THE SOVIET

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 5

THE SOVIET

TROTSKY’S REVELATIONS Big Secret Fund Raided. f Ans. and N.Z. Cable As q tiY (Received January 15 at 5.5 p.m.) RIGA. January 14. It is disclosed that M. Trotsky, at one of his meetings, made extraordinary revelations concerning secret reserve funds in the possession of the Communist Party. He said that when Denikin and Kalachak’s forces were nearing Moscow, and when the whole of Russia was ablaze with revolt. Soviet Departments, acting on Lenin’s instructions, confiscated money, valuables and jewels wholesale, from which a secret fund of twenty millions sterling was formed, so that the leaders, in case of necessity, would be enabled to escape abroad, and to carry on the Communist Party’s work. Trotsky stated that only Lenin aiid his intimates, such as Trotsky, Zinovieff, and Kameneff were aware of this fund. The Bolsheviks survived, and duly consolidated their position, and the fund remained untouched during Lenin’s lifetime. Al. Stalin, however, the present head of the Soviet, had raided the fund when the Communist Party became impoverished, and he created many sinecures, and even commercial and semi-commercial organisations, whereby the Stalinites, their followers, and their friends were enabled to thrive, and the system was bolstered up. Trotsky urged that the workers should demand a full account of the secret funds. The revelations, it is stated, have produced a stunning effect. TWO OPPOSITIONISTS TO REENTER PARTY. LONDON, January 14. The British United Press Berlin correspondent says, in contrast to the pun_ i ishment meted out to other Oppositionists. Zinovieff and Kameneff are being sent on a “party mission” to Voronezh, in Southern Russia. It is believed the journey is in the nature of a disciplinary measure, and may end in their readmission to the Communist Party.

Drinking in Russia. CHARGES AGAINST THE PEASANTRY. (Received January 15 at 5.5 p.m.) PAGA. January 15. Soviet officials, when touring the country to induce the peasants to subscribe to the loan being raised (as reported on December 31st), were pained to discover that the agriculturists were demanding public houses similar to those in vogue in Western Europe, and that they were wishing for a relaxation. without being compelled to listen to political lectures and Communists’ reports. The officials declare that there is an alarming increase of drunkenness, and that the peasants are spending one-fifth of their incomes on drink at the village clubs which the Soviet has founded.

COMMUNIST PROTEST AGAINST U.S.A. POLICY. WASHINGTON, January 14. Fifty members of the American Communist Party marched around the State Department building, carrying banners protesting against the United States policy in the Caribbean region, particularly in Nicaragua. The demonstration was composed of men and women, and was orderly. The police did not interfere.