GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Before we decide our policy as to withdrawal or otherwise from Russia it
is necessary to know whether we have contracted any obligations to the
Russian people, and what is the nature of such obligations, if any. Are
they moral, military, or political?
Towards the end of 1914, when our army had been driven back behind the
Marne and the future of Europe and our Empire was in the balance,
frantic appeals were made by British statesmen, and even by still more
august authority, asking Russia to rush to our aid and save us from
destruction. This appeal was backed by British public and Labour
opinion, and through our Press made a profound impression upon the
Russian people. The Russian Government, regardless of their best
military advice, forced their partially mobilised legions to make a
rapid flying raid into East Prussia, which immediately reduced the
pressure upon our own armies and made the victory of the Marne possible.
Hurriedly mobilised, imperfectly equipped, not too brilliantly led,
these legions, constituting the chivalry of Russia, became the prey of
Prussia's perfect military machine. The Russian Government never dared
to tell the Russian peasant the number of Russian souls who were
mutilated by high explosives and smothered in the cold Masurian marshes
in that sublime effort to save her friends. Russia lost as many men in
saving Paris during that raid as did all the other Allies in the first
year of the war.
Russia continued to fight and mobilise until 1917, by which time she had
collected a huge army of over twelve million men. The Hohenzollern
dynasty and its military advisers came to the conclusion that it would
soon be impossible to stem this human tide by ordinary military means,
and having a complete understanding of Russian psychology through its
dynastic and administrative agents, decided to undermine the _moral_ of
the Russian people. German "Black Books" were not employed against
British leaders exclusively. We need not wonder at the rapid spread
among Russians of suspicion against their civil and military leaders
when we remember that the same sort of propaganda admittedly influenced
the administration of justice in England. The people of Russia were true
to their friends, demoralisation and decomposition began at the head,
rapidly filtering down to the lowest strata of society.
If the Allied cause was deserted, it was the desertion of a ruling
class, not of a people or its army. German treachery wormed its way in
at the top, and so destroyed a great race it never could have conquered.
Having disorganised the Russian military machine, Germany sent her
agents to continue the disorder and prevent recovery. She secured the
Brest-Litovsk Treaty, and made a levy of several hundred millions
sterling upon her bailiffs, whom she put in possession of her
neighbour's property. Lenin and Trotsky found anarchy the most effective
weapon to further the interest of their masters and protect their
Eastern flank. A peace which virtually extended German conquest to the
hinterland of Tsing-Tchau was dangerous to every civilising influence in
the Far East.
The Bolshevik treaty was not less dangerous to Europe herself, since it
brought a war-like population of one hundred and eighty millions within
the sphere of German military influence.
The British Expeditionary Force was ordered to Siberia in June, 1918, to
assist the orderly elements of Russian society to reorganise themselves
under a national Government and to resurrect and reconstruct the Russian
front. Firstly, to enable Russia to resist German aggression; secondly,
to weaken German military power on the Western front, where at that time
she was again delivering hammer-blows at the gates of Paris. This
expedition was approved by every party and patriot in Britain, and the
only criticism offered at the time was that it should have been so long
delayed. Soviet power under German and Austrian direction had released
the German and Austrian prisoners of war, armed and organised them into
formidable armies to perform the double task of maintaining their
creatures in power at Moscow and extending their domination over a
helpless friendly Allied Power.
There was every reason for treating the Dictatorship of Lenin and
Trotsky as a mere side-show of the German military party; they were, in
fact, a branch of the military problem with which the Allies were bound
to deal. Under Entente direction anti-Bolshevik Governments were
established, and were promised the unstinted help of the Allies to
recover their territory and expel the agents of the enemy who had so
foully polluted their own home. It was on this understanding that
Admiral Koltchak, by herculean efforts, hurled the German hirelings over
the Urals, and awaited near Vatka the advance of the Allies from
Archangel preparatory to a march on Petrograd. Alas! he waited for seven
long months in vain; the Allies never came! After expending his last
ounce of energy and getting so near to final victory, we failed him at
the post. Why?
The menace to our own armies in France had disappeared; there was, I
suppose, no longer an urgent necessity to re-establish the Russian
front, though the possibility of such re-establishment had kept huge
German forces practically demobilised near the Russian and Ukrainian
frontiers. Koltchak and his gallant comrade Denikin had served the
Entente purpose. Lenin and Trotsky, by wholesale intimidation and
murder, had aroused the enthusiasm of similarly disposed compatriots in
Allied countries. These compatriots were becoming noisy in the
constituencies. The establishment of order to enable the Russian people
to establish a clean democratic Government, and arise from their
nightmare of unbridled anarchy, while very desirable in itself, was not
a good party cry in any of the Western democracies. I grant all these
things; but what about honour? Has this no longer any place in the
political curriculum of the Allied Powers?
