BOLSHEVISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17838, 21 January 1920, Page 5

BOLSHEVISM

THE BOLSHEVIST PROBLEM.

MENACE INCREASINGLY SERIOUS.

ALLIES' LACK OF STATESMANSHIP.

ABSENCE OF CONNECTED

POLICY.

ROAD TO INDIA OPEN.

Prew Association—By Telogr&ph—Copyright. LONDON, January 16.

The review of the Bolshevist pei-il states that tho situation revealed yesterday by Mr Winston Churchill's and Lord Beatty'« sudden call to Paris is most serious. The Allies aro now reaping tho fruits of their utter lack of statesmanship in dealing with Bolshevism since the armistice. The trouble has been that the Allies have dissipated the efforts they havo riven in support of Generals Denikin, Sasanoff, and Yudenitch. But the assistance given was never sufficient to secure victory, and it was given regardless of tho necessity for a connected policy. Tho Allies now realise that all those >, generals have failed. Then Lenin and Trotsky have the whole of Russia and Western Siberia at their mercy. The Allies' leaders seem utterly at a loss how to meet tho peril. France would doubtless like Britain to put in forces in Russia if only to save some of the huge Russian investments, in exchange for which French investors are anxious to secure grants to work the mines, forests, etc. There is not tho least likelihood of this, as public opinion in Britain is strongly averse to renewing the war with Russia. The pity is, as Colonel John Ward says: "In the middle of 1918 40,000 Britishers could have got through to Petrograd and wiped out Bolshevism. Now the Red army numbers 2,000,000 or more. It is true that this force has been raised by terrorism ; but it is formidable."

Danger in tho East is serious. Peace ■with Turkey has not yet been secured. There are elements favourable to the spread of Bolshevism in Asia Minor. Then General Denikin's breakdown leaves the road to India open. Bolshevist elements are already at Herat. Britain's quasi failure in the Afghan war has increased the danger, while there is much unrest •among the border tribes. The obvious precaution is to control Persia and the waters of the Caspian, where loyal Russian warships should immediately bo manned by tho British navy, and the situation made secure.—A. ana N.Z. Cable. SIBERIA. POSITION MORE REASSURING. BALTIC PROVINCES ENDANGERED. LONDON, January 16. There is no real danger of a serious Bolshevist advance in Siberia, as a very small Japanese force is capable of dealing with the huge Bolshevist rabble—indeed, it is believed that Generals Lenin and Trotsky do not oontemplate attacking Japan, and will prefer to transfer their forces to the Esthonian, Lettish, Finnish, and Polish fronts. The Poles are quite incapable of meeting a big attack by the Red armies unaided, as they are poorly led, and would be greatly outnumbered. This is not the least difficulty. The Allied leaders in Paris are now considering that, as Poland has been a bulwark against Bolshevism in Western Europe, there are also dangerous possibilities in South-eastern Europe.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICAN INTERVENTION. WHY IT WAS WITHHELD. WASHINGTON, January 17. (Received Jan. 20, at 7.20 p.m.) Mr R, Lansing (Secretary of State) has published a Note sent to Japan stating that the United States had decided to concentrate the American forces in Siberia at Vladivostock, with a view to their departure about January 2. The Note points out that the American troops were originally sent to Siberia for the purpose of aiding in the self-government of Russia, but the presence of troops now had the opposite effect, and would possibly prolong the period of Russian readjustment, involving needless sacrifices on the part of Japan and the United States.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS. JAPAN EMBARRASSED. NEW YORK. January 16. The New York Times Washington correspondent says that it is understood that the United States's intention to withdraw troops from Siberia has presented an embarrassing problem to the Hara Ministry, which may be compelled to resign. There is abo a probability that Japan will not attempt single-handed to stem the Bolshevist advance, and she probably will also withdraw her troops.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. ERUPTION "IN*BESSARABIA IMMINENT. LONDON, January 16. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent, as a result of a personal tour in Central and Eastern Europe, expresses the opinion that Rumania is faced with famine. Practically no wheat has yet been sown, though the seed should have been in the ground early in December. Not 10 per cent, of the maize land has yet been ploughed. The new class of peasant proprietors are responsible for the delay. The peasants harvested enough of the 1919 crop for their personal use, and left the rest to rot-, arguing that as they had been exploited by the townsfolk for centuries they wero not going to support the rest of the community any longer. There is unrest in Bessarabia owing to the Rumanian exactions and misgovernment. As Bessarabia adjoins Odessa and Ukrainia, both of which are under the sway of Bolshevism, an eruption in Bessarabia is imminent. _ The Serbian men have developed a distaste for manual labour as a result of the war, but the land is fairly well cultivated by women, whom the men have not allowed" to became in- ' fected with male ideas regarding work. A shortage of food is likely in Serbia, but there should be no famine if Dalmath is fed from overseas. Bulgarian agricultural labour is so scarcc that the Government is considering the possibility of forced agricultural labour based on the principle of 'no work, no food." There is much sympathy for Bolshevism amongst the' masses, and the governing classes are occupicd with political feuds and intrigues. Indeed, throughout Central and Eastern Europe the upper classes are behaving with disgusting extravagance and reckless disregard for their countries' future.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITISH WARSHIPS. EN ROUTE FOR BLACK SEA. MALTA, January 20. British warships have sailed for the Black Sea.—A. and N.Z. Cable. POLAND AND THE BOLSHEVISTS. AMERICA MAY ASSIST. WASHINGTON, January 17. (Received Jan. 20, at 7.20 p.m.) Mr Bakor (Secretary of War), in a statement said: "I personally do not object to the United States participating in giving aid to Poland, so long as Poland continues to preserve Iyer frontiers against the Bolshevists."—A. and N.Z. Cable. BOLSHEVIST FORCES. ARRIVAL ON MONGOLIAN FRONTIER. WASHINGTON, Jan nary 17. (Received Jan. 20, at 7.55 p.m.) According to advices received from Toldo, Bolshevist forces have arrived at Kiakhta, on the Mongolian frontier.—A. and N.Z. Cabla,

