it could, but it was useless to
hold out the hope that the indemnities
would wipe out the country's immense
war debt
Mr.. Bonar Law agreed that it was
urgent that peace be achieved quickly,
because there was real, danger of
Germany sinking into Bolshevisrl.
Moreover, he pointed out that there
was the greatest necessity for the Al-
lies to get their own trade and in
dutries going again. Therefore, the
sooner the blockade was ended, given
the knowledge that some other weap-
on could be depended upon, the better
it would be for Great Britain and
the world in general.
Reports of terrible conditions in
Bolshevist Russia have been brought
to the attention of the British gov
ernment within the last week by Brit
ish subjects recently returned from
there. Several of the Britishers have
lived nearly all their lives in Russia
and left because Of the intollerable
conditions.
Their evidence is unanimous that
the food situation is indescribably
terrible and that if means are not
found to alleviate it the inhabitants
may starve to death They say that
the plight of Russia is a direct result
of the reign of anarchy and terror in
stituted by Lenine and TrotZky, and
that the Russian problem has ceased
to be political question and has be-
come a question of comman human
ity.
Thousands are dying daily in the
great centres of population like Pet
rograd, Moscow, Kiev and Odessa
In Petrograd alone the deaths from
famine three weeks ago numbered zoo
daily. Typhoid OF "hunger hyphus'
is carrying off young and old every
where, and in Moscow glanders Is
epidemic. There is no fuel for light
ing and millions live in pitch dark
ness after nightfall. The troubles
of the Russian are further aggravat.
ed by lack of coal and wood which
can be obtained only by the very ricf
or by the favorites and parasites OF
the Bolshevik Government.
The famous Kremlin in Moscow
according to reports, is now used as
a boarding place for wood, fuel, ano
lighting materials for the Bolshevih
Government The Bolshevik fooc
distributing system has fallen dow
and works only to the advantage Of
the Government and its supporters.
Meat, milk, and vegetables com
mand enormous prices when they car
be obtained. Horse meat sells fol
the normal equivalent of SO a poune
and dog flesh can be had at from S2.5t
to $3.50 a pound. Cats sell readily
at So each. There is great lack Of
medicine, and doctors. The Bolshe
visit paper money has no value IN tl,
country districts and the peasants re
fuse to exchange it for food. Tbs
only country produce which reache:
The towns is that requisi s.cned by
armed Red Guards.
In Petrograd three weeks ago mill
was selling for s5 pint, pork $50 i;
pound, butter $45 a pound, te: $l25 &
pound, and potatoes S3.75 u pound
For :hc ordinary equivalent of SIT.
at the bublic kitchens in ?et~ow1st,
a meal of very weak soup, Il piece o.
salt fish and a piece of dried frui
could be purchased.