“WAR TO DEATH”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16874, 11 February 1929, Page 9

“WAR TO DEATH”

SOVIET V. TROTSKYISTS 150 AREESTS LONDON, dan. 25. War to the death against Trotsky adherents is proclaimed jii newspapers throughout Kussia. .Soviet authorities have ordered them to publish a long account of an acute-party crisis, and of the "war against Trotsky," says the l»iga correspondent of the 'limes. The UG.P.U. (Secret Police) have just arrested tcO Trotskyisls. "VVaverers standing on the crossroads must be warned that Trotskyists are preparing ;i new civil war, attempting to gain the lied Army's support by calling it the Army of the New Revolution," it is stated. A eommuuiipie explains that the Trotskyists are now warring with the republic itself, and everything that the Soviet holds dear. "They are utilising an illegal press. have established subversive committees, and are organising anti-Soviet strikes, and preparing their sympathies to engage in a civil war." it is stated.

RALLYING ANTI-SOVIET FORCES "All anti-Soviet, forces are rallying to Trotsky's banner, si me declaring their intention to stop at nothing. Trotsky himsell has gone farther, and is publishing slanderous articles in the foreign press, calling the Soviet Government 'a Kerens!;v regime turned inside out. ' "lie is Irymg to disrupt the Red international, turning hostile Forces abroad against the Soviet, and organising cadres to begin a civil war within the Soviet, and also is striving to thwart the Government's economic schemes. A ruthless war must bo waged against him. ' "Waverers must declare themselves For or againsl the Soviet, and Trotsky's faction must, be stamped out." A Moscow communique announces that the O.G.P.U. has just arrested 150 Trotskyists. All have been placed in the strictest solitary confinement. Evidently Communist leaders have found that their disciplinary bodies have not been sufficiently active and probably have themselves been contaminated bv Trotskyism hence the decision to call in the notorious 0.G.P.1'.. with orders to ferret out the opposionists.

The wholesale arrests of the adherents of Trotsky have greatly surprised, not only the public, but the rank and file of the Communists, because the Soviet campaign has been aimed at reactionary elements, and it was officially understood that the Trotskyists had been settled with a year ago. i The Government's explanation of the arrests is difficult to understand, as the so-called offences are nearly all old, the only new charges being a vague accusation that Trotsky was organising a civil war, and that of holding communications with people abroad. The most likely explanation is that the Political Bureau is alarmed at the catastrophic economic situation, especially the food shortage in industrial centres, and also the frequent: conflicts with trade unions, which demand higher ; wages to compensate the depreciated currency. I The O.G.P.U. (Secret Police) has reported that anti-Soviet persons arc tak- | ing advantage of these troubles in order [ to Fan discontent among the ruling facj t ion. The political bureau resolved to round up the more active of its enemies and charge them with conspiring not merely against their party, but with preparing for the violent overthrow of the Soviet Government.

A less likely explanation is that the Government realises that its only escape from economic ills is a movement to the Right, and has decided that it must first remove the Trotskyists opposition by making them scapegoats. Apparently the Political Bureau is undecided whether to bring the prisoners to trial or leave them to the O.G.P.U."s "simpler methods."