The Washington times., 1921-04-19
FINDS SOVET|SM
IN SOUL Of RUSSIA
United States Can Save Country
and Profit Besides, Says
BoIshevist Leader.

PARIS, April 19.--The United States,
by taking the lead among the great
world powers, can save Russia from
utter ruin. But she cannot do II
by attacking the Soviet system or
by supporting counter-revolutionary
armies attempting to upset Lenin and
Trotsky by force.
interview today by General Ignatieff,
Russian military attache to France
during the war. and the one outstand-
ing figure in the group of Russians
who remained in Paris after the Lenin
revolution. Ignatien, though a
former Czarist officer. has steadfastly
opposed all schemes to overthrow the
present Moscow Government by mill
tary force: He has refused to hand
over to the Kolchak,. Denikin and
Wrangel armies any part Of the funds
entrusted to his care for buying war
materials in France, or to take any
part in the deliberations OF exilcd
Russian mobiles. though he himself is
a'member Of the Russian nobility.
sOvIETIsM IMMovABLE.
"Sovictism is anchored in the soul
of Russia" said General 1gnatieff.
when Americans and Frenchman
and Englishmen come to understand
that they will understand what folly
it is to try to beat Lenin and Trotsky
from outside.
Foreigners confuse Soviets with
Bolsheyism, Communism and even free
love, and make them all the target Of
one shaft of reprobstion. They think
that the best way of bringing down
The MOSCOW government is to support
these camounages of 'counter-revolu-
tions,' which only exasperate the Rus
sian people. Jealous of the liberty they
won at such a cost.
PHANTOM OF COMMUNISM.
Soviet, in Russian, means council.
The first revolutionary soviets were
local representatives Of different pro-
fessions. Sovietism is nothing but the
same professional representation
adopted by republican governments
everywhere. Communism originated
in Russia as the result Of the pro-
found misery of the people and be-
cause Of foreign persecution.
ar foreign governments want to
save Russia let them stop prosecuting
her. Let them give to Russia the
means of production and the phantom
of communism will disappear Of itself.
America, perhaps aided by France
alone, could provide these means and
assure the economic revival of Russia.
"The question Of individuals counts
for nothing. Lenin and Zinoviefr
know very well that they are not
going to revolutionize old Europe or
the young United States. They do not
ignore the fact that for the Russian
people the one vital question is the
agricultural question. They know
perfectly we'll that communism will
not solve that. Sooner or later they
must seek a compromise. The Rus
sian peasant wants the land which he
cultivates, with the right to dispose
of it as he pleases, to sell 1t or to
leave IL to his heirs. 1t Is impossible
to react against this profound in
stinct of the race.
AGRARIAN PROBLEM UPPERMOST.
I'm my mind the return of the Rus
sian lands. now nationalized, to the
peasants would solve the agrarian
problem in its entirely, not only po-
litically but economically. The United
States and France could assist in this
process of revival. and perhaps France
could obtain pledges in land for the
payment Of the debt owed her by the
old Russian government and in that
way the peace of Europe would be
nearly restored.
Russia has failed financially. That
is quite clear. But she remains an
excellent business proposition. The
renewal of economic relations be-
tween London. Berlin and Moscow,
though it indicates a desire on the par
of England and Germany not to lose
the Russian market really means
nothing. Russia has no way of pay
ing for products from these countries.
The only solution is to find a way Of
opening conversations with the
Soviets, and it should be the business
of the United States and of other
countries to step forward with con-
crete propositions"