RUSSIA AND RUSSIANS.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] San, —Your excellent article on the recent debate in the House of Commons has, in my humble opinion, only one defect. It is entitled, " The Common Ground against Russia," and I note such expressions as the " Russian trials of the clergy," " Russia has kept the money," " if the Russians desire to have the three mile limit," &c. As a welcome relief, I find a reference to the " Soviet Government " and the perfectly accurate statement that " the Bolsheviks call themselves internationalists " and proceed to violate all international sanctions.
Now, Sir, words convey and create ideas, and it is of the utmost importance that the Russian people should not be associated in men's minds with the Soviet usurpation. When we speak of the actions of Americans, French, or Italians we mean, of course, the actions taken by their respective Govern- ments, but, in such cases, there is a presumption that the peoples are in general agreement with those Governments. A slight laxity of expression, therefore, does not matter.
In Russia there may be at Most 500,000 Communists who, by terror, have enforced the deadly doctrines of Mordecai (Marx) upon about 120,000,000 Russians with ruinous results. Further, the large majority of the governing body of assassins are not Russians, though disguised under Slav names. Tehitcherin, of course, is a Russian ; but close behind him is Finkelstein, while Bronstein and Rosenfeld are, since the disappearance of Lenin, the most powerful of the Bolshevik faction. In Far Eastern affairs, Apfelbaum is the principal influence, and Sobelsohn is the chief director of propaganda in Europe. Even Vorowsky, who was lately murdered, has, I understand, the same family name as Marx, and this little list of rulers in Russia can easily be extended to large dimensions.
To speak of the Soviet Government, which, but for Bron- stein's Red Army, would be destroyed by the Russian people to-morrow, and which is now visibly approaching the end of its infamous regime, as a " Russian " Government is, therefore, 10 convey a most misleading impression.
In these peculiar circumstances and to spare the feelings of millions of Russian patriots, I suggest that such terms as Soviet, Bolshevik, or Marxist should be scrupulously adhered to whenever actions taken in Moscow or Petrograd are in question.—I am, Sir, &c., SYDENHAM.
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