The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-07-26
Complete Text of Presidents
Senate Message on Siberia

subject to change by the direction
| of General Graves.
The instructions to General Graves
direct him not to interfere in Russian
affairs, but to support Mr.. Stevens
wherever necessary. The Siberian rail-
road is not only the main artery for
transportation in Siberia, but it the
only open access to European Russia
today. The population of Siberia, whose
resources have been almost exhaut-
ed by the long years of war and the
chaotic conditions which have existed
there, can be protected from a further
period of chaos and anarchy only by
the restoration and maintenance of
traffic along the Siberian Railway.
Partisan bands under leaders hav-
ing no settled connection with any
organized government and bands under
leaders whose allegiance to any set
tied authority is apparently temporary
and tranSitory are constantly menace
ing the operation of the railway, and
the safety of it's permanent structures
The situation of the people of ST.
IBERIA, meantime, is that they have no
shoes Or war clothing; they are plead
ing for agricultural machinery, and for
many of the simpler articles of COM
merce upon which their own domestic
economy depends, and which are nee
essary to fruitful and productive in
dustry among them. Having contribut-
ed their quota to the Russian armies
which fought the central empires for
three and one-half years, they now
look to the allies and the United States
for economic assistance.
THE population of Western Siberia
and the forces of Admiral Kolchak are
entirely dependent upon these rail-
ways.
The Russian authorities in this
country. succeeded in shipping large
Quantities of Russian supplies to ST.
IBERIA and the secretary of war is now
contracting with the great co-opera-
tive societies which operate through
out European and SAsiatic Russia to
ship further supplies to meet the needs
of the civilian population.
The Kolchak Sovernment is also
endeavoring- to arrange for the pur-
chase of medical and other Red Cross
supplies from the war department, and
the American Red Cross is itself at
tempting the forms OF relief for which
1t is organized. All elements of the
population in Siberia look to the Unit
ed States for assistance. This assis-
tance cannot be given to the popula-
ton of Siberia, and ultimately to Rus
STA, If the purpose entertained for two
years to restore railway traffic is
abandoned. The presence OF American
The service of Mr.. Stevens depend up
on it, and, in point of serious moment.
the plan proposed by Japan expressly
provides that Mr.. Stevens and all rail-
way experts be withdrawn when the
troops are withdrawn. .
From these observations it will be
seen that the purpose of the continu-
ance of American troops in Siberia is
that we. with the concurrence of the
great allied powers. may keep open a
necessary artery of trade, and extend
to the vast population of Siberia the
economic aid essential to it in peace
time, but indispensable under the con-
ditions which have followed the pro-
longed and exhausting participation
by Russia in the war against the CEN
trail powers. This participation was OBJ
viously of incalculable value to the
allied cause, and in very particular
way commends the exhausted people
who suffered from it to such assist
ance as we can render to bring about
their industrial and economic rehabi-
litation.