RULERS OF ENGLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 98, 23 October 1934, Page 6

RULERS OF ENGLAND

CLEVEREST IN WORLD

TRIBUTE FROM STALIN

MOSCOW, October 11,

The English ruling classes have proved to be tho cleverest and most flexible in the world, M. Stalin, tho Soviet leader, told Mr. H. G. Wells, tho British publicist and novelist.

The interview took place iv Russia in July, but a stenographic copy of what was said is only now available.

Referring to the 1926 general strike in England, M. Stalin said the first thing other bourgeoisie would have done would have been to arrest the trades union leaders. England did not.

"I cannot conceive such flexible strategy employed by the United States, Germany, or Franco," tho Soviet dictator remarked.

"Britain has never forsworn hor small concessions and reforms, but these reforms are not. revolutionary."

M. Stalin paid a tribute to President Roosevelt as tho most powerful figure in the world so far as initiative, courage, and decisiveness are concerned. "But immediately ho undertakes anything that seriously threatens the foundations of capitalism lie will be. defeated," ho said. The conversation centred chiefly on the- possibility of organising a planned economy under capitalism, which M. Rlnlin 'declared to be impossible.