RUSSIA’S TRIALS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1933, Page 8

RUSSIA’S TRIALS

BOLSHEVIK EXPERIMENT LOOMED.

RESISTANCE OF PEASANTS,

'AUCKLAND, February 20. Declaring that the Bolshevik 'experiment in Russia is Aloomed 'to failure, mainly owing to the impossibility of winning the peasantry over the new ideas, Mr Salomon Poliakoff, a Russian author and dramatist, who is visiting Auckland in the course of a world tour, stated that whatever tlie solution of Russia’s present troubles, it would mean the end of Communism. Air Poliakoff has resided in Paris since the Russian revolution and has been engaged in journalism for several years.

‘From the opinions I have heard concerning conditions in Russia, I can see it is very difficult for people here to understand just what is happening there,” said Air Poliakoff. “T am a political exile. 1 live in Paris, and not:in AToocow, and that shows I am not an admirer of the . Bolshevik regime. However, I try to be am--partial. It cannot he denied that at the beginning the movement, especially in the minds of Lenin, Trotzky and

other leaders, was 1 intended t-0 improve the state of the Russian people, to make them richer and happier. ,' It is true that the Soviet Government put in f o the Five Year' Plan very much enthusiasm and work and n tremendous lot of money. That was the intention', hut after To years of tremendous effort what is the situation of-the'country, for that is the sole test of the success or failure of the Bolshevik endeavours? ■

MISERY AND HARDSHIP. “Although 1 am an'anti-Bolshevik, I would, for tlie sake of the Russian people, like to be able to'say that the situation has improved in comparison with pre-revolution times, hut 1 am sorry to say that is not the case. There is in Russia extraordinary misery, want and hardship. The Five Year Plan lias exhausted the workers and the peasants, and in return has given them nothing hut doubtful consolation in the knowledge that : many magnificent factories have been built. These'factories'represent the last word in technical perfection, but' unhappily they are of no apparent use. Fcr 'instance, what is tile use of a factory able to produce 15,000 motor-cars daily if there wHI not be the eco'noriii’c necessity for the- roads on which to run them lor the next 50 years? What, also, is the use of the' huge and remarkably well-equipped powerstation on the Dneiper if for 100 miles around there are no factories to Use the electricity generated ?” It was pointed out by Air Poliakoff that after all this effort the immediate needs of tlie population in boots' and in living necessities were not yet satisfied. There was no country in the world where the people were so miserably clothed, fed and housed. He wondered whether any European worker or peasant would stand such' a life.

ON VERGE OF STARVATION. His view Was that the greatest mistake the Bolshevists had made was in imagining they could alter the character of the Russian peasant. Ti e attempt to make Communists of the Russian peasants, who were' largely in the majority, was the boldest dream of -the Bolsheviks,- and it has proved-a dismal failure. The reason was that the Russian peasant was extremely individualistic, ' with' a"deep sense of property. The passive but stubborn resistance of the peasant -to Communistic agriculture meant the doom of the Communist regime. That was why Russia was not producing sufficient wheat to feed her ' people, whereas formerly she was regarded as the source of the wheat supply for many countries. The people of the cities were on Hie verge of starvation. “Russia must adjust herself to the feeling and needs of -the peasantry,” added Mr Poliakoff. “Without them there is no possible hope for the continued existence of the Soviet regime. What form the inevitable change will take I do .noit dare to prophesy. The only thing I am sure of is that sooner or later the peasant has to be given the right to work freely and to dispose of his goods as he thinks best. When that is done it- is the end of Communism.”