The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-05
Professor Pares' Views
Says the Christian Science Monitor:


Says the Christian Science Monitor:
Few people are better qualified than Prof
Bernard Pares of Liverpool University, to give
a helpful opinion upon the present conflicting
position in the huge Russian Empire. Not only
is Professor Pares a recognized authority on in
ternational affairs, but he spent more than two
years with the Russian army on the eastern
front, and thus had many opportunities of.gain
ing that intimate insight into Russian character
and affairs so necessary to any just understand
ing of the present situation. In these circum.
stances the interview which the professor gave
to representative of this paper at Vancouver
British Columbia, as he passed through that city
recently, on his way to the Far East, is parti-
cularly interesting and valuable especially where
he emphasized the point that, as he put it, "the
recovery of Russia is beginning in Siberia"
Some four months ago, it was pointed out in
this paper that Siberia had already at that time
afforded abundant proof of desire to return to
orderly government, and of an ability to do so;
that the salvation of Russia largely depended on
Siberia; and that if Siberia was helped to help
herself it would not be long before help for Rus
STA would begin to flow westward over the Urals.
Professor Pares fully confirms such view. AS
those familiar with conditions in Greater Russia
in the days before the war are well aware,
amongst the Siberans is invariably found a mea-
sure of intelligence, freedom, energy, and re-
source unknown in European Russia. In Siberia
the tyrannies of the old landlorn system were
never known; none of the people ever were serfs,
and, as Professor Pares pointed out the convcts
themselves represented, under the political condi-
tions of the old regime, "a good part of the best
intelligence of Russia" Beyond being confined
to certain regions, the freedom of these people
was in no way restricted and they often devoted
themselves with energy to the needs of the COM
munities in which they lived. Then ever since
the ibration of the serfs in Russia, in 1861 there
has been steady stream of immigrants from
Russia pouring into Siberia, again from amongst
the most vigorous and enterprising of the Rus
sian people. 'The people of Siberia" Professor
Pares says, "have always been more capable,
more intelligent, and more selfreliant than those
of the poverty stricken districts of Central
Russia
Siberia, however needs help. The terribly
disturbed conditions of the last four and a half
years, especially of the last two years, have re-
duced the country, as far supplies for real re-
constructive work are concerned, to the verge of
restitution. Reconstructive work has, however,
begun, and is being pressed forward with energy.
A central cooperative bureau has been formed in
Vladivostok to coordinate the commercial and
other activities of the various cooperative unions
which have offices in Vladivostok for the pur-
chase of foreign supplies and the sale of Siberian
products. Many of these cooperative concerns
have branches all over the Russian empire, and
thus provide, as these branches can be rendered
once again available, natural stepping-stones for
the rehabilitation of trade and industrial inter-
course throughout the country. Professor Pares,
in referring to such reconstructive work. empha-
sizes point which needs to be emphasized
namely, that the whole movement would be great
ly helped if a "vely interest were taken by North
America in the matter" He is convinced that
Germany stands ready at the first opportunity to
prosecute, with renewed vigor, the exploitation
of the country, and he carries with him German
publication which discusses the question in the
most calculating way. with the realization of
the Russo-Asiatic problem this publication de-
clares, Germany will see in front of her the most
remarkable remunerative task which has ever
been offered to the economic and capitalist part
An American Mo