These are only some of the things it is necessary to remember before we
finally decide to desert a temporarily sick friend. If I were the ruler
of a state I should pray the gods to preserve me from half-hearted
Allies and over-cautious friends. If I wished to help a fallen state or
lend an honest hand in a great cause, whether it were to eradicate a
hideous and fatal national malady or assert a principle of right and
justice, first shield me from the palsy of Allied diplomacy! One
clear-sighted, honest helper is worth a dozen powerful aiders whose main
business is to put obstacles in each other's way.
If we were discussing the question of Allied interference before the
fact, I could give many reasons for remaining neutral; but we have to
recognise that for their own purposes they have interfered, that their
Military Missions and forces have been operating in the country for over
a year, during which time they have made commitments and given pledges
of a more or less binding character. That these commitments and pledges
are not the irresponsible acts of subordinates on the spot, but have
been made by Allied statesmen, both in and out of their several
Parliaments; and in this respect our national leaders are no exception
to the rule. Without filling my pages with quotations, readers will be
able to find and tabulate such for themselves. So categorical are the
nature of these that it is impossible to imagine them to have been made
without fully understanding their import and significance to the
orderly section of the Russian people who, on the faith of these
pledges, gave us their trust.
It cannot, therefore, be a discussion upon interference or
non-interference; _that_ has long since been disposed of by our words
and acts. It is now a question whether we shall withdraw from Russia
because we have thought fit to change our attitude to the Russian
problem. It is certain that our decision to-day upon this subject will
decide our future relations with this great people. If you desert a
friend in his hour of need, you cannot expect that he will be
particularly anxious to help you when he has thrown off his ill-health
and is in a position to give valuable help to those who gave succour in
his distress.
If our desertion turns this people from us, they will become the prey of
our recent enemies, and if that happens we can prate about the Treaty of
Paris as much as we like. The Teuton will have more than balanced the
account.
Index
Absolutists, Russian
Affinasiaff, General, headquarters of
Allies, the,
a Russian reaction against
policy for resurrection of Russia
All-Russian Government, the formation of
America
and Siberia
and the Far East
her "neutral zone" in the Suchan district
American policy and its results
Americans
arrive at Vladivostok
an agreement with Bolsheviks
Anghara River
Anglo-Russian infantry brigade, formation of
Antonovka
a critical position at
Cossack position at
Kalmakoff, surprised at
Antonovsky, General, intrigues of
Archangel
an Anglo-American force at
failure of a projected march on Petrograd from
Argunoff exiled
Armistice between Germany and Entente Powers
Armoured trains, a duel between
Avkzentieff and Chernoff
exiled
President of Council of Ministers
Baikal
a titanic struggle at
arrival at
Baikal Sea (_see_ Lake Baikal)
Barabinsk
a meeting at
the market at
Bath, Captain
Beloff, General, intrigues of
Berwkoff, death of
Bezovsky, Colonel, and a Cossack parade
Blizzard, gales and frost in Siberia
Bogotol, a meeting at
Bolderoff, General
and Japanese demands
confers with Koltchak at Petropalovsk
in consultation with Czech National Council in Japan
Bolsaar, Lieutenant
Bolshevik
losses at Perm
method of military organisation,
Bolsheviks
an agreement with Americans
atrocities of
author's address to
disguised as Russian soldiers
recognised as legitimate belligerents
successes of
their conception of treachery
train-wrecking by
utter demoralisation of
Boulton, Quartermaster-Captain
Bowes, General
Brest-Litovsk Treaty, the
British Expeditionary Force ordered to Siberia
British Military Mission placed under arrest
Browne, Captain
Browne, Major
inspects guards of honour at Krasnoyarsk
Buckley, Lieutenant
Budburg, von, and an alleged Allied force
Canadians
arrive in Siberia
insubordination among
Chernoff, President of Social Revolutionary party
Chilliyabinsk, a visit to
Chinese Eastern Railway, American control of
Chinese
entertain British at Harbin
friendship for the English
frontier, State prisoners conveyed to
robber bands of Mongolia
Chita
an incident at
Bolshevik "kultur" at
Japanese at
Royalist conspiracies at
Clark, Captain, and Dukoveskoie battle
Coleman, Sergeant, of the Durham L.I.
