LENIN’S HEALTH.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1922, Page 5

LENIN’S HEALTH.

— AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) BERLIN, June 18. The “Vossische Zeitung” states that the Soviet Government officially announces Lenin is suffering from fatigue, aggravated by poison, and must withdraw from all State business for a considerable time. His return to political work after a prolonged rest is probable. EX-MINISTER KILLED? LONDON,' June 17. There are widespread unconfirmed rumours circulating in Paris and Brussels that Bolsheviki assassinated M. Vandervelde, the leading Belgian Socialist, a former Minister, who was one of the counsel for the defence at the trial of some social revolutionaries at Moscow. AN AMERICAN COLONY. NEW YORK, June 17. Fifty America artisans and labourers have sailed for Russia to join a Volga colony, started by American Communists under two years’ concessions from the Soviet Government. BRITISH LABOUR POLICY. LONDON, Juno 18.

Delegates representing the organisations attached to the Second International are holding a conference in London. They include Messrs J. Thomas, M.P., Ramsay MacDonald, Thorne, Jowett, and Gosling, with delegates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Sweden, Holland and Germany. Mr A. Henderson, presiding, said that the unity of the industrial forces of the workers was threateed by the Red Trades Union International. The difference between British labour and Russian Communism was the difference between democracy and dictatorship. The Communists despised free speech free press and free election. British labour would always resist such an attack upon popular liberty. British Labour was not optimistic about The Hague Conference, especially as a political commission of the conference was expected to establish European peace on a firm basis without a change of the existing Treaties. The greatest need at the present time was unity amongst the working-class-es, yet never were workers more divided. With the present divisions, they would never be important as an international force. Mr MacDonald denounced the methods of the Soviet Government, which was not satisfied with denying freedom of speech and thought, but was conducting a trial of its opponents in a manner arousing indignation of all who believed in social and political freedom.

A resolution was carried protesting against the methods of the Russian Soviet.