The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17
Entente Attitude Toward Len
ine Purely Defensive.
Food Embargo Against Red
Russia Lifted.
ALL YAAkS OUT OF SIBERIA
Won't Fight, But Take Stand
Soviet Is "OutIaw."
Plan Now To Let Slavs Work
Out Own Destiny.

Washington, Jan. 17.-Adoption by
the allied governments of purely de-
fensive position against soviet Russia
was foreshadowed today by two i'm
portant developments in the Russian
sltua ton in the past few hours, Off
cials here believed.
These developments. which were
announced by the state department,
were:
First-the supreme council at Paris
decided yesterday that the allied
blockade of interior or soviet Russia
would be lifted Immediately to permit
the exchange of supplies between the
Russian people and the and neu-
| trail, countries. which. however, is to
imply no change in the policy of the
. allied governments in "outlawing" the
| Bolshevik government.
Second-in a note to the japanese
government, the state department an
nounced that the entire American
force in Siberia, nearly seven thousand
| troops, would be withdrawn irnme-
diately after departure of the first big
contingent of CzechoSlovaks, about
| the first of February.
Americans Leave Siberia.
The American railway commission,
under John F. Stevens. which has been
! supervising operation of the Trans
ways, will be withdrawn Simultaneous
| ly with the troops.
The action of the supreme council
| was believed here to be the first step
| in the shaping of a new and definite
Russian policy by the conference of
allied leaders now in session in Paris.
That this policy will develop to be
a purely defensive one against the
| Bolsheviki was indicated by the lifting
of the blockade. which it was believed
will give interior Russia free rein"
finally to accept or reject Bolshevisnl,
unhampered in the decision by great
shortages of necessities.
The lifting of the blockade also was
kregarded Sby officials here as a propi-
tious political move by the principal
France and Italy there has been a
widespread agitation by the radicals
against the blockade of soviet Russia.
Entente Does Bout Face"
The supreme council announced last
night, in an official communique, that
| the blockade against Russia would be
lifted at once. The councils action.
in the view of many political observ-
ers,> constituted a direct about face
from it's former policy.
/ The council has decided, according
to the communique. to give the Rus
sian cooperative societies facilities
necessary to permit importation and
| distribution of merchandise, as well as
cereals, Hnseed oil, wood and other
| Russian products.
| May Ignore Soviet.
The announcement followed rumors
here that the allied leaders were pre-
pairing new active military measures
against the Bolsheviki. Both London
and Paris observers had believed that
in view of the recent Bolshevik mill
tary successes, which were admitted
to have menaced British influence ir
Asa, the new policy would be even
more severe than before, possibly
combining military action with the
blockade.
Instead came news of the lifting OF
the Russian trade ban.
J In some quarters it was believed
the new policy does not mean any
change in the allied attitude toward
the soviet government. The alliec
Headers. it was pointed out, may hope
I to deal with the great cooperative
societies directly, ignoring the gov
ernm
Some observers even believed +
may indicate an attempt to divorc'
the Russian people from their radica
leaders, but the general opinion wa:
| the power of Lenine and Trotzky Is toe
strong to be shaken by any such move
as lifting of the blockade.