BOLSHEVIK PROPAGANDA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3139, 16 October 1922, Page 7

BOLSHEVIK PROPAGANDA.

MOSCOW LEADERS ANXIOUS. Soviet officials at Moscow have been greatly disturbed at the fact that there have been leakages from the Bolshevik mail bays that are sent in such large numbers to Western Europe for propaganda purposes. The Times has received comes of certain letters and circulars, though the journal disclaims having taken any special measures to procure them. "All the documents," it comments, "are interesting because of the light they throw on the thoughts and plans of leading Bolsheviks at this critical stage in their struggle to maintain power. Most of the letters and circulars date from June; the Genoa Conference had failed, and the prospects of The Hague Conference were not hopeful. The overshadowing fact in the life of the Communist party is tiio illness of Lenin. Reorganisation is l necessary, both in the Communist party and in the Soviet Government. A circular to the Communist party abroad announces that a board, consisting of Kamenelf, Rykoff, and Stalin, has been appointed to conduct the party's affairs. In Moscow there- is a. struggle for [lower among prominent commissars. Serious charges arc 'made against Zinovieff of squandering 30,000,000 gold roubles on the propaganda of the Third International in India and elsewhere without rendering an exact account of the expenditure. The changing temper of the peasantry causes Uneasiness. Doubts are expressed as to the loyalty of the miscellaneous staff of the Soviet delegations abroad. Apparently a purge is necessary, but in a secret circular to the delegations it is pointed out that the removal of those members of the staff whose loyalty is open to suspicion must be effected with great caution, otherwise they mav be embittered and may reveal the secrets they have learned during their term of service. \et, in spite of uncertainties and doubts ai:d fears, the work must foe carried on, particularly propaganda. It may bo noted here that in a speech delivered by Tomsky in a committee of the Communist International, criticising the way in which Zinovieff had disposed of the funds. Zinovieff is (|noted as saying that of the 30,000,000 gold roubles about 18,000,000 had been placed at the disposal of the Western Secretariat and 8,000,000 had been given to the Eastern Secretariat for the Communist party in Persia and Afghanistan, and of this 5,000,000 gold roubles had been given to representatives of the Indian National Assembly, /ll this is of interest in view of tho Bolsheviks' demands for credits from European countries." One of the circulars, which outlines a plan of campaign in Ireland, Contains the following passages:—"The Irish movement is gradually passing from purely national Forms into social"political forms that indicate a progressive growth of claws-consciousness in the Irish proletariat, and strong discontent with these forms of social life which are especially profitable to the Irish bourgeoiso now holding power. . Irish affairs are the best argument For acting on the British Government. They have always been, and still are. like India, the trump-card in the international political game of the Tvoinintern.' At the present moment -when the general situation in all the countries of Europe is in the highest degree acute—the Irish question is of First-class importance, and in order to intensify the . work among the Irish proletariat all the best means must he employed; there must be no hesitation over expenditure, and in case of need the financial section of the 'Komintern' must he asked lor fresh credits." A curious glimpse is given into the hopes and fears and personal rivalries of the Communist leaders in a letter from the Acting People' Commissar of Labor. Screbraikoff, to the People'* Commissar, YinokurofF, dated' June 10. in the course of which he writes: — "With llvidi (Lenin) things are so had that even we cannot get at him. D/.erhinsky and Smidowich guard lum like two watchdogs from all outsiders. and do not admit anyone to him or even into (be wing where he lives. . . In i lie provinces something is beginning. In any case, the Kremlin is daily besieged by all kinds of delegations and petitioners from the rcmostest corners, and they come no! in the name of all sorts of circles and groups which ha-ee arisen independently without tbe control of the party organs. .Most of them are just real Kussian peasants, whose attitude towards tbe Government is not at all so favorable now as it was formerly. One has a feeling that there, in those remote corners, a new temper has ripened, and I should not be at all certain that it is in our favor. I am greatly troubled at the <bought thai we have been too absorbed in our action abroad, and recently in our first 'ministerial crisis,' and that we shall lose touch with the pea-ant's feelings and will not be able to adapt him to our aims at the proper moment. I have already called attention to this, but all our people are deep in their own quarrels ami rivalries, and pay no heed to my words. with the one exception of Stalin, who seems lo he the only man who sees things as they really are."