The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-23
The State Department and Russia.

The choice of successor to Mr.. Ian
sing is of special Importance because OF
the chaotic condition, at the present
time, of the state departments policy
toward Russia. Some of the funda
mental principles upon which that pol
Icy was originally based have been af-
fected by the course of events, and the
necessary revision has never been made
The need for increased fieXibility was
ronspicuously shown when the state
department recently was caught unpre-
pared by the sudden reversal of en-
tente policy in regard to trade with
Russia Sudden as that was at the
last, the political barometer for some
time had been pointing to change, and it
would have been prudent for the state
department to avoid, at such time,
committing itself to policy of non
intercourse in terms which would make
the reversal of that policy difficult and
embarrassing.
For some time it has been increas-
lngly difficult to avoid the conclusion
that our state department was not be-
ing well informed about Russia. To
take a single phase of the question,
there was glaring discrepancy be-
tween it's statements about kolchak
md the information which came from
Gen. Graves in regard to conditions in
Siberia. Time has proved that the sol
iiers on the spot were right and the
state departments informants wrong.
Whether the state department had
aand in the kolchak coup d'etat of No
vember, 1918, has never been made
public, but it was expecting that step
md lost no time in bestowing its bless
ng upon the dictatorship, much to the
lsmay of democratic elements in ST.
IBERIA.
With the collapse of the Kolchak
.egime it may be said that the state
department Russian policy has col
apsed also; to cooperate with the
,nti- American Cossack Semenoff is out
If the question. An opening for new
policy may perhaps be found in the
report of Gen. Graves that the revolu
ionsts who have overthrown the Kol
.hak government at Vladivostok are
strongly pro American, but obviously
10 take advantage of such an opening
would require a drastic revision OF the
,ntire Russian policy of this country.
President Wilson himself might effect
uch revision if his health permits |
him to give sufficient time and thought |
to the matter; it can hardly be done |
by subordinate who is not allowed a |
arge measure of freedom. To set Amer
ca right in regard to Russia is as
Il hua fyr tod
government in the field of foreigt |
tifairs
II may be necessary for example, to |
'ecede somewhat from the principle Of |
spholding the unity of the Russian EN-
Dire, which has been the cornerstone of |
,ur Russian policy In adopting this
principle the United States was actu
tied by friendliness for the Russian
people, and the principle was sound in
70 far as it was workable But in re
tent months, and specially during the
period when Mr. Wilson was absorbed
", other matters or incapacitated by
Illness, the separstist movement in non.
Russian parts of the empire has devel
'ped so strongly as perhaps to make
he principle OF imperial integrity clash
Win the pIlHCiple OF tne sen +ueltImi-
nation of nstionalities. These questions
all for thorough knowledge and care
lul handling, and they need not be pre-
judged. But it is evident that in deal
ing with these and similar questions
he state department has suffered, as
inder the circumstances is not surpris-
ng, from a lack of fleXibility in adapt
ng itself TO swiftly altering conditions.
To some extent this may also be true
VI its attitude toward soviet Russia,
which has been developing with the as
rapidity of which only great
evolutionary movements are capable,
While the policy of the state depart
nent has Jagged far behind. What it's
present policy should be is a thorny
question because of the emotional feel
ng which any question relating to
Russia excites. But foreign policy
Ihould not be al the mercy of emotion {
md prejudice, nor on the other hand {
an il be determined precisely by alb
tract principles In the main Il must 1
,e shaped by events beyond our control :
md to comprehend those events and 20
Idjust policy skillfully to them is the .
Treat problem Of craftsmanship. Rus
ia will offer our state department a :
lard task but a great opportunity /,
springfield Republican.