Microfilm Reel 195, File 64, "Russia"

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E K. H. Translation.

12 rue Daru, Paris, France, June 12,1918.

Mr. President:

Your words to the Mexican Journalists about Russia will assuredly provoke with all Russians, without distinction of party and with every man enamored with justice and humanity, boundless enthusiasm and admiration. Where can one find a like clairvoyance of mind, a like nobility of sentiments and such a persevering will?

In my character of a true Russian patriot, who believes himself, as all conscient, enlightened patriots, to be at the same time citizen of the civilized world and member of universal democracy, I was noved to tears by yeur simple words:" . . . and while I was pronouncing my speech, my thought was going toward Russia . . . " Ah, if all the world followed your noble thought!

If, in place of throwing money, riches and labor to the wind, friends and enemies had hastened to our succour, without anticipating their own interests! But what am I saying? The world is so foolish, that the most simple and the most natural thought seems an insane idea, an unbecoming jest. And it is to this we have reached after centuries of Christianity and civilization! And all that, because there still exists in the XXth century crowned bandits and entire peoples completely enthralled to the Militarist and Capitalist elaques without scruples and without honor, like the German people. Unhappily Germany dominates Europe not by force of arms but by her reactionary mind. Her fatal influence poisons all countries. This influence has pushed the Entente to abandon the Russian revolution to better conquer her. One sees this influence everywhere, where they are opposed to the idea of the League of Nations. Old Europe has great trouble in understanding and accepting your renarkable

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ideas. The whole policy in Russia which was contrary to the democretic principles, which did not wish to take into consideration the will of the peeple and its real interests, favored rather the German aims than the interests of the Entente. Thus it was in Finland and in Ukraine. Thus it will be in Romania and in Poland. The monarchic restauration weuld have the same result. That is only the logic of things. All that is reactionary works for the autocracy, that is - for the King of Prussia. There are many Russians even who do not understand that since the fall of Czarism the Slav cause and the cause of democracy is only one single cause. Everywhere the Slavs are oppressed or under the menace of oppression and exploitation. Everywhere they ought to unite under the flags of democracy. The trinity of my preoccupations: The League of Nations, the Society of Churches and the Panslav -democratic Alliance. All that depends upon the victory of the Allies, which must be at the same time material and moral. Especially the Slav United States. No one has anything to fear from Panslavism. Whatever will happen, the Russia of tomorrow cannot be founded upon the same principles as the Russia of Ivan the Terrible or even of Peter the Great. These two great currents, which were disputing for ancient Russia, the Byzantine current with the pomp of the Court and churches, and the current of Western culture have done their work of the national education, or rather anti-national. It is the hour to begin our own life, according to our psychological dispositions. We must have a religious and moral organization, according to the popular tastes. We must have the democratic discipline and the moral education, similar to that which was given by Calvin at Geneva and which has made the force of the English Puritans and of Your ancesters.

All these thoughts preoccupy me much, but what would I be able to do here for Russia? I am writing: "The Principles of the Christian Life" for the Russian people, a companion to the "Christian Institution" of J. Calvin. But under the st0rm which

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rears around, shall I be able to finish this gigantic work.

One will think me perhaps naive and my letter out of place. put I firmly believe that Your great mind will discern between the trifling and hindering correspondents and between those, who are called or sent to create here, upon the earth a new life and to transform all, following the words of God. You are one of these men. But we must all work toward the same end to bring near the realization of the Kingdom of sed, the sole authentic and indisputable sovereign.

The misfortune of Russia is that we always lack men, such as You had in your country in similar times. We must have heroes, real patriots and men of genius, like Washington and Franklin, who knew how to work for their country and to sacrifice everything for her. With us, political men, the nobility and the intellecttuals follow the entirely opposite path. They are unwilling to give up their petty interests, and they place all their hope in foreign intervention against the people in order to reestablish their privileges. I wish indeed for Japanese intervention to finish this war. But her true and disinterested place is in Turkey. There, at the Dardanelles is the Key of victory. There is the only efficacious route to save Russia and the Slavs from the Germanic yoke. Any other is only a palliative.

Russia will not be saved only by the peasants. The peasants are the ones who have made Russia. The peasants are the ones who always bear the burden of war and of peace. And whatever one may say about their ignorance, they always understand better then all the others the real situation and the real needs of their country. And above all they love her, they love their natal soil and they will not sell it. But scientific and technical assistance must be carried to them. They must be armed against the enemies. It is necessary to lay the foundations of the most formidable cooperative peasantry to raise up the economic situation of the country. Ancient methods are devoted to failure. The Germans can indeed be of that opinion in the

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Ukraine. The policy of intrigues, which, since the revolution, keep alive the troubles in Russia, will not bring happiness to all her fomenters. The Russian people is tired of being treated like an instrument and not like an aim. It would never want a Czar as a docile instrument of foreign exploitation. It wishes to have sincere friends. And when it will reach the end of its difficulties, it will not fail to do honor to its obligations. There is not a people, so grateful for its friends. But it is not necessary to torment the sick before the cure. This is Mr. President, what I would like to say to You personally, if the happiness comes to me once of seeing you near by.

Your most sincere and devoted admirer.

(Signed) m. LEONOVITCH The copy is sent by the diplomatic mail to meet the accident of the Post.

Paris,12 Rue Daru, June 12, 1918

To His Excellency, Mr. Wilson President of the United States.

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