The Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1926. POSER FOR “COMRADES"

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1926, Page 4

The Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1926. POSER FOR “COMRADES "

It was not to be expected that foreign comments on the results of the Empire Conference would be so eulogistic as those from British sources, but, on the whole, the reception by foreigners has been friendly. As was to be expected, Russia is an exception, and chagrin at the success achieved is displayed by the representative journal, “Izvestia,” which declared: “The next step can only be the separation of the Dominions from Imperial associations. The Empire is breaking in pieces.” The wish, of course, prompted the thought, and never was prophecy more foolish. It must be galling to the Bolshe-

viki to find that their cunning propaganda and great expenditure, to secure revolt and disruption in the British Empire, have brought such poor results, and that the recent Conference demonstrated the unity and goodwill felt by the British commonwealth of nations for each other. This forms a striking contrast to the position in Russia, where the Communist leaders are at each other’s throats. Trotsky, who helped Lenin to launch the revolution, and is one of the cleverest men among’ the Bolsheviki, finds that there is less gratitude among “comrades” than among princes. He has been ignominiously ejected from his various offices, and is threatened with death or exile, solely because he continues to have v opinions not endorsed by Stalin and others. Zinovieff, another prominent “comrade,’ has been similarly deposed, whilst others have conveniently “died,” or retired. . There need be no sympathy felt for Trotsky and his fellow-victims, as they are simply being paid in the coin they meted to others, but What a proof of the virtues of i Sovietism the whole thing is! No '■ wonder, that in Britain, where the ; workers possess some commonsense, \ Bolshevik propaganda has failed ;

to secure many converts, and most oL ! the acknowledged new “comrades” have to be well subsidised for the maintenance of their “convictions.” Whatever beauty there may be in the theory of Communism, it does not seem to work well in practice, and never will until human nature alters considerably. Littje happens in Bolshevik circles suggesting the existence of brotherly love, and none is more opposed to genuine communism than the Soviet principals, judging by their actions and methods. The latest instance of profitable inconsistency is the huge estate left by M. Krassin, Who died in London, this week. A fundamental theory of Communists is that all property should be held in common. Krassin is reported to have left a fortune of three million pounds,. invested for greater safety in European—not Russian —banks, for the benefit of his wife and family. How so prominent a communist, as Krassin managed to be a millionaire, and yet be acceptable to the Soviet whose war on capitalists is their main appeal for support, is a conundrum to those not “comrades.” Perhaps our morning contemporary, which knows all about Russia and the Bolsheviki, can explain! Meanwhile, those on the Coast and elsewhere, being tempted by communist propaganda to become “comrades, ” should takenote of the balderdash inspiring the Bolshevik movement, . both in and outside Russia.