Evening star., 1921-07-31
RUSS RED LEADERS
TOTTER UPON ABYSS
Famine and Pestilence May Achieve
Downfall of Disciples of International
Per6dy in Moscow.

An appeal addressed to America dur
ing the past week has been answered
through the State Department with a
demand that Americans held in the
dark, damp dungeons of vile Russian
prisons be freed. 1t Is the first time
that an American government has had
nerve enough to commit itself to for
NAL demands on the soviet regime.
The bait of food and possible agree
ments with the soviet have been held
out, but there is vein of iron rum
ming through the demand, and If the
soviet fails to act there are certain
to be far-reaching events, In which
this country will play leading part
The soviet has authorized missions
to various countries in Europe. This
is but further evidence of the desper-
ate attempt to perpetuate their ne
farious existence.
A few weeks back even Lenin was
talking of world revolution. and many
of the countries which have been in
directly approached for aid have been
the ones in which Lenin has sought to
bring about utter collapse, with conse-
quent installation of soviet forms of
government. Even a villain will
whine for pity when a disastrous
doom looms before him.
Would Pay Old Debts.
Lenin, he who once so bombastically
proclaimed cancellation of Russia's
international debt, has recommended
that the soviet regime enter into
negotiations with foreign powers
looking toward payment-at least OBJ
tain aid for the moment through
promise to recognize the nations debt
to other countries. This is believed
a sop to France, where the loss of
60.000,000 francs in loans to the old
Russian regime is keenly felt. France
Of all the allies has been most insist
ent against the recognition of the boil
shevik rulers. If Lenin, through
promise to recognize Russia's debt to
France, could persuade France to re-
lent and enter into economic and COM
mercial arrangements with the reds.
a wedge would be driven into world
opposition to the bolsheviks, particu-
larly that in Europe. and material
assistance would be obtained in Rus
sian reconstruction processes. But
inasmuch as Lenin and his cohorts
know no faith and only the intangible
promise is held out that these world
obligations will begin to be repaid
in 1925, it is hardly likely that hard
headed French statesmen will be mis-
led.
Furthermore, it is possible Lenin
may hope. through tacit promise of
repaying Russia's debts. to forestall
French assistance to the Poles in
case Russia once more resumes at
tacks against the Polish nation.
Would sweep Into Europe.
Trotsky has proclaimed that the
Russian armies and hungry millions
should and must sweep into Europe
to obtain the food that Europe now
withholds. There can be but one in
depreciation to this, inaspuch as all
the active classes of the Russian
armies have been called to the COL
ors. and that is that Trotsky. the su-
preme military dictator, plans mill
tary aggression against the border
states to the west, If even he does
not propose to sweep on further. With
the watchword obtain food" and un-
scrupulous leaders playing upon the
cupidity of hungering Russians, there
is little doubt that Trotsky. if he
wished. might unloose terrible hordes,
who might go far in destroying newly
created states of eastern Europe.
Ignorant masses of Russians undopbt-
edly would follow Trotsky if he
played upon their desire for food
But any such action would be the
dying gasp of aiscredited chief. for
the peoples undoubtedly would soon
realize their dilemma and would turn
other doubts as to the success of the
Trotsky enterprise, for scattered
through white Russia and in new
states carved out of the old Russian
empire are organizations which for
months have been actively preparing
the bolsheviks. With the promise of
food they might direct the energies
of many Russians toward destroying
the elements that led them into the |
abyss. In any case, however, Trot-
sky enterprise, if carried out as he |
has outlined. means but one thing!
months of terrible struggle, with pos
sibility that the whole force of civil
ilized government might be necessary
to stem the tide of Russian ag-
gression. |
If the bolshevik regime emerges |
from it's present situation it will be |
only through reputation of every
principle it has previously enun-
ciated and formal alliance with hated |
governments. Then the fallacy of |
bolshevism will be proven. If the |
bolshevists continue to preach their |
old-time gospel, then they must fall. |
But there is every reason to believe |
that with the bolshevist house divided |
against itself, as it is, it will work |
its own end.