The Washington herald., 1922-06-04
TIME NOW RIPE FOR FORCING
RUSSIA INTO LINE, SAYS GIBBS
rsls,Aess, No. 40

Of the old regime. who believed the
Bolshevfks were menaced by inter-
national revolution. The time in
gone past for that. Even the youns
arfstocrats. serving as Red oficers
or Soviet ofncials. first for a means
OF life but secondly because they
are willing 70 support any govern
ment which holds Russia together
and prevents further anarchy.
VIII Defeat Moderate Pacfhsts.
The futures hardening spirit
among the Russian leaders will de-
feat the moderate pacifst element
That will assuredly happen II The
Hague conference does not lead to
than Genoa. In that case, am
convinced that Lenin and Trotsky.
the inner council OF Soviet wire
pullers. will 1conspire for a world
war as one means of escape for the
Russian people. II will be a con-
spiracy with German militarists-
by which / do not mean the Ger
man people-who would accept aid
from the devil himself for the Joy
OF vengeance. have enormous re-
spect for the Russian people. They
are as good a people as any one;
they are brave, patient. kindly.
simple folk. They are just victims
Of tragic fate beyond their power.
to alter or control. They are peas
ants who love their land. their
women folk and children. and de-
sire enough to eat. But like all
people of human kind. they may be
turned into savage beasts by fear,
hunger. and desperate misery.
II is because ] know that these
people. governed by a little minority
of fanatical men. are threatened by
increasing famine that ! see the
urgent need OF international aid
not only for their sake but for Eu-
ropes sake. Their leaders have
made for a few months a pact OF
peace. What Is going to happen
| after that? It would be real i'm
morality to buy OF the Bolsheviks,
as King Alfred tried to buy of the
Danes. On the other hand. an at
tempt TO destroy them by force
would lead only to new fruitless
agonies TO the Russian people.
Germany welcomes Proposal.
Now that France is ready 20 work
in closer union with Great Britain
there might still possibly come an
arrangement with Germany regard
ing Russia. Germany. outside the
small military clique. would, as ]
know. welcome such proposal
! She Is the most anti Bolshevik ma
tion outside OF England and the
United States. She only leans to-
ward Russia TO avoid French az
gression. Her treaty Of Rapallo
was just a warning 20 France II she
| decided to invade the German in
duetrial cities. A grim alternative.
But now France, held up by the
threat from Germany Cat least the
present German government) is
willing 10 come into some co-opeer-
ative scheme for Russian recon
struction. Here Is the way that
might be taken. as II should have
been taken before. The Soviet dele
gates could be faced at the Hague,
as elsewhere, with a united front,
including Germany. and in return
for credits would have to accept
conditions which they now evade
I France. which opposed a discussion
/ OF Red army rehabilitation offered
| by Tchitchinn. because IL opened
general discussion which might
weaken the French strength IN
armed force. could be persuaded to
support that condition now she has
drawn closer to Great Britain to
avoid isolation.
| Good Business Policy.
with backing from the United
States this scheme could still go
through as a good business policy.
It would save the Russian people.
| for the Bolshevik government would
come into line with the ordinary
code Of international honor. 1t
would also break the sinister mean
| ing OF that German treaty OF Rap
palo, by which at present Germany
is left alone in the field with the
Russian government. These things
are worth thinking about by all
men and women. They are the only
things that matter. not so much to
our present generation but to chill
dren vet unborn who would be the
| victims of the next Armagedden
unless we try to save them now.
Copyright, Is22)