“SPOILING FOR WAR”

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 148, 20 March 1934, Page 10

“SPOILING FOR WAR”

Russia and Germany YOUNG TRAVELLER’S VIEWS A revealing story of conditions in Soviet Russia is told by Mr. St. de Perigo, a young man who passed through Wellington yesterday in the course of a walking tour of New Zealand. Mr. SE de Perigo, who until recently held a commission in the King’s Royal Rifles, is touring the w’orld a-foot. During his stay in Russia he secured employment and was able to study the lives of the workers. The Russian worker, according to Mr. de Perigo, is little better than a slave. Those in charge exercise the power of life and death over the masses, and should any official have personal dislike for any worker, that man is extremely lucky if he,is ever seen again. No inquiries are made, and no questions asked. The Ogpu has ordained it—it is for the good of the people.

Religion in Russia is not recognised, and any worker foolish enough to embrace it will probably lose most of his privileges. “The favourite punishment is slow starvation,” said Mr. de Perigo to a “Dominion” reporter. “Modern Russia is a hell on earth.” There was no doubt that Russia was preparing for war, he continued. She was, contrary to popular belief, working in with Germany. “It is generally supposed that the Nazis are the enemies of Communism,” said Mr. de Perigo, “but it is a fact that there are German officers train-

ing the Russian soldiersßoth Russia and Germany are spoiling for war.”

The most apparent thing in Europe to Mr. de Perigo was the imminence of war. Poland and Austria could not escape being drawn in on the side of Germany and Russia in the event of matters coming to a head. It would be a case of fighting or being annihilated.