IS AGGRESSION INTENDED? PUBLIC OPINION DIVIDED. CANDID PRESS CRITICISM. LONDON, January 16. (Received Jan. 20, at 9.5 p.m.) Tho Imperial General Staff's declaration that war clouds are looming in Asia meets with a mixed reception. Tho Westminster Gazette states : "Mr Churchill does not convince the public that the Bolshevists intend aggression. It is notorious that Mr Churchill supports a policy of crushing tho Bolshevists by military campaigns, which the Prime Minister regards us insane. Nothing short of conclusive evidenco that a renewal of war in Europo and Asia is compelled by the Bolshevists' ambition will secure support for campaigns, the expenditure on wliich woidd be illimitable. No one can foresee tho end of such wars."

General Maurice, in the Daily News, says: "The Bolshevists will not attempt, invasions unless as counterstrokes to the Allies' campaigns.. The only safe policy is to open the door to Russia and let the League of Nations investigate the facts." The _ Daily Hercild brands the meeting of war chiefs at Paris as ominous, and adds: "They are plotting new wars while oonscription is still lav/. Britain's warmongers arc Labour's enemies, and they are making a last effort to excite the public mind to war fever by the scare cries that the white women in India are in danger." Tho papers urge Mr Henderson to convene urgently the Labour executives at London.

Tho Manchester Guardian declares that tho unexpected strength of the interventionists came from America, which :s scared by the Bolshevist bogey, and wishes to lynch the Soviet idea. The Guardian adds that it has. information that American hysteria is decreasing. Other newspapers regard it as strong evidence that the Bolshevists intend worldwide campaigns, and that propaganda, backed by armies, axe the only hope of maintaining the Soviet system in Russia. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

SOVIET'S MANNERS IMPROVED

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT RE NOUNCED.

COPENHAGEN. January 16. (Received Jan. 20, at 9.5 p.m.) Advices depict that the Soviet leaders are on their best behaviour. Lenin has renounced capital punishment, and dispensed with this weapon of terror, though threatening to reimpose it if the Allies intervene. Derjinsky's extraordinary commission has been disbanded. M. Litvinoff stated that the debacle of the Whites would permit also the freedom of the press.