The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-23
Demand for Suspension of
HOstilities Will Put
SOvietS to Test.
RESULT A COMPROMISE
France and Japan First
Held Out for Vigorous Mil
itary Intervention.
CONFERENCE on ISLAND
Delegates Will Meet Rcprcsen-
tatives Of Russian Factions
in Sea of MarmOra.
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
StGD Correspondent Of TIE ST y

by LA
StdC Correspondent Of TIE SrN.
Copyright. 1919; all rights rsser1ed
PARIS, Jan. 22.--The Allies have
reached an agreement on a Russian
policy. which illustrates more than
anything that had happened up to this
time the tremendous power Of
together.
This agreement, proposed by Presi-
dent Wilson, recognizes, or rather ad-
mits, officially for the first time the
existence of the Russian Soviets in
SO far as an invitation is extended to
their representatives to participate
with the other Russian groups at
meeting with an allied commission at
Princes Islands, in the Sea of Mar
mora, southeast of COnstantinople.
This IS the plan that President VIII.
son advocated from the beginning.
but he cannot claim exclusive credit
for it. as Premier Lloyd George acted
with him. Indeed it was the British
proposal to invite the Soviets to the
Peace Congress which brought out the
note of Foreign Minister Pchon de-
claring French hostility to any deal
ings with this element in Russia.
France Opposed Mt First.
The action taken to-day confirms
the repeated statements Of TIE sun
that Premier Lloyd George and
President Wilson are in accord IN
regard 10 their Russian policy, and
the predictions It made that an al
lied commission would be the Solu-
ton of the problem. While the ac-
tion to-day was unanimous there can
be no doubt that the Allies were far
apart at first. both France and Japan
favoring military measures on a large
scale by the Allies The recession in
the French viewpoint is shown clearly
by comparison of to-day's action
with the Pichon note.
In bringing about an agreement
that coruports with the position h.
had taken i'll his various adrlresscy
that the treatment OF the Russians
would he the test of the sincerity Of
the Allies, President wilson's powers
Of persuasion have been put to
severe test. from which he plainly
emerScs with added prestige in the
eyes OF those elements In Europe
which have been loudest In acclaim
ing him, tn" Lahorites and Socialists
having urged such action.
Sincerity to he Tested.
The meeting place selected repro
sents a compromise between the orig
inal project of sending IA commission
Into Russia and The British plan ~
have representatives Of the Sovicts In
Paris. The sincerity Of the Soyictl
will be tested by the condition reluir-
ing the cessation Of hostilitics.
Certain parts of to-days mcmorGn.
dun on Russia read like para
phrase of President Wilson's refer
enccs to that country before the
American Congress The Allies IN
leaving this most important matter to
be drawn up by President Wilson
paid him an unusual compliment,
In some respects tho Presidents,
proposal seems Ia have been drawn
up uS an answer 10 "A communications
which the Bolshcvst Government an
, nounces it sent to Mr.. Wilson last
Z October, which appears for the first
time in to-dny's ncwpapcr~, asking it
the Allies reeant to exploit Russia
and If the league OF nations is tn b"
Of the nature Of a limited company.
Exploitation Us DiscInimcd.
The Hol>hcviSts wanted President
Wilson to say also whether the
, French 0rd British Governments
Y would stop the war in return for
I ransom and if 50 whether the ransom
! desired was the Russian railroads.
her gold mines or territory.
: TO this III" Allies answer. aS
> drawn by President Wilson, disclaims
n any intention of exploitation and also
I furnishes the disavowal long sought
r by many Russian clements that the
y Allies desire to fomcnt counter
revolution. The President is known
$ to have had the conference ot
= Niagara in mind when he drew M
= the plan for an invitation 10 the Poles
Tkraln'ans and all tho other groups
A. to he present at the conference and
lay out II new Russia.
An unofficial representative OF the