The sun., 1919-06-05
OUR POLICY I'M RUSSIA.
A Plea for the Prompt Recognition Of
the Holchak Government.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--sI: It
has been evident for some time that
the recognition Of the Omsk Govern
ment headed by Admiral Kolchak could
not be long delayed. Tho most recent
news from Paris would seem to indi-
cate that the Allies were now practi-
cally agreed upon this, but that Presi-
dent Wilson was holding back.
Events in Siberia and Russia are
pressing matters to a climax, and pres
| entity the All-Russian Government will
be in a position to demand that which
It earlier asked Meanwhile President
Wilson seems to be playing for time, and
in pursuance Of this has directed. Am
bassador Morris to 60 to Omsk and
will make recognition by America con-
tingent upon Morris's report.
Ambassador Morris has already Wis
tied Vladivostok to investigate the
Russian situation, and no doubt re-
ported upon II as we'll as was possible
for q man who was bredisposed in favor
OF the radicals, who was utterly ig-
! norant of Russia and the Russians, and
who sought his information in the worst
possible place. namely. vladivostok.
II. however. Ambassador Norris were
sent to Omsk merely to report upon
the situation there. with n view to de-
termining the only points at issue In
the question of recognition, that L. to
say. the stability of the Omsk Govern
ment and whether It were performing
the functions Of government. little OBJ
lection could be raised except to the
danger involved in delay. But tele-
grams from usually we'll informed
correspondents in Paris indicate some-
| thing quite different. So. for example
Charles A. Selden telegraphs: The
sending Of Roland Morris by America to
| preted as, meaning that this country
might recognize him in the territory he
| actually controls IL he would democra-
| tiIe his administration"
This Interpretation of Ambassador
| Morris's mission to Omsk, II correct
gives rise to some interesting specula-
lions. 1t would appear that Mr.. Morris
had gone to Omsk with a rowing COM
mission to instruct Admiral Kolchak az
to the political system which he mus,
adopt II we are to condescend to recog-
nize him. 1t scarcely needs to be
pointed out that such an interference In
Russia's internal Affairs is unwarranted
and will be bitterly resented by Rus
slams in the future.
What we seem constantly to overlook
is the fact that we are dealing with a
nation Of more than $50. o00, 900 people
l IT. serious trouble. to be sure, and pass
ing through a social epidemic. but proud
and sensitive. When that nation re-
| covers and becomes again a powerful
State. perhaps the most powerful State
in Europe. It will not lightly pass over
| such offences against its dignity and
self-respect. We cannot treat Russia az
a child under our tutelage. even IL we
in our provinoialim believe that we
have in our possession some political
panacea adapted to her needs.
Most Russians are looking forward
to the election Of a Constituent Assem-.
| bly, when order shall have been re-
stored and the integrity Of the Russian
| State regained. and they expect the
| Constituent Assembly to determine the
| future form of government according
to their own will and without foreign
| interference. II is quite possible that
thanks to the psychology OF Russian
politicians and the troubled times
| through which Russia has passed. q
stable government will not be estab-
lished until she has undergone expert
mentation with a series OF constitutions
For my own part I have little hope
I 0
which has so caught the imagination OF
| liberal Russians and which is so little
understood by the mass OF the people
can Immediately lead to quiet and sta.
bility. In any case It is a problem for
the Russians themselves and they must
work out polity responsive to their
own political genius.
There is another Implication involved
in Mr. Selden's despatch. He speaks
of recognizing Admiral Kolchak 'in the
territory he actually controls" The
Omsk Government is to-day the ALI
Russian Government, and Is recognized
as such by all loyal Russians. They
| regard the Omsk Government as the
rightful authority even over the terri
tory in which the alien Bolshevik regime
| is for the time being In power. Any
attempt on the part OF America to split
up Russia would earn the undying
hatred Of all Russians. and yet such ar
implication Ia plainly to be seen in the
despatch referred TO.
| Russian-American friendship Is q
tradition OF long standing. though II has
at times been put to a severe strain
There are at bottom. in economic condi-
lions and in historic development. some
very real bases for mutual sympathy
and friendship This friendship can be
of enormous service to future interna-
tional relations. and 1t would be nothing
| short of a calamity If on the eve of the
era OF reconstruction It should be lost
Already there has developed an I'M
friendly feeling in Siberia toward Ameri-
cans. Russians are disguised with our
many empty promises of assistance and
! sympathy. Rightly or wrongly. they
believe that We have been flirting with
the Bolshevik Government and have sew
eral times been on the point OF recog.
mixing It. They expected aid when they
were holding the line OF tho volgs
against German led forces last summer
and were deeply disappointed that we
prevented aid from being sent. The re-
suit Is that the omsk Government
realizing its growing strength and feel.
ing that II truly represents all loyal
Russians. has informed Major General
| Graves, the American commander, thai
It does not desire to have any American
troops sent further west in Siberia, or
the ground that it might jeopardlze the