ABOUT BOLSHEVISM.

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1921, Page 1

ABOUT BOLSHEVISM.

AN AMERICAN'S IMPRESSIONS

WHY COMMUNISM HAS FAILED

"I have said for some time that I believe Bolshevism in Russia is bound to crash,'' said an American business man to a "Dominion"' reporter, during a visit to Wellington. "I a not a politician, and I don't mix in the politics- of the countries I visit. I was in Russia for the best part of two years during the war, and I am. unlikely to go there again? so it.may not be advisable for me to say much about Russian affairs.

"But I can tell you this: Bolshevism is bad business. It can't stand because it is not based on a common sense and human nature. Lenin is revet-t.ng to the recognition of capital and private property, for the simple reason that communism will not work. Communists will not work cither, except under compulsion. That is why Lenin had to fall back upon compulsory labour to keep* 1 the cities going, and since he could not compel the tens of millions of peasants to produce more food than thev needed for themselves, the country has been in a state of famine ever since the Bolsheviks took charge.

"I do not agree with those people who say that Bolshevism has meant anarchy in Russia. Wherever the Bolsheviks were in full control, there has been order of a sort, and it has been possible to do business if one had goods to sell and could arrange delivery, since the men at the head of affairs have been using the accumulated wealth of the country to keep things going. But the accumulated wealth has been dissipated,- and production for profit having ceased (as well as most other production) Russia's financial capacity has almost disappeared. That is why Lenin is proposing new to readmit control of of industry. He is also going to cease requisitioning the peasantsproduce without payment.

"The extent to which the Bolsheviks have carried the process of 'requisition' is scarcely grasped by people outside Russ.a. I happened to -b,&. i:i Archangel, in. North Russia) some time, after the Bolsheviks arrived there and I heard a n d saw for

myself. When the Bolshevik force-; peached city, they went to the banks and financial institutions anri took all the money and secunjties. Thep put cordons across the streets, held up the civilians and relieved them of money, jewellery and other valuables. Then they issued proclamations requisitioning |priivate property, and they forced working gangs of citizens to carry furniture, bedding, cooking utensils, and so forth from the homes to the railway yards where trains were loaded and sent back into Russia- Dozens of trainloads of loot were sent from Archangel 'presumably for U'se 'Of good Bolsheviks in other centres.

"That sort of thing may- seem, just and wise to the supporters of Bolshevik doctrine. But from a business point of view it spells stagnation, since nobody will engage in production or trade under such conditions. No money was left in Archangel—no real money. The Russian paper money had depreciated to the point where it was practically worthless. The people of the district had timber and wheat to sell, since the Bolsheviks did not remove all these commodities, but their rulers had broken down the machinery of exchange. There waff just one exception to the lack of money, and that was an issue of rouble notes printed in London and guaranteed by a London bank at the rate of Gd to the rouble. When Britishers bought goods in Arcbangtl, they paid with these notes. They would accept the notes in payment for British goods. In fact, the notes were good for most purposes, owing to the guarantee behind them, and they were the best money in Russia although they were not recognised by a Russian Government. I have often had ocas'ion to take off my hat to the British merchant in international trade. He certainly does understand it. - ' The American added that Britain and the United States could not afford to neglect Russia. Bolshevism would fall and Russia would be open, ed to the world. Nine-tenths of the Russian people were illiterate, and their greatest and most pressing nee-.i was going to be for the services of teachers. The future of the world might depend upon the selection of those'teachers. Britain and the United States ought to offer the hand of friendship and assistance to convalescent Russia. If they did not accept the responsibility, Germany would take it, and.then another generation might see millions of Russian soldiers, German-lad, marching across Europe.