Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14
Writer Submits Views
Of s'NatiOn in Exile
To the Editor of The Star:

Prof. Strakhovsky's article-"A Ma
ton Now in Exile"-depicts an unhappy
situation, and, though no particular
remedy for it suggests itself, 1t can do
the Russian enigres no harm to en-
list favorable world opinion. 1t might
prevent il-conSidered interference with
their purposes. With this in view, Prof
StrakhovSky might we'll go further into
his subject.
The emigres are, of course, a matter
of great concern to Russia, for, upon
the rehabilitation of that country, they
must be fitted into the body polite,
If nothing more. Prof Strakhovsky as
Sumes that they are to be the leaders,
perhaps the rulers, of restored Russia.
In that case the world is now host
to a nation that is to be, and, in a
great meaure, has the shaping OF that
nations destiny in its hands. 1t is for
the world to decide whether these erst-
while Russians, who may some day be-
come Russians again, are meanwhile TO
be -RussianiZed as condition OF
their tolerance or aided in preserving
their nationality.
The view that Russia is to be re-
stored by her exiles, as casually as they
themselves may embrace it, will not
without some explanation. 1nterven-
ton by foreign powers is an outdated
system of changing dynaSties, broadly
speaking. It must be concluded that
the Russian counter-reVolution will be
accomplished in Russia while the vast
majority Of the emigres remain in exile.
When the masses are aroused from
their lethargy and the SovietS are
overthrown, will the emigreS be recalled
to share in the government? The boil
sheviks themselves came out of exile to
set up the SovietS, and the emlgres
from the reign of terror later partlc1-
pated in the French government. There
is no stigma attached to the emlgra-
ton of the three million Russians; to
remain might have been stigmatized as
sheerest folly. Prior rights to leader
ship might vest in those who have
lived through Soviet oppression; but
every indication is that now opposition
to the Soviets in Russia is crushed and
leaderless. Revolution will probably
come from a sudden general uprising.
The exiles may at that point assume
the leadership, if they have an &C
ceptable leadership to offer.
A crucial consideration is: Are these
three million exiles chiefly czarists?
1t is inconceivable, however hateful
bolsheviSm may become to the RUS
slams, that they, having overthrown the
Soviets and having all the historic and
theoretic forms of government to choose
from, will revert to czarism, which
could hardly be more than few de-
grees less obnoxious than bolshevism It.
self.
To be sure Prof. Strakhovsky's article
has no czarist bias, but if the three
RI a
unite them? For all we know, we
might say "czarism," with none OF its
Implications modified. It Is a reason
able conjecture that the years have
taught the exiles that czariSm had Ger
tain unpopular aspects. The probability
of the formation of government &C
ceptable to both the Russians who re-
main in Russia and the emigres Is
measured, if ordinary criteria apply,
by the extent to which the emigres have
relinuuished, or are willing to relln-
ouish, the czarist ideal. To extend the
thought, would the same generation
which enjoyed great landed estates and
special privileges under the Romanoffs
be willing to forswear them? That
would set a historic precedent of no
mean proportions. Not the least in
teresting question that might be asked
about the emlgreS Is WIldt pol1tlCdI oe-
signs they harbor.
Perhaps, through Prof. Strakhovsky,
the emigres themselves will inform
Washington Star readers as to that. II
they cannot answer the question, there
is all the more reason why intercourse
and union between them should be
facilitated. Let the nations among
whom they are cast give them the OPP
portunity to formulate government
contingent for its application on revo-
luton which neither the emigres nor
the world powers can, presumably.
have any part. but which neither the
emigreS nor the powers are likely to
deplore. JOHN j. GERMAN.