AMERICAN PROBLEMS by WILLIAM E.BORAH 1924

250 WILLIAM E. BORAH
tutions of her own choice, and besides a cordial welcome,
help and assistance in all
that she may need and require.
The treatment meted out to Russia by the sister
nations
in the months to come must be a decisive proof of their
good will, of their understanding of her needs as apart
from their own interests and of their intelligent and disinterested
sympathy.
That was, it seems to me, the true principle
"under institutions of her own choice," sound
and ancient American doctrine. "Afford Russia
a clear and precise opportunity for independent
settlement of her autonomous political
development." Wiser words in regard to
Russia have not been spoken. These were
spoken January 8, 1918, long- after the fall of
Kerensky and the advent of Lenin.
The expression of that view at that time was
received throughout Russia with approval, and
undoubtedly created a feeling of confidence in
the American policy. It is one of the unfortunate
things of the war, one of the things which
has left disaster and suffering in its wake, that
that policy in the first instance expressed has
not been undeviatingly pursued by the Government
of the United States. We had nothing
to gain by deviating from the most sympathetic
and helpful policy toward the Russian people,
and we had everything to lose by adopting
a different course.