RUSSIA'S FUTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 28 August 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA'S FUTURE.

BOLSHEVIKS' WANING POWER. REORGANISATION OP PROMT. WlXIi COME NEXT S*o_____. (Received 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 27. Mr Joseph Shaplen, the United Press Association's Pctrograd correspondent has returned to New York. In an exclusive interview with the representative of the Australian Press Association he said that the consensus of opinion in Russia was that Trotsky's power was waning. He was a gifted speaker, but his usefulness was nullified because of his overweening desire for power. Trotzky was tremendously conceited. He still exerted power in the Bolsheviki Councils, but his influence was negligible compared with that of Lenin, who was the only really strong man in Russia. He possessed great will power and indomitable energy, and frequently worked more than _4 hours without intermission. He was the brain of the Bolsheviki party, hut, despite his personality, Bolshevikism was bankrupt, and the Government waß growing weaker and weaker daily.

The interviewer asked what would be the future of Russia. Mr Shapleu replied: «*My opinion is that Russia will reorganise on the east front next summer. Meanwhile the Revolutionary Democrats are preparing to take up power and Government, and are quietly organising the economic resources of "the country. Germany will supply the Bolsheviki as long as she is able to use them to keep Russia disorganised and disunited. The restoration of Russia will be hastened in proportion to the speed with which the Allies send military aid to strengthen the hands of the opponents of the Bolsheviki. The two names most mentioned as possible leaders of the new party which will oust the Bolsheviki are Victor Tchernoff, leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries, and Martoff, leader of the Mensheviki.

"The two leaders of the Russian Northern Republic, Zuboff and Dednshenko, are strong men, but Tchemoflf is the most likely leader. The new National party in Russia will endeavour to reestablish the line in Poland with subsidiary fronts at Murman and Archangel. The reorganisation of the Russian front would mean detaching a million more men from Germany's west front, thus ensuring the Allies early victory. The reorganisation of stable" government in Russia is slowly but surely coming. I regard the future with optimism and complete confidence."—(A. and N.Z.)