Better explanation

Wandering through the toxic sludge of Wilson’s CPI led to a big AHA. Ten years ago I was genuinely shocked to find that we had invaded and occupied Siberia in 1918. We were working with the Japs, who later monetized their experience into an independent invasion in the 1930s. We were also working with the Czechs, who were nominally part of the Kraut side. I’ve never found a satisfactory explanation of what we were doing there. Were we helping the Mensheviks? It would make sense strategically but I haven’t seen any firm evidence. Stalin thought we were trying to prevent Russia from becoming a modern industrial power who might compete with us. This makes sense in terms of our megalomaniac nature, but doesn’t feel convincing either.

George Creel’s own 1920 wrapup of the CPI provides a more direct and concrete explanation. Creel was an all-consuming monster, conquering the world and cheerfully reporting on his wonderful destruction. Reminds me of the Sammies today.

Creel tried to invade Russia with propaganda and established an office in St Petersburg, allowed by the Bolsheviks. He felt that the Bolsheviks were shadowbanning his dispatches and films, pretending to allow distribution but not really transferring the info.

= = = = = START QUOTE:

The triumph of the Czechoslovaks in the summer opened up the Siberian Railroad, first from Harbin to Vladivostok, and afterward through to the Urals, giving the Committee a chance for general Siberian work. For some time Admiral Knight, commander of the cruiser Brooklyn off Vladivostok, had been receiving the Committee’s wireless reports and giving them to the American consulate for distribution, so that the field was not entirely virgin. Mr Brown, going from Harbin to Vladivostok with motion pictures, opened the campaign with successful showings of our films, and Mr. Davis, following him, established the usual Committee office.

About the middle of October we received our shipment of machines and film that we brought to Japan…

= = = = = END QUOTE.

In other words we were just attempting a Color Revolution as we had already done many times in Latin America. Creel was playing his part in the Color Revolution, as CIA does now.

Creel conveniently omits the fact that our soldiers were the main invaders, assisted by the Japs and Czechs. Propagandist all the way, even in his later celebration of his own monstrous destruction.

Later, another interpretation of the omission. Creel didn’t know that the War of Intervention would later be memoryholed. He assumed his readers knew what we were doing in Russia, so he simply didn’t need to supply all the details.