The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1917. THE RUSSIAN CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1917. THE RUSSIAN CRISIS

The announcement that the Russian "Minister of War and Marine has resigned as a protest against .tonditions of dual control threatening the efficiency of the Army and Navy is anything but good news. M. Guchkoff was one of the strongest and most capable Ministers in the Provisional Government from which he has now resigned. An American journal described him recently as the Russian counterpart of the French Minister of Munitions, M. Albert Thomas. "Only," it added, "his achievements havebeen more marvellous. To mobilise Russia's industries and to creato new ones, there is many times more difficult than to do the same in Franco. . . . But the war's demands yere so tremendous and the Government's incompetence so glaring that an organisation was created with the help of. the Duma for tho purpose of increasing Russia's production of war materials. At the head of this organisation 'Guchkoff." This, of course, relates to M. Guchkoff's activities in the days before the revolution. The organisation which he controlled.is credited with having developed and transformed industrial Russia to a wonderful degree ofrefficiency in the difficult days before the revolution, and it is stated that it increased enormously, the home production of munitions.' This being M. Guchkoff's record, it is not a happy augury that he should decline to . any longer accept and carry responsibility as a war administrator in the conditions which have arisen out of the revolution. . He is clearly not ' a man to be daunted by ordinary difficulties. His resignation is based upon a conviction that the interposition of the Council of Workmen's'and Soldiers' Delegates and the resultant dual control of the army is a crime against Russia—a crime which threatens not only the defence and liberty, but even tho existence, of the country. If v there is any relieving feature in'" the situation, it is the possibility that M. Guchkoff's action may bring matters to a head, and . determine definitely whether or aofc a band of enthusiastic agitators is to be allowed to spoil the efficiency of tho Russian military machine.

Obviously the position at present existing is intolerable, and cannot too quickly ,be determined. In its early clays the revolution was accepted by enthusiastic friends of ■ Russia as affording final proof of the determination of the Russian people to see that their armies were Supported by an honest and efficient , Government, and that they would henceforth co-operate with their Allies through leaders in whom they , had confidence.. There has never ■ been any reason to doubt the ability of the Russian armies, under fair conditions, to give an excellent account of themselves. If such doubts ever existed they were set at rest when General Brtjsiloff drove home his great offensive last year, capturing three hundred thousand*! prisoners, and practically annihilating the Austrian 1 armies in Vol- '. hynia and Galicia, The revolution 1 promised to create conditions in which the Russian armies would be ■ still more formidable. Up to the present it has had an opposite effect. Lately there have been attempts by some of the extremists of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' . Delegates to show that their ideas and proposals arc reconcilable ■ with a strong military policy. An answer to all such claims is given in tho action and protest of the , Minister of War. There can be no doubt as to M. Gu.chkoff's honesty and competence, and, giving due heed to the terms of his protest, it must bo assumed that if his ' opponents prevail the foundations of Russia's military efficiency will be fatally undermined. Tho mem- : bcrs of the Provisional Government are worthy representatives of their country, and admirably qualified for the difficult and responsible work they are called upon to do. But up to the present they have been hampered and impeded by extremist agitators to such an extent that > tho hopes based in the first instance , on the revolution, so far as they • bear upon the war, are growing ■ dim. Unless the trend exemplified 1 in M. Guohkoff's resignation is re- ' versed, and a speedier improvement , occurs in the political situation [ than there is any great reason to - expect, Russia will hardly take an ' effectual part in this year's Allied i offensive.

It has been frequently pointed out that the extremists who arc doing so much to obstruct and hamper the Government do not represent any' large section of tbc Russian nation. An English newspaper remarked recently that it was unfortunate that the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates and the Government sat at Pctrograd. "The population of the capital and environs," it added, "consists mainly of Finns, who never took a profound interest in winning tho war. Also there are many thousands of

Gorman blood and speech from the Baltic provinces. Home of them are genuinely pro-Russian, but most aro lukewarm, and many treacherous. Finally, the adherents tt> tho old regime are largely concentrated in Petrograd, and they believe that' disordors, and even a German victory, offer the best chance of its restoration, These reactionaries ar-d pro-Germans now arc. most r.ctive, but healthy influences are vigorously working outside Petrograd. The tone of the provincial newspaoers indicates that the nation's heart is sound regarding the war and internal development. It is evident that events in Petrograd do not rcpiesent the feelings of the Russian nation." The Provisional Government, however, is not in a position to readily appeal to the body of the nation for support, though as matters are going it may find itself compelled to cast the country into the turmoil of an election rather than submit _ longer to the irresponsible revolutionary organisation which at present arrogates equal, or almost equal, authority. Tho creation of a new constitution and election of a popular assembly in a country like Russia are not tasks which should bo undertaken in the midst of war if they can by any possibility bo postponed. It seems possible, however, that the election of a truly representative assembly may bo Russia's only method of escape from her present_ difficulties. The best hope meantime is that men of the stamp of M. Guchkoff and Prince Lvoff (who heads tho Provisional Government) may bo able to so arouse the body of the nation to tho imperative demands of the war as to defeat the senseless agitation of the extremists. M. Guchkoff's retirement may have the _ effect of bringing matters to a crisis.