Cornish-Bowden, Second Lieutenant, and the political exiles
Cossacks, horsemanship of
Czech National Army, the, presentation of colours to
Czechs
a tribute to their gunnery
and the question of a Dictatorship
defection of
defensive tactics of
frustrate a Bolshevik scheme
mutilated by Bolsheviks
Denikin, General
makes submission to Koltchak
Detriks, General
reports on military situation
visits the front
Directorate and Government, members of, arrested
Directorate of Five, the
dissolved
Dukoveskoie
a new line at
battle of
Dust-storms, Siberian
Dutoff, General
reports Bolshevik treachery
Easter at Perm
Eastman, Captain
Education, the Church and
Edwards, Captain
Ekaterinburg
an invitation from
meetings of railwaymen at
Eliot, Sir Charles, British High Commissioner
Elmsley, Brigadier-General
European Russia, a visit to
Frank, Colonel R. Antonivitch, author's liaison officer
an exciting incident at Krasnoyarsk
Frank, Madame
acts as correspondent and translator for labour missions
commands a company in the trenches
conveys a Bolshevik victim to hospital
Frazer, David, _Times_ correspondent
French, the, and General Knox's mission
form a German Legion
"prestige" of
protect Serbian ruffians
their influence in Omsk
French-Tonquin Battalion, the
Fugi, General, and his command
Gaida, General
and Pepelaieff
arrests Czech soldiers
author's introduction to
captures Perm
resigns his Czech commission.
surrender of Red Guards to
Galitzin, General Count
and the Perm offensive
personality of
Ganin, General, a strange order from
and his command
decorates Allied representatives,
releases enemy prisoners
the Omsk Government and
George V., King, letter to President Wilson
German-Magyar-Chinese combination, the
Germans, enterprise of
sanguine of victory in world war
"Germans of the East"
Ghondati, General, his hopes and fears
Glashoff, a seven months' wait at
Golovaehoff, M., meets author
Gordon, Regimental Sergt.-Major
Graves, General, and the Bolsheviks
Hachinsk, author at
Hampshire Territorials arrive at Omsk
move to Ekaterinburg, 222
Harbin, author's reception at
political and financial intrigues in
question of travelling accommodation at
Hazelar, a parade service at
Hepoff, General, a story of
Hinghan Range, the
Hodgson, Mr., British consul
Hong-Kong, "Die-Hards'" departure from
"Hovart's Army"
Imokentievskaya, a workmen's meeting at
Inagaki, Colonel
"Intelligenzia," the
(_cf._ Kerensky)
International World Workers, the
Irkutsk, author opens his campaign at
arrival at
Bolshevik "kultur" in
Japanese traders at
much-needed rifles at
welcome to Middlesex Regiment at
Japan and the maritime provinces
her attitude to Siberians
intervention of
policy in the Far East
Japanese, a promise countermanded
and "class" carriages for British officers
and Semianoff
and the English flag
bugle band, a
casualties at Dukoveskoie and Kraevesk
changed attitude of, after the Armistice
charge an armoured train
propaganda in Omsk
retire without notice
their contempt for Russians
their mistrust of Allies
Johnson, Lieut.-Colonel, and his command
introduced to Koltchak
Kalmakoff, Ataman, Cossack commander
a forced retirement
dismisses his second in command
Japanese orders to
Kameragh, railway troubles at
Kanaka, General, Japanese Chief of Staff
Kansk, an address to workmen at
revolt at
Katanaev, Lieut.-Colonel, placed under arrest
_Kent_
Kerensky destroys old Russian army
Kerensky and Korniloff
Intelligenzia party of
Russian opinion of
Khama River, evidences of Terrorist atrocities in,
