TROTSKY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1927, Page 2

TROTSKY

an interview. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this dav at 8.50 a.m.) BERLIN. Dec. 14. The utstaiuling figure in Russia at •present is Trotsky. Fearing summary processes of the 0.G.P.U., he has been Hviim underground. He appears at meetings of adherents, no one knows whence and vanishes no one knows whither. Although he has no home of his own, his supporters arc so numerous that thousands of dwellings offer an open door to 4 rot sky. In a special interview at Berlin, Trotsky made a remarkable attack on his former allies. He said: “The dictatorship of the proletariat has degenerated into a personal regime of a ruling clique, which has deprived workers of the freedom of speech in the Assembly. and professional defence of class intends. Russian workmen who defended the revolution on the barricades are compelled to work ten hours daily for a miserable pittance. It cannot he borne longer, hence the chief demand of the Opposition, namely democratisation of the Communist Party and restoration of the freedom of the workers. That is all that matters. Until the personal dictatorship of Stalin and his clique is destroyed we will not suspend the struggle. His brainless policy has brought the country to an economic catastrophe. The foreign policy has suffered a complete fiasco. An entire new economic policy was to he based on assistance from foreign capital. Capitalists proved less naive than our diplomats. While continually raising our hopes with promises of credit they have made use of the armistice, declared by us to strengthen their positions. As a result the Soviet is economically isolated. This means the same old dilemma, the socialists’ federation, or capitalisation of Europe. The promised co-habitation has proved impracticable.