Evening star., 1922-01-18
THE WORLD AND RUSSIA

The Russian people are not bad. On
the whole, they probably will average
little higher in honesty ana gooo
intent than some of the peoples VINO
now hold them in disdain. Given
chance. they will right their goverhh-
ment and deal fairly with their neigh-
bors The fact that the world does
not like their self-constitut0d masters
is no justification for allowing tnem
to be exploited to the point OF ex-
termination.
The world must save Russia N
order to save itself, SO the problem u
reduced to one of methods. Is 1t the
best method e build q wall OF non
intercourse aHund a million and a
half of people ana leave them to their
fate 1t is much to be doubted II
ssiyation lies that way, and II It did
the price would be too aWful 70 coM.
template Common sense w2u}d seem
to dictate that the time n9 coHie
when . measure of intercourse mus
be established. 2 measure samene as,oa to
help Russia and for all the worso H
Be helped by the things she can give
In exchange. The world wants ana
seeds to be rid Of 1sepin ana nts
crew: and. though sticklers may con
sdvantage to be rid of them with the
least possible further unsettlement.
It might be that in time the Rus-
sian peopre, made desperate by their
suffertngs, would rise up ana over
throw the soviet. But I'm time ,i,h ~
to base hope of Europe's salvation.
The day Is not distant when any
such. relief would be too late ana
what would follow the violent over
throw Of sovietism is .,inn more ., unGn time
Present conditions do not quite reach
the state of downright anarchy ano
chaos Conditions succeeding an
other revolution might.
*x*
Chance that an uprising of the
Russian people wiz solve the prob
lem is made remote by two major
facts. Ono is the fa6t OF nonintef-
course between Russfk and the rest
Of the world. and tho other is the
fact Of the Red army. The RUSSIAN
psrately wrong and that they have
suffered terribly. but SO long a. trey
ara unable to form judgments b9se&
on knowledge Of conditions else
where the preachufents ana propa.
s.nds Of Lenin have ,s,d pninssfropssS Int osssp
lands are even less happy. or that
their pliEht is due to a conspiracy
sEninst them by the capitalists: they
have no means Of knowing u Is not
true. And always the Rec army
stands ready to suppress any blind re-
vuits.
So the part Of wisdom would seem
to be to take away from Lenin the
two weapons by which he maintains
his power. Opening up of Of ,es,d inter1'
would let the light reach the Russian
people. and they would soon learn
the cause of the ills from which they
suffer. DISARMAMENT or substantial
reduction Of the Red army would
end government through terror.
\ 1t may be thought that I1enin
never would agree to conditions
| which would take his weapons away
from him. Chance that he would
not is no excuse for refusing to try.
Very evidently today Lenin is fear
full Of the future and eager to find
a way out Of the difficulties when
surround him. He would bluster, OF
i course, and try to make the terms
as easy as possible: but already he
! has given evidence that to re-estab-
lish intercourse he will make many
1t is up TO Europe to make the ef.
! fort, and the coming conference at
Genoa viii afford the opportunity.
If pride and prejudice, seifishness
| and suspicion; are to conanSs 70
! and petty politics TO govern the
| courses Of her statesmen, then Europe
must endure the consequences II 1t
! is not possible to rescue the present
! civilization from it's own FOLLY. p new
civilization will have to be erected
F. on the ruins OF the old. America
stands ready to lend . helping hand
lin any program that is controlled by
eanity. 1t viii not contribute further