RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1926, Page 3

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

SOVIET ACCEPTS LEAGUE’S INVITATION. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] j MOSCOW. Jan. IG. The Soviet has decided to accept the invitation of the League of Nations to pa rtiepate in the preliminary disarmament conference, and not to object to partiiipation of Soviet experts m tfie preliminary commission or economic subjects, provided these Commissions do not meet on Swiss ton itorv. SOME NEW APPOINTMENTS. LONDON. Jan. 17. Presumably ns n result of sharp divergencies manifested if* tbe recent Communist Congress a number of important changes have been made u: official appointments. Inter alia. Knmeneff is relieved of tbe Presidency of the Council of Labour, and the as-

-itant presidency of the Council ol Commissaries and becomes Commissary of Foreign and Home Trade, in succession to Zuriupa ; RykolF combines the Presidency of the Council of Labour and Defence and the Presidency -,f the Council of Commissures. Commissary Frumkiu has been relieved of tbe position of Assistant Commissary of Foreign and Home Trade to which Krnssin lias been appointed; Commissary Sokolinikoff who has been relieved of tbe Commissariat of Finance and takes up the Assistant-Presidency of the State Planning Committee. r |'be re-sbufFling also afreets a number of lessor known leaders.

UNREST AMONG PEASANTRY LONDON, Jan. 17

It is reported that much unrest prevails among the peasantry, particularly in the Ukraine and White Russia, where armed anti-Bolsbcviks are active. Murders of over-zealous Communist officials are reported chiefly in the Bobruisk district, where the milita and local authorities, it is alleged, have refused to act against the rebels, and are even co-operating, with them. Tbe “ Daily News ’’ Moscow cor respondent says that following on a recent dispute at the Communist Congress. when Zinoviefl. Kameiief! and Sokolnikoff violently attacked the Soviet’s new econcvnic policy on the ground of its being a concession to the rich peasants, involving fundamental changes in tbe Soviet s principles. Kaineucff a.ud Sokoluikoli respectively lcsigned tbe Vice-Presidency the Council ot Commissars and tbe Uommissarship of Finance. Both accepted minor Cabinet posts, but tbe tact remains that they have fallen from their former high position.

Zinovieff’s position is also precarious. Cabinet believes his power m Leningrad. of which he is the .Mayor, menaces the party and it is practically certain he will he removed from both the mayoralty and the Presidency of the Third International. The editor of the newspaper “Prnvda ” Zinovieff’s champion, has already been dismissed. Rvkoff has undertaken Kamencff’s duties.