LENIN'S NEW POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 2

LENIN'S NEW POLICY

"A STRATEGIC RETREAT".

MR. KRASSIN INTERVIEWED.

•' Mr. Krassin, in June last, granted' an important interview to thp London cori respondent of the Petit Parisien, in tho couree of which ho romarked: —

"Lenin unceasingly asserts that thp Bolshevik Government can only bo maintained in Russia by the outbreak of revolution in Western countries., I have never considered that a Communist State could livo alone in the midst of capital States. Lenin to-day .realises that the, light <\f progress has only reached- advanced' positions, and caimot be maintained there, asid if his faith remains unshaken,/.yet ho finds himself compelled to make a strategic retreat, a painful but inevitable evolution, the necessity for''which'.he~has, had the coiirago to proclaim. "Doubtless the revolution will yet blazo out _ through Europe—for myself 1 am convinced that 1 it is not possible. to forecast when or in what ehapo. Lenin,- now persuaded that revolutionary progress abroad will be alow, has therefore' changed his tactics, and on account of the, iater--national situation, U3 well; as the economic collapse of the' country, has decided to oomo to terms with the opposition at' home,, the peasantry, equally as with the opposition abroad, the capitalists, in place of attempting to crush them." Mr. Kr&estn asserted that Lenin would bo sufficiently strong to make the Communist Party adopt this new policy He. emphasised that the Bolshevik G-Jveru-; ment was not alone responsible fo-t the actual position in Ru?sia.

"We have not been able to restore matters,' he said, "but with the disappearance of the great merchant and wealthy peasant classes, tho intellectuals are now daily coming to US, and, tho demolition of the old rogrimo being completed, wo shall, be ready-to construct a. now republic. The., difficulties will largely depend on the forthcoming harvest. SOVIET CONTRACTS; "Our Government has the advantage-of . not being encumbered with loans. We owe. nothing abroad, and, as to our internal debt, that will liquidate itself. Wq shall print so many notes that money will not be considered seriously, and tho people of themsolves will burn that pite of 'valueless paper, so that tho situation wail again beoome clear. It is indeed very simple."' Mr. Rrassin further laid stress on tho difficulties created by tho peasants, who are not, and never have been Communists. "But to make them appreciate Com : munism better it will only ba necessary to supply them with machinery'and materials. Lenin has appealed to foreign capitalists to exploit the resources of the country. Up to the present we have made only purchases pure and simple, and always for gold, of boots, textiles, foods, and machinery. It is estimated that our contracts amount to £5,000,000 in England, 50 million kroner in Sweden, 3,000 million marks in Germany, and ten million dollars in America." ■ "LORDS OF OUR EARTH." / Mr. Krassin is convinced that foreign capitalists will. I'accept otmceesions without the necessity of re-establishing i private ownership. "What use," ho asked, "could be made of private property in factories, mines, or forests if we do not permit the use of roads, railways, electricity, and our labour? The capitalist who is allured by Russia's riches' must understand that he can only work- in Russia by contract with the Government of the Soviets. We shall remain lords of our earth; we shall never grant, moiibpolies, and even concessions shall revert to us when sufficiently remunerative profit shall havo accrued to the recipient."

Accordiujj to pouter's version of.l thePetit Pixrision interview, Mr. Krassin Said:—"There is a limit to our gold resources, and the povertyof our moans oE transport does not permit us to get raw materials to the ports. Many concessions to foreigners tiro therefore contemplated. Only one has up to the present been granted, viz., tea Swedish firm. As regards tho Washington Vanderlip affair, the pledge demanded has not yet been paid." JVIr. Krassin nevertheless believes that in'a short while n vast international consortium will-be formed to work tho rich resources of Russia. Tho correspondent of the Petit Parisien adds that ho found Mr. Krassin prepared to make purchases in Franca, and to discuss the acknowledgement of Russia's debt to Franco.