moving ice on the
King, Lieutenant T.E., of Middlesex Regiment
Klukvinah, enemy defeat at
Knox, General, a conference with
a decoration for
and the railway revolt
at Taiga
inoculated against typhus
Japanese insult to
object of his mission
patriotic speech by
removes to Ekaterinburg
Siberian tour of
tribute to
Koltchak, Admiral, accepts supreme authority
Allied felicitations to
an unexpected conference with Bolderoff
and an Allied appointment
and the arrest of members of the Council
and the Czech ceremony
and the December revolt
and the Omsk _coup d'état_
assurances on the labour problem
author's farewell interviews with
becomes Minister for War
impartial justice of
intrigues against
on American policy in the Far East
orders arrest of Czechs
personality of
receives reports of author's mission
tenders his resignation
tribute to
visits Ural fronts
Korniloff, General, Kerensky's order to
Koulomsino, Bolsheviks at
Kraevesk, battle of
startling news from
"the station without a town,"
visited by author
Krasilnikoff, Lieut-Colonel, placed under arrest
Krasnoyarsk, an incident at a banquet at
an interview with Gen. Rosanoff at
arrival at
author's addresses at
Bolsheviks in
Colonel Frank wounded by Serbs at
derelict war material at
international intrigues at
Kunghure front, a visit to the
Kushva, evidences of Bolshevik rule in
mineral deposits of
the Bolshevik Commissar of
the Watkin Works and its heroes
Lake Baikal
an autumn sunrise on
Lebediff, Colonel (afterwards General)
a warning to
Ledwards, Mr., British Vice-Consul at Nikolsk
Lenin
Lisvin front, a visit to the
Machinery, German _v_. English
Malley, Major, friendly relations with
his command
Manchuli, a much-talked-of incident at
Bolshevik atrocities at
Japanese Division at
Manchuria, plains of
Manchurian-Chinese Eastern Railway, the
Manchurian front, conditions on the
Marca, author's Cossack attendant
Matkofsky, General, welcomes author at Omsk
Middlesex Regiment (25th Battalion) and battle of Dukoveskoie
leaves Hong-Kong for Siberia
machine-gun section of
welcomed in Irkutsk
Mitchel
bravery of
Moffat, Petty Officer, his Naval party surrounded,
Mongolia, plains of
robber bands of
Tartars of
the Japanese and
Mongolians ask Semianoff to become their Emperor
Moorman, Lance-Corporal
Morrisy, Lieut.-Colonel, of Canadian contingent
Mosquitoes In Siberia,
Munro, Lieutenant, brings comforts for soldiers
Murray, Captain Wolfe, commands armoured trains from _Suffolk_
Muto, General, and Japanese propaganda
Nadegenska, steelworks of
Nash, Consul, as host
Navy, the, artillery assistance by
Neilson, Lieut.-Col. J.F.
Nesniodinsk, an address to workmen at
Nevanisk, before and after Bolshevik rule
Nicholas II., Tsar, abolishes vodka
his prison
murder of
Nikolioff, Colonel, and surrendered Bolsheviks
Nikolsk, a courteous station-master
arrival at
Bolshevik "kultur" at
Japanese headquarters at
Niloy-ugol, the barracks at
Novo Nikoliosk, author at
enemy prisoners released at
Oie, General, an urgent message from
headquarters of
thanks British
Olhanka, Czech and Cossack retirement from
Omsk, a _coup d'état_ in
a dust-storm in
arrival at
blizzard, gales and frost in
Canadians arrive at
comforts for the troops
disappearance of British influence in
friendships formed at
terrible days in
the political situation in
revisited
Otani, General, orders to author
Paris, a bombshell from, and the effect
Paris Council, the,
and the pressure on French front
Pastokova, Madame, author's meeting with
Pastrokoff, Mr.
