The New York herald., 1921-09-25
MANY OBSTACLES
TO RUSSIAN RELIEF
Mutual Distrust Between
Moscow and Foreign Gov
ernments Hamper Action.
CANNOT CURB REFUGEES
Theatrical Performance and
Races Organized at Moscow
to Aid Fund.

to Aid Fund.
By CAPT. FRANCIS M'CULLAGH.
Special Correspondents TO THE NEW Yorx
I8ALp.
REvAL, Sept. {>In the following
article I shall trts - picture the gen
| eral situation in Russia to-day apart
from the famine. BY to-day I mean
September 1, 1921, for the Russian
scene changes daily. 1t will be i'm
possible to avoid speaking Of the
famine. and 1t can be said at the out
set that there will be some difficulties
in the way OF relief work, and for two
reasons.
The first and most important reason
is the profound want of mutual conf
dence between the Russian Govern
ment, whose people are to be relieved
and the foreign Governments where
people are administering the relief
None of the foreign Governments like
the Soviet, and they fear that the
Bolsheviki will only use the relief sent
in order to strengthen their own posi-
ton. The Soviet returns this dislike
with interest and at the same time Is
convinced that the French are bent
on utilizing the famine in order to
overthrow Bolshevism.
This impression Is strengthened by
the Paris papers. The Figaro goes So
far as to make the suggestion that
ships laden with provisions should be
sent to Kronstadt accompanied by
men O. war to tell the Russians that
those supplies will be landed when
they have killed Lenine and over
thrown the Bolshevist Government. 1t
even advocates assassination. When
you produce a Charlotte Corday," it
says. I'VE shall deliver the goods but
not before
This. of course, is only turning
Lenines own weapons against himself
II he wants TO overthrow other Govern
ments by interference with their internal
affairs and by unlimited use of ASA ssn-
alton and terrorism he cannot blame
other Governments wishing to treat him
in like manner
Control Lost In Famine Area.
The next factor which initiates
against the successful relief of Russia
from outside is the Incredible confusion
which prevails in the country. In the
heart of the famine area the Reds seem
to have lost control altogether and even
outside 1t they are unable to control the
wholesale flight from the famine dis
tricts. The exodus to Siberia has been
so great that the Moscow Tsvcstid says
ii fears a most terrible civil war there.
The Ukraine has also been invaded by
famine stricken hordes. with the result
that entry into 1t has been forbidden to
the famine victims, but nevertheless they
come, and martial law has been pro-
claimed at Odessa, Kherson and Ekater-
inoslav. When 10000, 900 people cannot
get food every vestige Of established or
der vanishes from among them; and 1t
is no use sending a fat commissary to
restore order the people will only eat
him. Important also. from the point Of
view OF the American relief commits
sioners, is the fact that the transport
as well as the telegraph and postal ser
vices have all broken down. They were
bad enough before, as Is shown by the
fact that since telegraphic communica-
ton was restored between Esthonia and
Russia not one in hundred Of the tele-
grams sent from Reval reached it's des-
tination. IL cannot be expected to have
a teiegraphist in the famine area work
of food the starving people will seize IL.
| The fear of death by bullets has cast out
| sll other fears. Why, in the Tartar dis
tricts whole families commit suicide by
asphyxiating themselves in their huts.
Government Paralyxed.
Meanwhile the position OF the Soviet
Government is sufficiently pitiable. All
the great institutions it created to Boil
shevize the Russian people are now
| being used to show the utter helpless
ness OF the Soviet regime in warding of
| the famine, which had been decla red to
| be an affliction peculiar to Czarisn. A
| year ago. In a great speech at Moscow,
Lenine proved beautifully that Russia $
! enormous export of grain. which for
merly went TO increase the wealth OF a
small circle of capitalists. would hence
| forth make famine In Russia itself Inn
possible and insure every Russian citl-
zen plenty to eat
The propaganda trains which were
formerly covered with indictments 10
I class war and praises of Communism
4 are now covered with figures regarding
the famine The newspapers which were
designed TO confirm the people In the
\ new faith are now filed with state
r,ents about foreign help The Boil
shevist leaders who formerly Numbered
/ against all foreign Governments are now
\ on all fours for help from those very
| Governments.
The Bolsheviki are. therefore. using
the famine. whether purposeiy or not. as
means OF consolidating their position
as the spokesrnen OF the whole Musco-
vite race. Funds after all. must be dis
tributed more or less under their aus
pices, for they control Russia. Foreign
| Governments must deal with them about
famine questions. for they are the de
facto Government OF Russia.
In the meantime the communicates
with which they flood the foreign press
are designed TO show that they are
carrying on business as usual. They