New-York tribune., 1920-06-17
British Said to
Have Muzzled
Soviet Envoy
Writer Asserts Gregory Kras-
sin Was Forced to Give
Pledge to Remain Silent
Before Entering England
Boasted of Reds Strength
Minister Said to Have De-
clared Drives on Bo1she-
Wiki Made Cause Stronger
scec<<ai Cooie to TAs rrSn.~s


rc,vr.sht. 1880. New York Tr!oune Inc
PARIS, June 1e.-Before being per-
mi.tsd to enter England, Gregory
y-sss.n. the Russian Bolshevik Minister
a. T-sde snd Commerce, Is said by
eLiberts" to have been muzzled By a
p,oz1iss exacted Of him that he give no
interviews But Krassin's promise to
LLOYD George was not binding on me-"
rsa,ons 'Liberte's' correspondent.
who proceeds to reproduce a number
0: Krassn's statements to him which
the envoy "categorically forbade" him
70 publish.
Xrassin. he said. boasted that the
Allies would never reduce Soviet
Russia by force Of arms, declaring
hat each campaign undertaken sgainst
the Bolshev!A had served to'
strengthen them.
The Entente made a profound mis-
take il thinking it possible to subdue
Us by armed force" the envoy told me.
Each military blow aimed at US
helped Us to strengthen some defective
wheel OF our governmental machinery.
Even the terrible efforts which the
Entente made US make against Deni-
sine eventusliy turned to our advan.
age.
Army Caused Discomfort
"0ur army organization put a heavy
burden on the peasants, raising dis
content among some of them to such
q pitch that they put up armed re-
.istance. Here again the Entente
saved Us. AS Denikine gradually ad
vsnced, the peasants discovered that
his way Of dealing with them was a
hundred times worse than ours. When
We reQuisitioned We took everything
for their upkeep. We took half what
ne poorer peasants had and nothing
at all from the poorest.
But Denikins officers took everv-
thing They beat peasants and even
their wives, adding other humiliations
Of moral nature when they failed to
burn their villages. The same thing
happened in the Urals, where the
peasants fed from Kolchak and flocked
10 Us by thousands. Finally, the En-
.ente helped US by permitting Poland
10 start an entirely useless war, which
mad the effect of making number of
our former adversaries desire recon
Citation.
ga number Of factory directors, gen.
erals and engineers began to perceive
that we were the only Russian body
capable Of Offering resistance against
foreigners. If the war continues yor
will see everybody want to become
reconciled.
Poland Called Insincere
H'Poland has not been sincere with
Us. We have proposed peace to her
several times. Her Nationalist govern
ment pretended to want TO discuss
terms, but during this time prepared
Ne want nothing from Poland. We are
delighted that she should have the in
dependence for which she has strug-
g.ed long and heroically. Even if we
beat her now we should not desire to
accomplish her destruction. We want
peace, but with our present resources
re can continue war for years with
cut being defeated.
THAT would, however, cause q con-
t.nuance Of our prtvations, which We
signers, particularly Frenchmen, make
the mistake Of thinking We want to
spread propaganda in their countries
Some Of us-I was not one Of them
though. that Soviet Russia could net
survive without world revolution.
Events Of recent years have abundantly
proved that the Soviet regime can
sxis: perfectly In world organized on
capitalist basis We are prepared to
accept this state Of affairs and regard
our engagements toward foreign states