RUSSIA FROM WITHIN

Evening Star, Issue 20413, 19 February 1930, Page 9

RUSSIA FROM WITHIN

THE WORLD AGAINST HER STALIN'S PROPAGANDA Pres* Association — By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February IS. (Received February 19, at 10 a.m.) It is no secret that the British Government is most concerned over the Russian situation, which has got worse instead of better since the resumption of relations. The gravest aspect is the fanatical nervousness internally. It is stated that Russia desperately' fears that tho western world is organising for an attack on her, and that the protests of the British churches are merely part of a combination of circumstances at which the Soviet is grasping in a great effort to reunite Russia against the rest of the world. Stalin is also vigorously exploiting the Koutepoff kidnapping, which, he declares, is a deliberate “ frame up ” by Russian Whites. He is also using incidents in which European and American financiers are mentioned. Stalin is filling the Soviet Press with accusations that these financiers are aiming at the ruin of Russia. These arc enabling Stalin to win over the recalcitrants in a great drive to unite the Soviet against everybody, and to make Russia selfsupporting within five years. CLOSING THE CHURCHES. A SUCCESSFUL WEEK. RIGA, February 18. (Received February 19, at 11 a.m.) A very successful week on the antiGod front is the official Soviet sum-ming-up of the activities of the past week, during which a record number of churches were closed. Sunday’s issue of ‘ Izvostia ’ contained a long list of villages in which churches were closed up and converted into clubs, workshops, and grain stores. It also contained the Metropolitan Sergius’s interview denying religious persecution.