"NOT ALL DEVILS”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11768, 15 October 1932, Page 12

"NOT ALL DEVILS”

' | RUSSIAN BOLSHEVIKS. i BApTiST LEADER’S ACCOUNT. " j ’ . ; J DILUTED COMMUNISM. An interesting v.w-hint of political conditions in Russia was given by Dr. J. 11. Ruslibrooke, secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, in his address at a luncheon at the New Zealand Club at Wellington. After stating that ho had visited Russia on six occasions, the first being to assist in relieving the people of that country from famine after two droughts, Dr. Ruslibrooke said ho could claim to have been in. that country during Bolshevik rule. He regretted to say that he had not much and he had written too much, boon to Russia in. the last two or throe years because ho had seen too ajid lie was not permitted to go into Russia. “I am not unropreseided in that land,” said Dr. Ruslibrooke, “for an American not long since told me that he had been visiting the AntiClod Museum in Moscow, and one department contained a colloid km of portraits of men, set down as religious leaders in the world, who were specially objectionable to the Soviet I suppose the exhibition was a sort of" Rogues' Gallery—and they have included me in the gallery. “1 do not propose to give to you anything in the nature of a hi-Muy of my observations in Russia. What I want rather is to give you, if pos-sible.-a point of view that may help you in you) - judgment on the v. boh-

position.” After advising caution in the acceptance of reports from Russia. Dr. Ruslibrooke remarked that, iliey coukl not estimate the difficulties of today without remembering tliai Russia ha<l had a past, and that (fat past wri's very largely evil. R»r centuries t'liero had been in Russia an aidocrni io government t he- government of Ihe Roniauolf dynasty. which represent oil one. of t In- most firmly established tyrannies in ihe world, and | hero was a close alliance between (lie Eastern Orthodox Ghure!) and Hie i-'tnfo.

HOW POWER WAS SEIZED. “In order jo undersinncl the present "position.” he said, “you most recall the character of ihe party in power, and the conditions under which they obtained power. Tin Bolsheviks wore never voted in. or called by the people of Russia, to ‘hake over ihe government ol tlie country. Russia was war-weary, ano when the army and the people I' repudiated T-ardom- and a i-.ifd revolution had taken place, Kerensky frankly declared io the Allies that Bu-sic could not. continue tlie war. and wanted to make pence, and the Allies roi’u'sod him the right to make

a -epaiale pence. That was probably the greatest political blunder which the Allies made. Renin. Trotsky and their party promised ihe Russian people peace at: once, and thu.- the Bolsheviks; weir- able to secure power. AIMS OR BOLSHEVISM.

•‘What, is the quality of the Bolshevik Party: and what are its aims'Rut in a sentence, its policy and its ideals arc inherited from Karl .Marx. Under tliai teaching, material filings are the only tilings that count. D we are to pass judgment on ibo whole position. I should have £■ make some allowances in regard io Hie Bolshevik "Party; all i lie members of that party are not the pure devils Uiev are soniei imes represented to be- Rome of their lenders have presented a fine example el sei f-abuega i ion. Take Renin. Lenin was ml bless in dealing with political, opposition. Ifc had no mercy whatever for those who would deioni bis social and political purpo-os. But Lenin was uiierly self-forgeii ing; ho never feathered his own nest ; lie lived in. the simplest- fashion, and was the kindliest of human beings—when his political views wore not involved, lie was an utterly self-loss man. and flic same may be said of numerous others. ft is a mistake Io regard the members of the Communist Party as all pure devils.”

DEPARTUR R FROM COM MUXISM. Dr. Ruslibrooke admitted that Dm Bolshevik had achieved a certain .measure of success upon the material side, especially in connection with the Five Year Plan. lie said, however. that he did not. think that sueocss was nearly as complete as had been claimed. No one could .justly reconcile the introduc I ion of piecework with Communism. Russia had areas of rich, land; and the introduction of American machinery and a little discipline had brought, about entirely disproportionate results—results which had nothing to do with Communistic principles. The only element of the original Communistic policy which, had been definitely retained was Slate control of imports and exports. That policy had been insisted upon in order that a favourable balance of Made might he maintained; hut. apart from that, the original programme had been abandoned point after point, and such ,81'iccosjj as had been achieved had been due to the new discipline and the application of principles of State capitalism. He would not on that, occasion deal with the Russian relation to religion.- He claimed that whatever changes or advances had been, made were not founded on the principles of Communism as preached by Karl Marx and by Lenin.