PUBLIC OPINION

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1930, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION

“THIS FREEDOM” IN RUSSIA

The Russian worker, although the dictatorship is exercised in his name, does not possess the minimum of political rights which might enable him to protect his own interests. He has no right to say a word when piecework rates are being fixed or lowered, ( nor any right to a voice in the decision oi great political issues. These Russian workers, who for decades under the rule of tlie Tsars were fighting for freedom of the Press, free speech, the right of public meeting, these Russian workers who were banished in their thousands because they strove to secure the right of combination are non deprived of the possibility of influencing governmental policy by tlie free election of their representatives, have •lo right to join the Social Democratic Party, may not form independent :racle unions to represent their class, md have neither freedom of the Press nor the right of public meeting. The Soviet Government, by justifying the regime of a terrorist dictatorship on dhe ‘plea that in Russia a workingclass party hold power, and by justifying the nationalisation of the proletarian organisations on the plea that there are no capitalist employers in Russia, condemns the Russian proletariat to a truly tragical fate; foi .he workers, now faced with the inevitable re-establishment of private •apitalism, have to encounter the enemies of thdir class disarmed, imlotent and disorganised.”—A Russian economist, M. A. Yugoff, in his “Ecmomic Trends in Soviet Russia.”

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

“I do not consider the present events in Russia are a reason for breaking off diplomatic relations. For us to have an ;Ambassador in Moscow, and to receive an Ambassador lieie, doer not in the smallest degree imply approval of any internal events in Russia. It did not imply approval of tin oppression of the Tsars that we should have had diplomatic relations then. It did not imply approval of the recent oppression of Catholics in Mexico that we should have maintained diplomatic relations with that country. To maintain such relations all over the world is indispensable in order to handle trade affairs and other affairs of mutual concern. But it is right that the Russian leaders should know that the moral sense of mankind in all countries among all classes and creeds, profoundly disapproves the attack upon the primary human rights of liberty of inought and action in which they are now engaged.”—Sjr Herbert Samuel, M.P.