DEATH OF M. KRASSIN

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1926, Page 9

DEATH OF M. KRASSIN

END OF LONG ILLNESS REPRESENTATIVE OF SOVIET. FRIEND OF LENIN AND TROTSKY* I By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 24. The death is reported of M. Krassin, the representative in London of the Russian Soviet. He had beeu ailing for * long time through the effects of malaria which he contracted in his youth, resulting in chronic anaemia, which condition was somewhat relieved by frequent transfusion of blood. M. Krassin was unable to preside at the Soviet anniversary reception at Chesham House a fortnight ago, but received a few special guests in liis bedroom, including Mr. H. G. Wells. His death was due to haemorrhage. Received Nov. 25, 7.50 p.m. London, Nov. 25. The Daily Telegraph's Riga correspondent eays that, according to information from Moscow, Krassin left a fortune of about £3.000,000 in various European banks, which his wife and daughters will inherit. It is most probable that his successor in London will ho M. Litviuoff. M. Krassin, who was one of Lenin’s most trusted lieutenants when the revolution in Russia took place, was sent by Lenin to Western Europe early in 1920 to undertake trade negotiations. He visited London, Berlin, Rome, etc., but without power to make agreements. He then became a sort of economic dictator. Under his influence reforms were carried out with the object of reviving trade and industry—prolongation of working hours, introduction of compulsary labour and of the Taylor and premium systems, creation of labour armies and the like. Later he was appointed controller of Russia’s foreign trade. In March, 1921, he signed a commercial treaty with Britain aud remained in London as Soviet representative until July, 1924, by which time he had begun negotiations with Mr. MacDonald’s Labour Government for the de jure recognition of the Soviet. The actual treaty, however, was made by his successor, Rakowsky. In November, 1924, after the Herriot Government had -sumed diplomatic relations with Russia, came the selection of Krassin as Ambassador to Paris. In connection with the first action taken by Stalin against Trotsky, however, Krassin returned to Moscow in January, 1925, to consult with the deposed War Commissary, of whom he was one of the most devoted adherents, and to discuss reforms in the foreign trade policy of the Soviet. On October 30, 1925, Rakowsky was appointed Ambassador to Paris, and Krassin Charge D’Affaires in London, the idea being that he should take up his duties there as soon as the Soviet commission on , trade reorganisation had completed its labours. Krassin returned to France, but he was reported to be seriously ill and never proceeded to London. Instead, he went to the south of France, and In April, 1926, it was stated that he had been taken to a hospital at Nice, where the operation of transfusion of bloo4 had been successfully performed.