New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
The Red Power


Shall Bo,shevism he fought. quaran-
tined or talked to? That is the ques-
ton now distracting the sane nations of
the world.
Never since the advent OF the Boil
shevist regime have the Allies had
Russian policy. Practically all that has
been accomplished in checking the spread
of Lenine and Trotzly's power has been
due to the purely providential Czecho-
Slovak Intervention. An armed force of
Iine soldierly quality suddenly dropped
from the clouds. saved Siberia and estab-
lshed an Allied front west Of the Urals.
The Allied governments applauded
this miracle They could realize the ad-
Vantages OF 4 military intervention
which tended to keep vast regions of
Russia still pro-Ally. They knew that
Lenine and Trotzky were thoroughly
plo-German and anti-Aly. The sort Of
government which Lenine and TrotZky
had set up was an enemy of civilization,
along with the Hohenzoliern or the
Hapsburg autocracy. A satisfactory
world peace was unthinkable while any
one Of these three tyrannies continued
in. existence
\ ct the Allied powers lacked the will
and vision to deal energetically with the
Russian question. They reacted emo
tionally to the Bolshevist enormty But
they were very wary about committing
themselves to a war against the soviets.
Japan furnished the bulk of the troors
for an expedition intended to relieve the
Czecho-Slovaks. But this expedition
simply cleared Eastern and Central ST.
beila. The Czecho- Slovaks were left west
of. the Urals to carry on their unequal
contest with the Russian Red armies.
There was time-about five months
ago when both the military and the
political power of the Soviets seemed to
ne colapsing. Trotzky denounced the
cosvaIdice of the Red Guards and the in
competency of their officers But now it
isSestimated that the Red power has 24O,-
800 men on the Nolga front And it has
recently sent troops into Livonia. Estho-
nla and Lithuania. recapturing Riga and
lima
Japan has begun to withdraw her
troops from Siberia. Lord Northcliffe
sss-s that no more British troops will be
ses.l to Russia. 1t is natural for Japan
%, wish to cut out of the Russian situa-
tien. She has done her full share to
support 4 half-hearted Allied military
intervention The other Allies have
failed to cooperate efficiently with her.
'1ea own interest does not lie in the re-
creation of a strong Russian state Nor
does Great Britain's interest lie that
way. And the failure Of the Allied con-
cert to produce an ineligible Russian
poiicy offers an excuse to those states
which arc not especially concerned in
say ing Russia from her own weakness.
The United States is not without
hianc for the lack of military and po-
iItrcal cooperation in Russia Our gov
crnment long delayed approval Of an ex-
pedition to relieve the Czecho- -Slovaks.
The Allies have, in fact, merely driftcd
along Now they face the dilemma Of
fighting Bolshevism in earnest or asking
it to parlcy.
It is an unpleasant prcdicament. But
1t Is the logical outcome Of a programme
a rcgatou. If the "hloody and disor-
deriy tyranny of Lonine and Trotzsy
nrw receives d certificate of tolerance.
! 'hat ccndescension win be due to long
Continued lethargy and ndecision in
iIicd councils.