UNEASY STALIN

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 11

UNEASY STALIN

Regime in Peril BOLSHEVIK TYRANNY Power Now Being Sapped OGPU DISINTEGRATING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec., November 25, 9 p.m.) London, November 24. The news front Russia continues to be of a conciliting character. The •‘Morning Post’s” , Paris correspondent despatches what he claims to bo an authentic announcement of serious revolts, which occurred recently at Kazan, Borispola, and Kharkov. Should the movement develop, as it is likely to do next spring after the melting of the snow,.it may .bring the whole regime . toppling. ’. ' .. • ' In the event of Stalin losing Moscow he will retire to Turkistan, whm-e , mil lions of pounds b‘ lv V een „r « modern roads and the erection a. ritadel like a new Angora, mere sure refuge .and a large reserve of gold await hi His immediate flight from Moscow is not expected, but the situation is distinctly menacing. ■ „ The rumour that Stalin had been assassinated is baseless, but the Ogpu is beginning to disintegrate. Advices from Riga confirm the report that dwellers on the frontier heard gunfire in the Ostroff-Pskoff distilct. Travellers report that an armoured train is standing at Pskoff, canvas-cov-ered, in order to conceal from the people. " . Rumour oi Conspiracy. Many , wild rumours continue to reach Berlin newspapers, which publish the story of a Russian , sea captain to the effect that Rykoff revealed to Stalin a conspiracy by which the Officers Corps wished’ Rykoff to take the lead and overthrow the Dictator. In consequence, hundreds of officers have been arrested. . .. ~ Reports from other sources indicate that Red Anny troops have been withdrawn from Moscow, which is in the sole charge of Ogpu troops. In connection with the trial of , a number ol professors on charges of conspiring with foreign Powers to overthrow the Soviet, the confession is published of an emigre manufacturer named Krestavnikov; . . The confession alleges that two accused professors, Rainzin and 7.‘trichev, in 1928, interviewed •Messrs. Vickers, engineers, who gave an assurance that Britain would co-operate with France 1-. supplying money and munitions, and would gladly send a fleet to the Black Sea in' return for which ' aid Britain would be given a foothold . h. the Caucasus. ■. British Firm’s Denial. Messrs. Vickers say that they never came in contact with either of the.professors. ' ’ In a letter to Soviet newspapers, a Soviet youth named Sitnln demands the execution of his father, Professor Sitnin, one of the accused professors, because “Father Is a class enemy who stood In the ranks of enemies and incendiaries fomenting an antDSovite war.” q, _ / '. AMAZING CHARGES Franco-British Plans . I “CAMPAIGN IN 1930” (Re r November 25, 11.55 p.m.) London, November 24. The Riga correspondent of “The Times” reports tlwit amazing allegations that ‘ France and Britain are preparing war on the Soviet are given prominence in an indictment against ■ the eight Russian professors and engineers connected with various Industrial enterprises who; are charged with wrecking Soviet industry. ' The trial begins at Moscow on November 25. One of the chief objects of the trial Is to explain to. the masses the partial failure, of the five-year plan. Also the breakdown of the food supplies, ’ the scarcity •of commodities, and the great privations which were the reason for the shooting without trial, last September, -48 directors and managers of meat and fish trusts who were charged with deliberately “organising hunger.” The indictment declares that the total membership of the "wreckers” is 2000 from which eight have been selected for public trial. Democratic Republic. It adds that the accused determined in 1028 to overthrow the Soviet and establish a democratic republic with a Parliament In which they were to be Ministers after a temporary military dictatorship. Tlie "Wreckers” visited Paris and London in connection with the Soviet’s business. They got into touch with former Russian industrialists, through whom they entered into negotiation with the Franco-British Government’s general staffs, and worked out plans for military. Intervention in 1930; the French operating through Rumania and the British Navy supporting in the Black Sea and the Baltic, from which point they would attack Leningrad. Lawrence Named. The indictment alleges that Colonel E. T. Lawrence conducted the British stuff’s negotiations, and names other prominent British firms and individuals. It 'declares that France and Britain would be rewarded by important concessions of territory. "The Times” correspondent emphasises the absurdity of the charges and the belief that Russian .opinion is being prepared for the eventuality of war as an issue of the present catastrophe. SOVIET’S LONG ARM Influence in Samoa NEWSPAPER NEWS ITEM (Roc. November 25, 11 p.m.) London, November 2-1. In the House of Commons the Rt. Hon. Sir 11. Kingsley Wood Inquired If the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, would take action concernin the newspaper “Pravada’s” "disclosure” that recent Soviet revolutionary successes in the British Empire Included two risings In Samoa. Mr, Henderson that the questioner had misunderstood or misinter preted the article, which was merely news and made no reference to the govlet Government's participations.