The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15th. 1924. BRITAIN AND BOLSHEVISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15th. 1924. BRITAIN AND BOLSHEVISM.

It is the fashion amongst Fabians e.iul other moderate British Socialists, says an exchange, to allude to Bolshevism as

:i movement which contains no particular menace to Britain or to the Briti.sh Empre. “A bogey with which to scare old women of both sexes,” was one of Mr Ramsay MacDonald's contemptuous ircicrences to it during, the late election campaign ; while to Air Bernard Shaw the ZinoviefT letter was “inopportune literary romancing, which it suits our governing classes to pretend to take seriously.” Mr Shaw is possibly not very much concerned about tile fate of the -Umpire; but his | use of detachment and unconcern in relation to present methods of Bolshevik propaganda- is typical of those publicists who incessantly proclaim their humanitarianism at home, and yet -give their blessings to tbo.se who are the instruments of tyranny abroad. An insular positon is a very desirable thing from the point of view of national defence but there* is also danger in isolation, for the reason that insular peoples are denied close contact with other nations, and are thus, in the- mass, unable to appreciate the true significance of the political movements that sway continental countries. -Were Mr Shaw and his like to reside iti or even to visit I’oland, Homminia. dugo-Slavia, or Esthonia. it is safe to say that they would shed the compla-em-v with which they envisage the activities of the Soviet and its close associate, the Third International. Tii those States publicists and statesmen have no delusions ahoul the harmlessness of Bolshevik propaganda, and their detestation of the present Russian system has a very solid foundation, being based on an intimate knowledge of tbe desolav'on that system has brought to Russia, and a verikeen appreciation of the intentions of the Bolshevists towards their own lands. The countries bordering on Russia have to maintain large military forces, because never for a moment can they he sure that their big neighbour will act honourably towards them. Experience has taught them that treaties and solemn promises made by the Soviet are worthless. They also have to keep continuous watch upon Soviet agents, who come in all sorts of disguises. At the present moment Roumania is infested with Boshevik emissaries and spies, and such are also very active in. Bulgaria and .Tugo-Slavia, Tn 1920 Poland had to take up arms against an invading Bolshevist host. Revenge for defeat on that occasion has been a guiding principle with the Moscow junta since the Russian debacle. There is no doubt that had the recent rising of F.Sthonian Communists been favoured with more success, Russian troops would have overrun that country. Existing and prospering right at the very door of the T’etrograd commune, the independent State of Esthonia is an affront to ZinoviefT, the dictator of the Commune, and his fanatical Marxian associates, and the summary manner in which "the Esthonian Government some months ago hanged a hatch of Communists caught red-handed in a plot, further added to their ire. Active participation in. ami promises of support after the outbreak of the recent rising, have been very definitely established against the Russians. A shock battalion was formed in Petrograd, and guns and troops were to lie in readiness near the Esthonian frontier. The danger has passed, for the moment, hut it may safely he assumed that the mass of the Esthonians do not regard Bolshevism as “a hogev -with which to scare old women of both .sexes” ; nor do the governing classes, that is, the democracy of Esthonia, “pretend” to take Bolshevist propaganda seriously. From its inception, the .Soviet Government has seen in British methods of government. British ideals and institutions, the most formidable barrier to its ambition to spread the Bolshevist creed, and the greater portion of the proceeds of the sale of stolen church jewels and other treasures, and of the confiscated personal property of its political opponents, has been expended in an effort to destroy the British Empire. Although Soviet agents were successful in promoting numerous strikes in Britain, and they coused: considerable trouble in England. Scotland and Ireland in other ways, they have been disappointed by the meagre results following a huge expenditure of money and effort. Disappointed in its attempts to bring about a proletarian revolution in England and Europe generally, the Third Inter-national-—that is, the Soviet Government —has changed its tactics and. ns a .report which appeared recently showed. is now to devote its energies to revolutionary propaganda in British dominions. colonies, and protectorates. By attacking Britain through her oversea possessions, the Soviet hopes to bring alsout the complete dissolution of the Empire. The scheme is not entirely new; indeed, some very thorough work has already been put into propaganda aiming in inciting the hate of Eastern peoples against Britain, and as has been reported, aided by Soviet funds, there have been presistent Communist efforts to capture the various labour organisations in the Dominions

T he matter mentioned at the County Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, of improved telephone connection with the country districts after hours, is an important subject when medical assistance is a necessity. The mention of the matter brought up the larger question of a- continuous telephone service here, and in the circumstances that should be striven for. There are occasions when the telephone hours are far too seriously curtailed. That happened recently on such important holidays as Boxing Day and New Years’ Day. With so many persons on the move the closing of the telephone is a great inconvenience. There is also the inadequacy of the hours on Sundays, as also the after hours interval complained of at the County meeting. The matter could be- overcome in one act by maintaining a continuous service. That attainment is a matter for the subscribers. The exchange is strong enough in numbers, and it is now a matter of paying the extra fee involved. £1 for residences and £2 for business places. The extra service would well repay the additional cost involved and the added convenience on emergency occasions such as sickness, lire, or other urgent calls, would be very cheaply met. The town is progressing so much of late that there should not be any lack of local enterprise. The more the telephone is used, the more value it lms, and with longer hours it would iill the requirements better. The telephone is in continuous use at the neighboring town of Dreymouth, and the convenience <>! such a service is a great boon, 'the town would be linked also with nil the large East Coast centres all through the night, a. special convenience when the need for conversations arise. Altogether the matter is of such local value to the community as a whole that delay in securing the convenience of the continuous service can only lie marcelled at.

The electors of the Southern Hiding will he called on next Wednesday to fill the vacancy in the present County representation. Mr Donovan, a forinei councillor, of Okarito, and Mr -Mclntosh of Hokitika, are candidates. Both have a good knowledge of the district, and the settlers generally should he able to make their choice with confidence. The Westland County Council a.s the principal local body of the district has stood high always in the public estimation, and the electors should continue to see that the best men offering are elected to the representative positions. The strength ol the local body is! in the hands of the electors, who have tt special duty to perform. That duty should not he discharged lightly hut with due regard to the responsibilities ol the position, and all that it carries with it. It is for the electors to exercise their judgment. wisely ami well, and with every regard for the proper fitness of things.