Lloyd George, David, 1863-1945; Prime ministers -- Great Britain -- Biography
Mr. Lloyd George expressed the view that the acceptance of M. Sonnino’s
proposals would amount to their hearing a string of people, all of whom
held the same opinion, and all of whom would strike the same note. But
they would not hear the people who at the present moment were actually
controlling European Russia. In deference to M. Clemenceau’s views they
had put forward this new proposal. He thought it would be quite safe to
bring the Bolshevist representatives to Salonika, or perhaps to Lemnos.
It was absolutely necessary to endeavour to make peace. The report read
by President Wilson that morning went to show that the Bolshevists were
not convinced of the error of their ways, but they apparently realised
the folly of their present methods. Therefore they were endeavouring to
come to terms.
President Wilson asked to be permitted to urge one aspect of the case.
As M. Sonnino had implied, they were all repelled by Bolshevism, and for
that reason they had placed armed men in opposition to them. One of the
things that was clear in the Russian situation was that, by opposing
Bolshevism with arms, they were in reality serving the cause of
Bolshevism. The Allies were making it possible for the Bolsheviks to
argue that Imperialistic and Capitalistic Governments were endeavouring
to exploit the country and to give the land back to the landlords, and
so bring about a reaction. If it could be shown that this was not true,
and that the Allies were prepared to deal with the rulers of Russia,
much of the moral force of this argument would disappear. The
allegations that the Allies were against the people, and wanted to
control their affairs, provided the argument which enabled them to raise
armies. If, on the other hand, the Allies could swallow their pride and
the natural repulsion which they felt for the Bolshevists, and see the
representatives of all organised groups in one place, he thought it
would bring about a marked reaction against Bolshevism.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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