WOMEN & BOISHEVISM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 6

WOMEN & BOISHEVISM

LOCAL DECREES From "La Libre Federation'' (Socialist, Syndicalist, Federalist Organ, Paris). When tho story of the degradation of woman by Bolshevik decree was published among tho cable messages, the "New Zealand Times" adopted a definite atti:iude. On the one hand, we said the information must be confirmed before it could be accepted; on the other, we refused to take tho denials of men no better informed than ourselves at this end of the world. In short, we consistently waited for further information. .Further information is now to hand, though very little, if any of it, has come'through the cable | services. \Ve have before us a copy of "La Libre Federation," a leadmg, if uod tho leading, journal of French Socialism, Syndicalism, ami Federalism in Paris. We find in its columns a summary of information on this subject of tho treatment of women by Bolsheviks in Russia. The information consists of quotations from various newspapers, some of them Russian, all giving firsthand testimony. Some quotations we have translated from the original French,' together wdth the comments of the "Libro Federation." We publish the translations in this article. Before coming to that, we will state hero that there is one story we have not quoted. That is a story of a Soviet decree sont to the Partis "Journal" by its Caucasus correspondent and alleged by him to have been promulgated in January, 1918, in tho Volga district, and to have been enforced at Tashkent(Turkestan) about the same time. We mention this because this alleged decree bears so strong a resemblance to the decree referred to in the cable message which so horrified the public of this country as to support the contention that the two are the same. It appears to us, therefore, that probably the cable compiler took his information from the Paris "Journal." What matters, of course, is that the impression produced by the reading of tho cable message, that tho Central Bolshevik Government had decreed tho nationalisation of women, was wrong. The information (quotations and comments) we publish to-day shows that something abominable has "been done by Bolsheviks, but not by the Central Bolshevik Government. In one case, a decree of very infamous character was drafted by the President of the Northern District, and prepared for prompt enforcement, but was vetoed by the Soviet of Petrograd. As tho writer wo have quoted says, "So much the better.' s But as he concludes, the fact of the drafting shows what obsesses the minds of some leading Bolsheviks.

Another story quoted shows that another infamous local project created such a fury that the people concerned (described as a "band of communists") were promptly attacked, surrounded, and massacred. The instance is, however, solitary. No such punishment seems to have overtaken other infamies perpetrated by local Soviets. Mr Fraser, M.P., has, in a letter to us (published on Saburday), quoted "The New Europe," as expressing regret for making the charge of nationalisation of women against the Central Bolshevik Government, whereas tho statements going about only covered charges against local administrations or individuals. Dr. Williams also expressed regret in this newspaper quoted by Mr Eraser as having been misled. We published with pleasure as Mr Fraser requested. But we have no apology to make, for wo made no charge. Having deferred judgment pending further information, and having obtained information thai is for'the most part unimpeachable, and accepted as such by the "Libre Federation," wo have no hesitation in expressing our belief that, though tho Central Bolshevik Government stands free of this satanic charge, several minor Bolshevik authorities have degraded women by public decree in the most abominable way.

tho Bolshevik journal "lzwestia, says: „<

The bearers of oTders (coupon] exeicisp the right of choice _ under a. decree of which the following are the chief clauses:—To start with—Guarantee to every young girl of IS, of personal, inviolability; whoever in suits her or assaults her is liable to a penalty of 20 years' hard labour, unless is'he consents to marry tlie aggressor. Thus protected, the woman is regarded as the property of the State, under the most severe penalties, and if sho does not marry she is obliged to have her name enrolled in the Bureau of Free Love. Her enrolment gives her the right to choose a husband from tho men between 19 and 50 years, and on the other hand the women belong to the men who demand them,, armed with the order. Protests can be punished by flogging.

A Russian citizen, recently arrived from Russia, gives to the, "SoldatCitoyen" of January 4th, 1919, the following particulars, of which he guarantees the authenticity: At Konznietsk (Volga) n baud of '■'communists" has decreed the socialisation of women from 18 to 32 • years of age. All such were accordingly expected to assemble at the public baths in obedience to a specific order. Some travellers conv.njr from Sizrane, in co-operation with the inhabitants of the locality, and with thjo help of Czneho-Slovak troops, surrounded the town, captured all these eoramunists and exterminated them.

llcuter's Agency a tew days ago—the journal '"La Libre Federation," publishing this information, is dated February 15th, 1919—lms recently added its contribution as follows: The Government of the Commune of tho North, the president of which is tho Comrade Zinovieff, has draitcd an Act which will be published very shortly and bo immediately effective, nationalising women in all the territories governed by Zinovieff, including; Potrograd. According to this statute every woman,' or those between the ages of 18 and 45, will be compelled to accept as a husband the man assigned to her, and the children of the marriage will not belong to the parents, but will be taken over and brought up by the State. We will add here that a later telegram announces that Zenovieff's project has been vetoed by the Soviet of Petrograd. So much the better. But the fact .that the idea germinated in the brain of one of the leaders of the Bolshevik dictatorship shows that it obsesses some at least of these gentlemen.

At Potrograd, moreover, after Madame Steinberg Jacovieva became Presidcntess of the Special Commission ('Commission Extraordinaire), entrusted with the duty of party repression, a decree has been passed which permit* tho shooting of every street-

walker found in the streets. And by way of compensation, if we can. credit b!io testimony of the Swedish Profetsor Viksel, the Bolsheviks, have set up public institutions into which they have forced a number of. society .women ("La. Patrie," January 11th, 1919).

BOLSHEVIK ATROCITIES.

We ("Libre Federation," 'February loth, 1919) have been getting for some time from Russia statements, still confused, certainly isolated, but singularly alarming, about- the situation in which women aro placed in some localities.

The question is of women made instruments of pleasure and production by divers Soviets. It is not of any general official measure that we speak, and one which certainly will never, no matter how blind the Bolshevik chiefs may be, be adopted; but ot local measures. which aro nevertheless symptomatic of a- terrifying aberration of individual minds under the demagogic influence spread like a flood by the Lenin-Trotsky people. It must be discussed.

Remember that at the outset of tho Bolshevik regime Gorky published tho following protest iu the "Novaia Jisn":—

In Theodoeia the soldiery (Bed Guards) are even trafficking: in Jinman beings. They have brought from the Caucasus women, Turkish, Armenian and Kurdish, whom, they sell at 25 roubles a head.

This is in truth iniquitous, and we nan be proud of it I And from "L'Anarchisto de Briansk" It was possible to clip the following document, republished by the "Kiewskaia" :

Workers' Soviet, of Mourgilowka, September loth, 1918.—Mandate to Comrade Gregory Savelieff.—The 'Soviet grants by these presents, to the Comrade Gregory Savelieff. tho full power of requisitioning," at his discretion and according to the indications of tho requirements of tho artillery division stationed at Mourgilowka, district of Briansk. sixty \women and young girls of tho boi"ceoiso and speculator classes, and delivering them at .the barracks. 'Signed). President of Soviet, Skawoikine; secretary, Sabeluekoff.

Tho "Yorkshire Post," of Leeds, ot January 23rd, 1919, gives General Poole as authority for these statements :

in the district of Wladimiv frnn love is mado obligatory. Young Kirls and women have been flogged for refusing to yiield to men armed with the order issued by tho Pois&cvik authorities.

The ''Journal des Oebats" (January 120th, 1919) taking its information from