SOVIET RUSSIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1928, Page 2

SOVIET RUSSIA.

TROTSKY REVELATIONS. (Australian Tress Association & Sun.) RIGA, Jan. 14. It is disclosed that M. Trotsky, at one of his meetings, made extraordinary revelations concerning secret reserve fulfils in the possession of the Communist Party. He said that when Denikin’s and Kalaehak’s ioroes weio nearing Moscow, and when the whole of Russia was ablaze with revolt Soviet Departments, acting on Lenin s" instructions, confiscated money, \aluables and jewels wholesale, from which -,i secret fund of twenty millions sterling was formed, so that the leaders, in case of necessity, would he enabled to escape abroad, and carry on the Communist Party’s work. Trotsky stated that only Lenin and his intimates, such as 'I rotskv. ZinovicfV, and Kamenefl'. were aware of tin's fund. The Bolsheviks survived, and duly consolidated their position, and the fund remained untouched during Lenin’s lifetime. M. Stalin, however, the present head el the Soviet, had raided the fund when the Communist Party became impoverished, and he created many sinecures, and even commercial and seini-cominercial organisations, whereby the Stalinites. their ful lowers, and their friends were enabled to thrive, and the system was bolstered up. Trotsky urged ' that the workers should demand a lull account of the secret iuude. The revelations, it is stated, have produced a stunning effect.

LONDON, Jan. if. The British United Press Berlin correspondent says, in contrast to the punishment meted out to other Oppositionists, Zinovieff and Kameneff are being sent on a “ party mission ” to Voronezh, in Southern Russia. It is believed the journey is in the nature ol a disciplinary measure, and may end in their re-admission to the Communist Party. DRINKING IN RUSSIA. RIGA, Jan. 15. Soviet officials, when touring the country to induce the peasants to subscribe to the loan being raised (as reported on December 31st), were pained to discover that the agriculturists were demanding public houses similar to those in vogue in Western Europe, ami that they were wishing for a relaxation, without being compelled to listen to political lectures and Communists’ reports. The officials declare that there is all alarming increase of drunkenness, and that the peasants are spending one-fifth of their incomes on drink at the village clubs which the Soviet lias founded.