EXILE UNDER SOVIET PURGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 49, 20 November 1937, Page 15

EXILE UNDER SOVIET PURGE

No Publieity for Lower Kanks

The present prolonged "purge" in Hoviet Russia, having taken heavy toll of eminent officials, has moved, like some inexorable force, into the lower ranks of the hureaucracy, which are now being investigated and sifted as thoroughly as higher ranks have been since the "purge" started a year ago. The disgrace of those in high positions naturally attracted more attention and publicity. The disposal of comparatively unimpo-rtant men and women is being arranged quietly, almost ignored by the Press. The political police work steadily, imposing "administrative exile" so unostentatiously that only members of families and immediate friends are aware of it, Foreign travellers from the Far East report passing train after train of -prisoners, guarded by police. Soviet citizens all agree that the present "purge" is far more extensive than any which preceded it. Hardly a single enterprise or institution has escaped without the arrest of higher personnel. Every commissariat in feaeral and local governments has yielded its quota of "enemies of the people." An unofficial survey of 22 commissariats of the Federal Government shows that only five have retained their' highest personnel intact. Within a few months, 17 commissariats have lost either the commissar or a vice oommissar. A few Of these were transferred to other work or removed in disgrace without arrest. The rest have probably been imprisoned or exiled. Under the Soviet system, oue canuot make sure whether or not a vanished official has been arrested. The authorities can inipose iniprisonment or exile

without publicity. They xefuse to reply to inquiries of foreign oorrespondenta about the disposition of officials who "disappear." The offices where such people work profess to know nothing . about them. The "purge" has been acoompanied by a drastic reorganisation of government offices, which in Russia operate agriculture, industry and trade as well as administration. The number of commissariats both in federal and local governments has been increased. 'O Two examples indicate the trend to ward decentralisation. Agriculture originally was directed by a single commissariat, which later was divided into * commissariats of agriculture and State farms. The latter was again divided into commissariats of grain-growing and cattle-breeding Farms. Industry originally was directed by a Supreme Economic Council, which later was replaced by- commissariats of heavy, light and food industries. Commissariats of timber industry, internal trade, local industry and defence industry were subseqfiently created. This summer the commissariat,, of heavy industry was again subdivided. A new commissariat of machine building directs construction of all machines, and the automobile, tractor, locomotiye and agricultural machinery induetries. "The former chairman of the State Planning CommissioUj Valeri Mezlilauk, has been put in charge. The reduced Commissariat of Heavy Industry includes tbo iron, coal, steel, metallurgical and chemical iudustriea. Joseph Staliu's "right-hand man," Lazar M. Raganovitch, has been transferred from the Commissariat of Railways to direct this commissariat. i