New-York tribune., 1922-04-17

y u lLe iedOiHg powers OF C1c WOTl0.
Let US assume for the sake of argu-
ment that the Soviet government falls.
What are the alternatives which might
offer themselves in its place? Many
such alternatives do not appear to be
improvements. On the one side there
Is the possibility of complete anarchy,
the denial of all government; on the
other side there is the possibility Of a
return of the imperial power. Neither
OF these outcomcs offers anything hope
flu for Russia.
There remain certain possibilities
which require more respectful con-
sidcration. Little is to-day heard Of
the Russian army. What is taking
place in the ranks Of this army must
be left to conjecture. Certainly as the
ration grows less. as the zeal for a
| fighting nation cools, the various mo-
tves and incentives of the soldiers
must be objected to test. Among the
possibilities Of the present situation
there IS always to be considered the
chance that a dictator may arise in
| the uniform Of the army. This die
tator may be of any color from White
to Red, Against this possibility there
is the present organization of the army
which discourages the development of
any individual authority Few sincere
friends Of Russia hope for military
dictator.
In all Russia one group remains
coherent enough, stable enough, to
serve as a nucleus, in cooperation with
The present government, of q more
| broadly representative government for
Russia. This group is made up of the
various divisions Of the parties of the
| Left, more conservative than the Boil
shcvists, and including the Mcnshevsts
the Social Revolntionarics and the
Peoples Socialist parties.
No one VINO knows conditions in Rus
sla to-day can contemplate the mme-
diate and radical overturning of the
Soviet power. Such a step would be
followed by anarchy, and in the pres
cnt state Of international policy toward
Russia would divide the world into
hostile camps, confused by cross pur-
poses, contending for advantage.
Government Must Prove
1t Speaks for the People
The solution Of the riddle can come
only from a broadening of the man
date OF the Russian government in
such way that it represents the Rus
| sian people.
When Germany sued for an armis-
tice President Wilson considered him
self within his rights in inquiring of
the German governments what we're its
credentials to speak for the German
people To-day when the Soviet gov
ernment is asking for recognition it is
appropriate to inquire Of this govern
ment what are its credentials from
the Russian people.
The Russian government holds no
franchise from the Russian people. In
| three respects at least the Russian
government violates the principles of
government as understood BY
Americans.
/. The Russian government permits
no freedom of opinion by speech or
in the press. Public meetings are for
bidden; the press is bound to the gov
crument.
g 1t permits no freedom of cleo
tion. Neither in local nor in national
affairs are the people represented in
their government. There is no popu-
lar elective assembly.
3. The government does not leave to
the people The results of their labor
! In the curbing of individual initia-
| undermined.
Are conditions such as to lead the
United States to believe that the Rus
sian government is ready to make
fundamental concessions as a return
for recognition? Everything that has
| happened in the last year leads one
to think that the attitude of the Soviet
government is that of conciliation.
The Soviet government is down to
it's own drcgs. 1t has nothing to
hope for at home. Everything it has
20 hope for must come from abroad.
Without recognition by the leading
governments of the world the Soviet
government has reached the end Of
its row.
United States Would Guard
Sovereignty of All Russia
For the last year every gesture Of
| the Soviet government toward the
Western world has been conciltatory
one. The Soviet government has prom
ised to pay its debts; it has offered
concessions; it has hidden the army
and reduced it's numbers. It has a
new economic policy which gives sway
soft-pedaled in all recent public meet
ings the element of communism in its
doctrines. 1t has sought TO appear be-
fore the nations of the world as a going
concern with some conservative tend
encies; in other words, concern tc
be trusted by practical men. For
recognition the Soviet government is
(CoHtinuco or page four