THE Soviet Government seems more concerned for its own safety than for the succouring of the starving millions of peasants and others who are in the grip of what the Pope describes as the most disastrous catastrophe the world has ever seen. Mr Lenin has addressed an appeal to the “masses” of the world, in which there is a great deal about Capitalism and Imperialism and very little about the needs of the wretched people of Russia. The ‘‘factory workers and farmers” to whom Mr Lenin addresses himself are not, we imagine, likely to be stirred “to save the Soviet Republic”; they may even think with us that “fruitful” is a singularly unfortunate epithet for use at this time in connexion with the Bolshevist regime. Whether the Moscow Government stands or falls is a small matter when compared with the urgent necessity of carrying relief to the twenty-five millions among whom pestilence is already at work. That is the concern not of the masses only but of every Government in Europe. Unfortunately, the great difficulties in the way of effective action are added to by the quarrels among the rulers of Russia. While they are making up their minds whether or no they can accept help from capitalist Powers, and if so, on what terms they will take it, the populace of practically the whole of Eastern Russia, from the Voronezh meridian to the Urals, is slowly dying of starvation. Poland is already seriously affected, as great hordes of men, women and children are reported to be making their way to the Polish frontier, whilst many thousands of refugees are being cared for in relief camps.

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