Evening star., 1922-06-18
RUSSIA'S FUTURE RESTS
IN RUSSIA, NOT HAGUE
Relations With Rest of World in Doubt
Until Lenin's Fate Has Been
Determined.

fearful of ever since the last cOnnlct
with Poland.
Though a revolution within revolu-
tionary Russia is not without the
bounds of possibility. it is believed in
European capitals that the transition
will be painless. and that either
one or the other of the communist
branches peaceably will obtain control.
but the transition will be closely
watched. for in it will depend the future
OF Europe in large measure.
The death of Lenin undoubtedly
will bring to a halt the many inn
mediate plans of allied governments
to establish new relations with Russia
as a nation Russia is essential to
the rest of Europe, no matter now
hard it may be to bring about CO.
operation, but all agree that this
lco-operation will be entirely depend
ent upon what happens in Russia i'm
mediately after it is definitely estab-
lished whob shall control Russia's
destinieS.
Conservatives Would
Advance Russia.
Should the conservative group of
Russian leaders gain control in Rus
sia. relations with other nations may
be expected to progress by leaps and
bounds. Tchitcherin and krassin.
though firmly arrayed against the
surrender of Russian sovereignty in
any agreements looking toward the
rejuvenation of the old empire, never
theless might consent to negotiate
more on the terms of other nations
than upon strictly communistic lines.
Tchitcherin has about him men of
firm decision, but all of the belief that
Russia must modify in measure prin-
ciples enunciated by both Lenine and
Trosky, If Russia is to save herself.
But there is a school of thought in
! Russia which believes that only
through conquest and overthrow of
present organized governments can
the principles of bolshevism be i'm
planted upon the world, and Trotsky
is the avowed leader of this element.
1nasmuch as he has control of the
army and has made determined
threats against other nations. he and
! his cohorts would be greatly feared.
But that Trotsky may not be permit
ted to dictate is indicated by his un-
popularity among the masses of the
people and that in the selection of
| men to govern Russia during the
period of Lenin's temporary alb
sence Trotsky has not been men,
toned. This would indicate that the
trend of conservatism is greater in
Russia than the spirit of insurgency
and militarism, and the old world
powers undoubtedly can find comfort
In the present trend, but always
there remains a question as to wheth-
er Trotsky. one of the prime movers
in the bolsheviSt revolution, will be
content to remain qufescent to con-
Servative thought and Will not at
tempt to place himself in Lenin's
place should the present leader of
Russia answer the final call.
Russia Holds Key
to Her Own Future.
While a great drama undoubtedly
is being enacted in Russia, with the
climax yet to be approached, repre-
sentatives of nearly thirty nations
have assembled at The Hague to ar
range some means of approaching
Russia and bringing about amicable
understandings which eventually shall
lead to complete readjustment of
economic relationships over the
whole of Europe. The Hague con-
ference begins without apparent
sign of much life and of dormant in
terest and enthusiasm. Little opti-'
mism prevails, and with England and
France continuing to squabble over
the method of approaching the Rus
slams and over the question of what
shall be exacted of the Russians in
the way of guarantees there appar-
suits. But experts will go about the
business of analyzing Russia's pos
Utilities as they PEI .rin to the af-
fairs of respective ma rs and Pre-
miers Poincare and Lloy, gorge are
to approach the general 4--;tiofl of
Franco-British agreement in 'ndon
today or tomorrow. But the 8 cat
answer as to Russia lies not at The
Hague, in London or in the foreign
offices of any one or group Of west
ern European nations. The key to
Russia's future is held by Russia and
the door to advancement will be
opened, or it will be closed and Rus
sia once more plunge into long years
of turmoil