Evening star., 1922-09-10
BY THOMAS r.. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President Of the United
States.

FORMER vice TTcH1ochS Ot tuc
States.
ROM sources that ] considered
~ unquestionable learned quite
recently that the number of
bolshevists In Russia would
not exceed a hundred thousand.
So startling was this information
to me that I made specific inquiry
about the various soviets. My in
formants, men who had been promi
nent in public affairs under the
czar and later under the kerensky
government. denied that the soviets
were bolsheviki. save those In the
larger cities. In the rural districts
they cherished the sacredness OF the
home and believed in the right Of
private ownership OF property quite
as much. was told. as do citizens
Of America.
talked with a representative of
Russian refugees, also with a dis
tinguished foreigner who was promi-
nent in affairs Of Russia up to 1920.
They agreed as to facts. but differed
in the conclusions which they had
drawn from the facts. They pooh
poohed the danger OF Russia fur
nishing a vast bolsheviki army to
join Germany in the conquest of
Europe danger much commented
on in English newspapers.
II 4
They reiterated. what is well
known. that 95 per cent OF the popu-
lation OF Russia are peasants. and
they recalled that the land had been
taken from the owners and been di-
vided among the peasants who for
merly had worked it as serfts. or. il
not actually divided. at any rate. it
had been placed in the possession OF
the peasants.
Two elements, necessary to basis
for democracy. were lacking. they
admitted-education and IA desire To
workout notwithstanding the Slav
trait Of not working unless compell-
ed to. and notwithstanding the lack
OF education. the serfs to cZar and
landlord would not consent. was
told. that the government ever again
should become owner of the lands
they now hold. 1t was explained
and liked it. and. moreover. that they
had observed the effect OF bolsheviki
rule in the destruction OF property
and the brutality to workingmen.
Inquiring how il was that hun
dred thousand bolsheviki could take
control OF the government and main
tain themselves in power, l was re-
minded that they were the only per-
sons who had any arms or ammuni-
tion and that they had maintained
themselves by eXhausting the re-
sources OF the empire which years
past had accumulated. l made bold
to inquire how long this government
could endure, and | received an
unanimous opinion that it probably
would have given up the ghost be-
fore this had it not been for the in
fusion of hope put into its veins by
the Genoa conference. Whether il
was fiattery to an American. | cam
not say. but these men frankly ex
pressed their qualification over the
declination of the United States TO
have anything TO do with the pres
ent regime in Russia
Pressed by me to discuss the
oasis upon "nlCn tne recOnStr ut-
tfon of Russia might be accom-
plished they gave a quite definite
plan. prefacing their recital with
the statement that until certain
prerequisites have been accom-
plishe6 il would be idle even to
dream that men who knew any
thing about finance would risk a
single dollar in Russia. Before
they could hope to have financial
aid in re-establishing the indus
tries and the credit of the coun-
try. it would be necessary, they
said. to have a government which
re-esta blished the right of private
property and gave a guaranty of
absolute individual liberty in the
pursuit of every lawful occupa
ton.
The first prerequisite implied the
recognition of all debts. both ma
tional and individual. To the ac-
complishment of the second the
title to the land must be vested in
the peasants who now have the
right to cultivate it and the own
ers of the land muSt be relm-