relates an incident of relief of Perm
Payne, Commodore
a paraphrased cable from War Office
provides artillery assistance
Peacock, Consul, and the imprisonment of an Australian
Pepelaieff, General, conference with
meets General Gaida
plight of his army
the Perm offensive
Perm, a French Mission arrives at
a meeting in railway works at
a suggested advance on
an incident of relief of
Bolshevik atrocities in
capture of
high prices and rate of exchange at
increased wages under Bolshevik rule
the opposing forces at battle of
the Orthodox Easter celebration at
Petrograd, failure of a projected march on
Petropalovsk, an eventful conference at
Pichon, Major, and the Japanese commander
author's tribute to
consultation with author
his command
informs author of Armistice terms
thanked by author
Pickford, Brigadier, and the Canadian troops
Plisshkoff, General, and his command
Pomerensiv, Captain, a consultation with
a present from
Poole, General
Pootenseiff, General Evan, his farewell to author
Preston, Mr., British Consul at Ekaterinburg
evidence as to Bolshevik outrages
Prickly heat
Renault, Monsieur, French representative at Omsk
Renoff, General Evanoff
a cipher message from
and the Japanese demands
Roberts, Captain
Robertson, Colonel
Rogovsky, exile of
Rosanoff, General, Bolderoff's Chief of Staff
in command at Krasnoyarsk
Royalist and Bolshevist conspiracy, a
Runovka, an entertaining duel at
Cossack position at
enemy success at
Russia, a political crisis in
a reaction against European Allies in
aim of Allied "politicals" in
an unholy partnership in
German treachery in
hard lot of workmen in
labour problem in
murder of the Tsar
peasantry of
railway troubles in
the herald of Spring in
the puzzle of Allied help to
Russian Army, the, mutiny in
"Bill of Rights," the
democracy: the Soviet basis of
Headquarters, British in possession of
political exiles conveyed to Chinese frontier
Russians, emotionalism of
religious instincts of
Royalist sympathies of officers
Sand dunes of Mongolia
Savinoff, trial of
Semianoff, Colonel, agent of Japanese traders
and the political exiles
makes submission to Koltchak
personality of
repudiates Koltchak's authority
revenue from railway carriages
Serbian soldiers, an exciting adventure with
Sheep, Mongolian
Shmakovka, Allies at
armoured trains dispatched from
enemy centre at
Siberia, a belated expedition to
American policy and its results
and the Allies
arrival of Canadians in
derelict corn in
Government of
Japanese policy and its results
mosquitoes in
reason for British intervention in
Siberian Cossack Regiment (2nd), parade of
Siberian Rifles, presentation of colours to
Sly, Mr., British Consul at Harbin
Social Revolutionary party, the
a fateful proclamation by
and the new army
Soldiers' Councils established
Soviets and Russian democracy
Spascoe, author's headquarters at
British quarters at
Stephan, Captain (now Major)
Czech commander
his services to Allies
Stephani, Captain
Stephanik, General, the Legion of Honour for
Suchan district, a neutral zone in
_Suffolk_
Sukin, M.
Sungary, River
Surovey, General
releases Czech prisoners
Svagena, an American-Bolshevik agreement at
arrival at
Czech retirement on
Japanese at
Taiga, a successful meeting at
Taighill, Bolshevik destruction at
Tartar herdsmen, Mongolian
Terrorists (_see_ Bolsheviks)
Teutonic penetration and Bolshevism
Titoff, trial of
Tomsk, the Siberian Districts Duma
Trotsky
Tumen, author addresses workmen at
Typhus in European Russia
Ufa Directorate, the
United States (_see_ America)
Ural front, question of supplies for
Urals, the, mineral wealth of
Uspenkie
Ussurie front, critical conditions on
Ussurie operations, completion of
Vackneah Turansky Works, the
Vatka
Ventris, Major-General F.
Verzbitsky, General
and the battle of Perm
Vladimir
Vladivostok, Americans arrive at
arrival of Canadians at
author's arrival at
Japanese arrival at
Japanese demands to Town Commander of
iron shipped to Japan
Volagodsky, President of Siberian Council
Volkov, Colonel, placed under arrest
Ward, Colonel John, a Bolshevik
surrender and an object-lesson
a guard of soldier "monks"
addresses surrendered Red Guards
an interview with Major Pichon
an urgent message from Japanese commander
and December Royalist and Bolshevist conspiracy
and the Kraevesk affair
and the Omsk _coup d'état_
appeals to working men and women at Irkutsk
arrives at Vladivostok
as administrator
at banquet in honour of All-Russian Government
at Irkutsk
attends Allied commanders' council
attends an Orthodox Easter celebration
created a C.B.
entrains for Ussurie front
exciting experiences at Krasnoyarsk
experiences of the "hidden hand"
farewell interviews with Koltchak
homeward bound
in European Russia
inquires into railwaymen's grievances
leaves Hong-Kong for Siberia
made an Ataman
official reports on Omsk situation
officialdom--and a proposed attack
on the labour problem in Russia
ordered to Omsk
receives the Croix de Guerre
reports result of his mission
requests removal of his headquarters
revisits Omsk
speech at Svagena
straight talk with a Japanese officer
the Manchuli incident and an explanation
visits a Tartar herdsman's abode
visits Ural fronts
witnesses a duel between armoured trains
Webb, Sergeant, death of
Wilson, President, his impossible proposal
King George's letter to
Wolves, Mongolian
Women's suffrage, question of
Zema, a stop at, and the cause
a successful meeting at
houses searched and arms seized
Zenzinoff and Chernoff
exiled
Zochinko, General