The sun., 1919-09-12
BRITISH RESOLUTE
TO QUIT RUSSIA
Churchill Denies Change in
Policy, Delayed by Aid
ing Refugees.
NO TROOPS TO PETRoGRAD
Impossible to Effect a June
ton With Kolchak Be-
fore Winter. =
By TIE Associated Press.

LONDON, Sept 11.-winston Spencer
Churchill, Secretary for War, in a state
ment issued to-day. denies that there
has been any change in the British
policy to exacuate north Russia.
Evacuation. however. had been re-
tarded, owing to the necessity of bring
ing away many Russians, who are In
and children.
Mr.. Churchill admits that It will be
impossible to effect a junction with Ad-
miral Kolchak before winter. He de-
MES that British troops are employed,
or that the British Government has ac-
oepted any responsibility in operations
against Petrograd.
Mr.. Churchills statement was issued
In reply to criticisms and disclosures
concerning the Government policy in
Russia He declares that the decisions
on which the policy of evacuation Is
based are irrevocable, Gen. Sir Henry S.
Rawlinson having full discretionary
power as to the time and method of the
evacuation,
The Secretary dilates on the peculiar
completely and difficulty of the problem
of extricating the British forces, which
involves evacuation by sea of consider
able numbers Of Russians compromised
by helping the British, who might other
wise find themselves exposed to Bolshe-
vik vengeance.
Hoped to Join Kolchak.
He then explains that after the Gov
eminent and General STAFF first decided
80 olr md
Archangel In February there seemed to
be prospect in May of kolchak's armies
| In Siberai effectlng junction with the
north Russian troops. and Gen. Ironside
was instructed to prepare plan facill-
tating a junction with the British The
Cabinet approved the plan, and. had II
been possible to execute II, the British
forces could have been evacuated with
out anxiety so far as the fate OF the
north Russian Government and army
was concerned.
IL was not the fault OF the British
says the Secretary, that the plan failed
They were ready to advance along the
Dvina to Kotlass with adequate forces
| to destroy the enemy's fiotilla and base
there. But instead of advancing kol-
chaks armies retired hundreds of miles
| to the eastward, and no hope remains
of effecting a junction with him before
winter. Hence there arose the Necessity
| of sending Anglo French rcenforcements
now on the spot
Referring to the reports concerning
the Baltic and Petrograd fronts Mr.
Churchill comments upon the unreliable
| ity Of Bolshevik rumors about projected
attacks by combinations of the Baltic
States and declines to clear up the
doubts of the Bolsheviki at the expense
Of littIa sty,,g1lin1 gtates but reiterates
| that no British troops were ever EN-
ployed in this theatre and that the Brit
! ish Government always sedulously re
| fused to accept any responsibility fol
| the success or failure OF any military
operations there.
Hands on PetrOErad.
The Government had been given arm.
| and munitions, as we'll as advice, but
| the Secretary adds. ION the clear under
| standing that we could not involve our
selves In that quarter OF course the
British navy has prevented the Bolshe-
vik fleet from raiding Baltic ports.''
| The Secretary closed by- pointing ou
| two serious dangers for the Allies-frst
the overrunning of the small Baltic
States by Bolsheviki. with consequent
anarchy and ruin second. the rescue o.
| these States from this danger by thu
| Germans and the consequent establish
ment of Germany as the predominant
! influence in the Baltic and untilmatel.
| over Russia. He adds:
| THE resources of this country woul(
! not enable us single handed to aver
either of these dangers. but they arr
under consideration by the Peace Con
ference, the problem being one that cal
only be grappled by the victorious Al