CORRESPONDENCE RUSSIA.

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1932, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

RUSSIA.

(To the Editor). Sir, — In the Argus of May 2nd, I am taken to task by one “Reader,” for having stressed one aspect of life under , the Soviet Regime. That aspect, relating, to its political, economic and social accidents, is the most important, necessary and fundamental aspect of life either for the individual or for society as a whole. It is rather surprising that our friend should come along with one of the exploded weapons which was used against the Soviet Government two years ago by the Papacy, with full support of the whole of the capitalist world, its press, etc. Our friend does not prove anything at all, only quoting the. statements and figures given by a Father Walsh, of Georgetown University, U.S.A. These statements relating to torture, etc., and the forcible suppression of the Roman Catholic religion in Sovie-tj Russia, have been denied over and over again, and have been proved to be fabrications by persons who have been in Soviet Russia. I put it to our friend “Reader”: Has Father Walsh been in Soviet Russia? I would ask him to read the works of Maurice Hindus, “Humanity Uprooted,” and “Red Bread.” There he will see accounts from an individual who has stayed and travelled extensively in Soviet Russia and outside of Leningrad and Moscow. “Reader”.is right when he says that “No institution save the Papacy could have organised that world-wide act of supplication on March 19th, 1930.” Quite right. The Papacy represents the most reactionary force in the world of Christendom, and it was most fitting that it .should act as the leader in an agitation to weaken the greatest and most heroic effort made in human history for the material and mental uplifting of a vast number of people. Let our friend go into the history of the Papacy, and he will find that as an organised religion they have always opposed human endeavour for the betterment of mankind as a whole. They fought against the truths of science and always took a stand on behalf of wealth, power and autocracy against the common people. I have not the space to go into the history of the Papacy, which would only show that the agitation, led by the above organisation,. is consistent with its policy throughout the centuries. We would be making a mistake if we expected the Papacy to act otherwise than on the side of capitalism, which to-day means reaction and oppression. When our friend quotes that “It is the philosophic materialism, in afms; the most radical school of thought that has yet eoine on the stage of human affairs,” he is quite right. The idealism of a working class in its fight against capitalism and wars, which is failing to satisfy the primary needs of the mass of the people. The Soviet Government have been forced to take a stand against all elements working for the. overthrow of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Government. If the Papacy lines itself up with such forces and encour ages them, then so much the worse for Papacy. I myself have seen in some of the congested .industrial areas of the old country, the monuments of Papacy, the Church, while alongside the veritable hells of slumdom and poverty, with human beings distorted into wretches of poverty, stamped with the hall mark of degradation imposed by a capitalism which the Papacy supports. These are sights which live in one’s memory. The question we have to ask and answer is whether the Soviet regime, in clearing away the vile conditions of capitalism and Czardom, is doing work for human good? Ha?“Reader” proved that they are not doing so? Further, is the Papacy supporting the Soviet Government in its struggle for peace and, security for the mass of the workers and peasants, or is it working against them ? Let “Reader” answer.—l am, etc., MILLERTON CORRESPONDENT.

A CONTRAST.

(To the Editor). Sir, — Every year in Britain 670,000 persons di6. dut of that number, 594,000 leave nothing or less than £lOO per estate; 75,739 left between them an equivalent of £lOO each. Then we find that 71,339 left between them £95,690,078, and 4,400 left £211,593,961. Thus the aggregate estates of 670,000 persons amounted to over £300,000,000, but £211,593.961 was left by only 4,400 persons. This amazing result is not the accident of a single year. It is repeated every year. Every year about £300,000,000 is “left” by all those who die. Every year about £200,000,000 is “left” by about 4,400 rich people. This small group of people exercises the real effective governance of the nation, for those rule who own. Workers can’t rule until they own! —I am, etc., STOCKTON CORRESPONDENT.