LOSING THEIR GRIP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 1 May 1922, Page 3

LOSING THEIR GRIP.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISTS

In a cable mesage from Moscow to the New York Times on February 24, Walter Duranty stated: Considerable difficulties confront the session of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Internationale, attended by representatives of the principal European countries, America and Japan now being held in Moscow. The real points at issue are two : First, what will be the attitude of the Communist parties in other countries toward the hitherto quite dominant Communist Party in Russia? Secondly, what will be the position of the Russian Communist Party itself? The first question is complicated by the difficulty experienced in all countries—even including Russia—in holding the Labour federation in line with the political branch of Labour—the Socialist or Communist movement. In America, for instance, the Labour federations have always held aloof from the political end of the game. The same had been the case, (to a great extent, in France, but less so in England and Germany. To bring the Labour federations— which, after all, represent the majority —in the 'class-conscious" proletariat

into line is a hard pro'olem in itself. But the Russian Communist Party is now faced by something worse. Hitherto, the Russian branch of the Communists had the double prestige of victory over Capitalism and money. But now the Communists in other countries are beginning to wonder whether Communism is not making a compromise with the capitalist ene«i.y. It is little good for the Communist Party here to tell them that it is distinct from the Government. Like Lord Curzon, they reply with, a phrase about an interlocking directorate, or words to that ettecx. Which annoys the Russian Communist no less than the Russian Government was annoyed when Curzon said the same thing. Because, though it may have been true a year or two ago. it is no longer tine to-day. Then there is the question, of money, which is running sadly low as far as Communist funds for the assistance of

party work abroad is concerned. As ' long as the Russian branch of tne party enjoyed the prestige of victory and ample funds to pay the pier in Germany, Austria, France, England, \ and America, the Communists of those | countries were willing to let the Russian call the tune. But now the golden river running dry, and one is beginning to her~"~-~voices suggesting, not loudly yet, but with growing empha- i sis. that Berlin or. Vienna might be ' suitable headquarters for the Commun- j ist Party instead of Moscow, which is ; far away and difficult to reach, or that, after all, there is no particular reason i why Russia should have 75 per cent. '

representation on the Executive Committee of what in fact is the International Communist Party. After careful examination I am inclined to think that such voices do not count much —yet. They are merely straws, but they show how the wind is blowing. What it all means when one gets down to the real heart of the matter is that the all-Russian Government of the Federated Soviets is now distinct from the Russian Communist Party. And the Communist of other nations know it, even if the Comnvunists of Russia will not agree. But the Russian Communist Party is the solid foundation whereon the power of the Soviet Government is based, and the heads of the Soviet Government still are the Communist Party's chosen leaders. So it is up to them to reconcile the divergent angles, which may not bulk as large in the public eye as how to save millions from dying in the Volga region, or to get food to Mos-

cow, Petrograd, and 01-her centres, but which is fully as difficult. wYet Lenin will do it,'' -was the invariable answer of every Communist, and even the majority of non-Commun. ists, to whom I put the question. "Lenin has faced worse difficulties before and overcome them." "He will find a way out of this one also." So perhaps Lenin may succeed where success seems impossible.