The Washington times., 1921-01-23

have convinced all the world that
armed invasion is not the way to
bring peace 10 the people OF Rus
sia.
The rapidly shifting events OF
recent months have only strength
ened his conviction that the Rus
sian revolution, bsnencent In its
main purposes. must be developed
TO a satisfactory conclusion by the
RUSSIANS themselves Help may
from time to time be given from
outside and voluntarily received.
but attempts at military coercion
can but end In disaster.
ELEMENTS OF HOPE.
There are elements In the present
situation which gave added hope TO
projects OF paeincation. All the
world Is weary Of war. and the con-
viction grows among the peoples OF
all countries that the military
method offers very little promise OF
solving the grave problems OF re-
construction which face us. There
is Mt present no overt civil war In
Russia- II is now a problem OF the
relations between Central Russia
and the shrroundsny smaller ma
tional groups.
The unrest and instability along
the border are caused by bitter and
Mutual distrust. The struggling
new nationalities, which were for
merly part OF the Russian empire.
are afraid to disarm and return to
the works OF peace because they dis
trust the Bolsheviki and fear new
aggressions. The Soviets contend
that they are afraid to, demobilize
because they fear new attacks.
The great impediment to peaceful
reconstruction in those troubled
border territories, the imminent
danger Of new hostilities. Is caused
BY the utter combustion between Of
Tense and defense. Unless this dis
tinction can be clearly defined. there
Is no hope Of a clear perception of
who Is responsible for new wars.
1t is therefore the thought of the
President that the present moment
offers a peculiarly pressing chal-
lenge to an attempt at general paci-
fcation on the Russian borders
along these lines. Such an attempt
seems to the President the logical
outgrowth--in fact. the only logical
development-of the request to me-
diate in the Armenian conflict, and
he feels bound in conscience once
more to call this patter to the at
tention of the associated nations.
RUSSIA MUST BE ASSURED.
1t is obvious to all that these
small. struggling border states
will not attack Great Russia un-
less encouraged by promise of
support from the stronger powers
The President therefore believes
that the sine qua non of an at
tempt at pacification must be q
public and solemn engagement
among the great powers not to
take advantage of Russia's strick-
en- condition and not to violate the
territorial integrity of Russia nor
to undertake themselves any fur
ther invasions of Russia, nor to
tolerate such invasions by others.
Such public agreement would
in effect say to those now in
power in Russia: You are not
menaced from outside. The great
powers have voluntarily guaran-
teed you from attack. You can
have peace IL you want it."
The responsibility for any new
war which might break out on
the Russian border would then be
clearly placed.
II the principal powers repre-
sented in the council of the league
find themselves in accord with
the President in this matter and
will assure him of their moral and
diplomatic support, he will in
struct his personal representative.
Mr.. Morgenthau. to proceed at
once on his mission.