THE CLIMB DOWN

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 6

THE CLIMB DOWN

BOLSHEVIKS ON THEIR KNEES. AN ABJECT SURRENDER. HINDENBURG AND PARIS. VERSAILLES COUNCIL. [By Criticus.] To-day comes the news of about the | most' astounding and degrading act of selfhumiliation in human history ever perpetrated by a nation. After having declined for several months to accept Germany's terms, and having during that period be"en busy reducing themsolves and their country to a state of almost- absolute helplessness, while calling loudly upon the populations of the Central Powers to be guilty of similar insanity, the Bolsheviks have abjectly collapsed at the first shake of the Prussian fist in their faces. The occupation of Dvinsk and Lutsk has led them to send a message accepting without qualification the enemy's terms. And such a message it is ! A Russian official message states that Lenin and Trotsky have protested against the German 'invasion of Russia while the Russian armv was being' demobilised. "The Council of the Peo- ; pie's Commissaries were now forced to formally declare their willingness to sign a peace treaty upon the conditions dictated by the Quadruple Alliance at BrestLitovsk." So, while the innocent Russians have deliberately demobilised in face of the enemy, and rendered themeslves practically helpless, the vile and unscrupulous Germans arc deliberately takino- advantage of the situation thus created to enforce their own terms. No wonder that Jvenin and Trotsky are hurt. They appear to have expected better things of Germany. Still, they will doubtless be well content with the approval -of their own consciences. Having followed a course of conduct the results of which could Have been predicted by a child of tender .years, they will discover, now that their tody has produced its inevitable consequences that everyone has been to blame except themselves. The Allies will be blanrayorthy for not having consented to be guided by Bolshevik wisdom. The enemy will b G to blame for an unscrupuousness which, so far as the Bolshevik intelligence is concerned, could not possibly have been anticipated. Only Lenin and Trotsky w-,11 have displayed faultless wisdom throughout. When the immortal Mr ftrfiggms attended a temperance meeting in a. state _ of intoxipation ho discovered that the chairman, the audience, and finally the whole world were drunk. And we' n av ely upon ,t that Lenin and Trotsky, as they survey .the foolish world around them are convinced m the same spirit that they are the only sober persons in it. THE CONSEQUENCES. The news of the Bolshevik collate is Jess important than exasperating. I a U s absolute insanity the whole business approaches the sublime; but it is doubtful it the surrender will make much practical I difference m the situation. The Bolshevik,' tenure of power is obviously too precarious and temporary to allow Germany to regard any peace treaty as more than a makeshift arrangement, the value of which will depend upon its confirmation or denunciation i t y . th f p°'«>™ment which, at no yen- distant date, is sure to supersede the present regime of madmen, and which may decline t<J be .bound by the actions of the Bolsheviks. Indeed, it is quite a debatable point whether the enemy are gaining or losing by assenting to a paper peace, they are bound to retain at least a skeleton army on the eastern front to guard against eventualities in the future, and it might be argued that they have more to gain by reducing Russia to a position which would render any recrudescence of her power following upon the overthrow of the Bolsheviks impossible. As it is. tie signing of an agreement will make little difference to any of the Allies, except Rumania, and Germany may hud when she is committed to "a gigantic- offensive in the west, which will eat up her reserves at a terrific rate, that \T J ? ( » t Vlks have ibeen overthrown, that Aiexieft, kormleff, and other fighters have succeeded to power, and are" organising Russia for another struggle on her rear As regards Rumania, it must be admitted that the situation is serious. She stands absolutely alone. If the statement of the Cologne Gazette' that peace negotiations' with Rumania are expected to begin on l'Mdny, lebruary 22, does not turn out to_ he true, it will be a matter for surprise. EFFECTS IX RUSSIA. One of yesterday's later cables contained a. statement by Trotsky of the enemy's peace terms. He declared that thev demanded the retention of Poland. Lithuania Riga, and Mohu Island, and the payment of four billion dollars. Probably dollars should have been roubles, which are coins of the value of about 2s. The size of the Indemnity named w il] depend upon whether the billions are to bo reckoned according to the British or .French and American conceptions of a billion. The British bilhon is a. million millions, whereas the French and Americans reckon only a thousand millions to a billion. The latter reckoning will almost certainly be the one meant, and this will imply, if the alWed statement be time, that Russia is expected to pay an indemnity of £40.000,000 If • so, it will be interesting to watch the effort* of the Bolsheviks to raise the money. Nothing would ruin them more quickly than tlw attempt to raise a large indemnity to pay off the enemv. For the rest, the peace terms mean that Germany demands all the territory as far as the Dwiiia, and Rig.-,, and alio complete control ol the Gulf of Riga. Petrograd cables continue to depict an orgio of anarchy and confusion in Russia Food is scarce, and the peasantry are being robbed right and left, They are already alienated by the Bolshovik attacks on the national church, and it cannot be long before the workers of the towns discover that the Bolsheviks can provide them with nothing but misery and starvation as the factories are said to be gradually closing- and unemployment inereasino- for want of raw material. National disillusionment will give the saner elements of the nation their opportunity, and it is worthy of note that the cessation of the Ansitm-German advance will a ivo the other parties a freer hand to unite for the overthrow of the Bolsheviks. THE FIRST OF APRIL. Hindenburg has perpetrated a stroke of unconscious humor, if Router's correspondent at the British Headquarters is to be relied upon. In an interview with a number of German newspaper editors he U said, to have declared that he will be in Pans by April 1. The statement mav have been made to give confidence to the German public, who are declared to be very restive ; but the worst of calming excitement by promises is that the people are apt to become still more depressed if they are not realised. If Hindenburg has really promised, the German public that he will be-in Paris on All Fools' Day, that will probably mean that he intend';'' to attack by the end of this month at the latest the nearest point of the German line is about 80 miles from Paris, and unless Hindenburg anticipates being able to completely rout the Allies he can hardly expect to cover that distance in less than a month. As' a matter of fact, ho cannot hope to cover the distance in six months unless he. can actually break through the allied lines and secure a decision in the open. THE VERSAILLES COUNCIL. General Sir Henry Rawlinson has.beten appointed the British representative on the Versailles Supreme War Council. It was General Rawlinson who commanded the' British attack on the Somme, and he has played a distinguished part since the opening days of the war. So far as fighting experience goes no man could be better qualified for the position, though it is doubtful if he will have the influence that the prestige, ability, and great force of character of Sir William Robertson would have enabled him to wield. Mr Lloyd George has admitted that the Council are possessed of executive powers. . Its duties are bound to consist, however, mainly in the co-ordi-nation of the_ allied strategy; but apparently, each p£"" the Allies ia settipji apart a.

substantial reserve which will be at the disposal'of the Council, and which,, can be flung upon any_ point where th<> enemy direct their main attack. This is not a very satisfactory substitute for << generalissimo. A council of many memoers provides too great a variety of opinions, and wastes too much time in debate. But it is the best substitute for a generalissimo available under the, circumstances, and it is merely a part of the inevitable nature of things that those who gird most violently and thoughtlessly against the allied strategy should also be most strongly opposed to such a council and its equipment with adequate powers.