TRUTH-SHY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18197, 18 March 1921, Page 6

TRUTH-SHY.

REDS’ TREATMENT OF U.S. SOCIALISTS. WOMAN’S HUNGER-STRIKE AND DEATH. Mr M. Schwartz, a prominent American Socialist, arrived in London on January 17 from Russia, with, as he said to a representative of The Times, a message of disillusionment from 125 millions of people that he wishes to give to all the world. Mr Schwartz was emphatic in declaring that he had not gone to Russia as a prejudiced anti-Bolshevist. His attitude, indeed, was sympathetic towards the Bolshevists when ho started on his journey. “I had, been for ‘'years,” he said, “in the Labour movement of the United States, and an active member of the Socialist Party. My wife,. too, had been an organiser and worker in the party for 18 years. She* was well known under the name of Jessie Molle, and was an American woman. I myself was born in East Prussia, but lived some 27 years in Russia before going to the United States. You must understand that the working classes in the United States take a great interest in the Bolshevist movement, and the Socialist party has endorsed the Third International. In 1919 a convention was held at Chicago at which the Communists broke away from us and formed a party of their own. One of their leaders was the late John Reed. Reed afterwards went to Russia and became very prominent in the movement there. It was he who was responsible for my arrest in Russia. “ Early last year, as the result of e referendum taken among the Socialist Party, I was delegated to attend the second Congress of the Third International and to investigate. conditions in Russia on behalf of the party. “My wife accompanied me on-my journey. We arrived in London in May last, and travelled on to Berlin, where we met the leaders of the Government, and I addressed meetings. All this time I was very much in favour of Bolshevism through my- extensive reading of Bolshevist propaganda. In Russia we' were very well received, a special train being provided for us. We went first to Petrograd and saw Zinovieff. Then wetwent to Moscow, whore, and in the surrounding regions, I addressed many meetings and spoke with all classes of the people, trying to obtain their views on their rulers and the Government under which they lived. “ During this period we visited Tolstoy's grave and talked much with his daughter, who told us many dreadful things of the tyranny of Russia’s rulers. We had been offered the services of an interpreter, but having a thorough knowledge of Russian I did not need one, though my wife spoke no Russian. My declining the services of an interpreter brought suspicion upon me. We attended the Congress of the Third International, after which we wore informed that we were placed under, arrest. There was no trial, and we were left to assume that our offence was that we had chosen to make on independent investigation, and were therefore dangerous. “We were imprisoned in the building of the Extraordinary Commission in Moscow. I did not see my wife for two months. At the end of that time we were allowed to meet for about 20 minutes, and I was asked by a commissar if I would agree to say nothing in America against the Bolshevist regime if we were -allowed to go free. • Fearing that I might be shot if I refused I made the promise, but nevertheless was taken back to prison and remained there for a further two months.

“ Our release came eventually through the wonderful heroism arid self-sacrifice of my wife, who wrote a letter to Tchitcherin saying that she would refuse all food until we were allowed to go free. Her letter concluded : ‘Life, death, or liberty.’ Actually she was without food or water for five days, and at the end of that time we were told that we should be given our freedom, bur must get out of the country at once. “The Bolshevists were afraid that if we had died, well-known workers for the Red flag as we, had been, our deaths would have turned vast masses of the workers in the United States against them. We were robbed of all money and all our clothes except what we stood up in. "As the result of her terrible sufferings in prison, and particularly her hunger strike on my behalf, my wife died at Reval', after actually falling by the roadside. “ Now I am going to the States,” added Mr Schwartz,” to present my report on Bolshevism as I have seen it. Before I go I want to talk to British working men all over this country and tell them what this thing is. Bolshevism is not a government lor the people; it is a government of a few people for their own purposes; it is an outrage. There is no free speech in Russia, no free assembly, no free religion, and trials aie 'carried out in secret. Russia is full of disease, indeed it is one great cemetery.” Asked as to the conditions of his "life in prison, Mr Schwartz said he was not treated with actual brutality, but food was scanty and poor. Ho was allowed three-quarters of a pound of bread and two plates of watery C>up a day. There was a bed, but no lankets and no proper bedding. He was allowed to bath very hurriedly three or four times during his captivity. Three prisoners from his cell were shot in the prison basement during the time he was there. “As showing how strongly I and my wife inclined towards Bolshevism,” added Mr Schwartz, “before wo went to Russia, I will tell you that in Berlin on our way there we laid wreaths on the grave of Karl Leibknecht. I am not speaking against the Russian people, but for them, and for their benefit. They are sick of the rule under which they live. In the villages people have gone on their knees and begged me to take the tale of their sufferings to England and the United States.