BOLSHEVIKI IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

BOLSHEVIKI IN AUSTRALIA

MR. HUGHES ASKED QUESTIONS.Melbourne, February 23. During tho week Mr. Hughes,'the Prime Minister, was asked to comment on an article upon Australian. Bolslieviki, which appeared in the "Christian World" last week, and was referred to in the "Sunday Times." Mr. Hughes at. first declined' to say anything, but when pressed as to, the attitude of the Federal Government towards tho Bolsheyiki, he said: „ "We have nothing ollioial before us 'concerning the Bolsheviki nor the appointment of one Simonoff to be Con-sul-Gencral in Australia. Ido not know this gentleman." Asked if tho .Russian Government h'ad communicated with him at all, Mr. Hughes replied: "The Government! Is Trotsky still alive ? We can do nothing. .The matter is one for the Imperial Government. Trotsky may be dead for all I know. So far as tho Commonwealth Government is concerned, it does not know officially anything on the subject." Mr. Hughes was asked whether the Government would permit anyone to speak in favour of the Bolsheviki, and could he say who tho members of Parliament were who were alleged by the "Christian World" to have shown leanings to the party. The Prime Minister threw both hands above his head like an Oriental saluting a potentate. T!»at is Mr. Hughes's method of indicating that as far as he is concerned the interview is at an end.