Evening star., 1918-01-10
LEADERS.
SEENIN NEW.L|GHT
Private Reports Indicate TheN'
Have Been Playing Own 4
Game With Germany.
LOYALTY TO DEMOCRACY

CONFIDENTIAL reports received In Washs3
ington within the past week present
Lenfne, Trotzki and the entire bolshe-
vik leadership in a new light from
that hitherto reflected upon their
strange maneuverings outside of Russ
STA.
Far from being political amateurs
and tools of German intrigue. these
gentlemen have been playing little
game of their own with Germany, il
these reports be true. and their present
attitude may be summed UP truly in
the remark attributed to Trotzki in tho
days dispatches: I'VE did not over-
throw the czar to bow to German im>
perialism."
While there is nothing to Indicate
that Lenine and Trotzki are seeking to
promote allied success, 1t seems pretty
well established by a series OF these
reports that a mistake has been made
in discounting their sincerity. their
ability. or their loyalty to the Russian
democracy.
In the absence of little knowledge
about Lenine, Trotzky. Krylenko and
other bolshevik leaders, whose position
hitherto had been obscure. 1t was gems
orally assumed that they were fanatics,
destined to have their little fifng and to
be snuffed out within a few weeks. In
bolsheviki should have fallen weeks
ago somehow have failed to materialies
This does not mean that the bolshe-
vik government In Russia as now cont
mean. say persons here informed about
Russia, that the leaders of the move-
ment are to be taken more seriously In
the future.
has been accurately informed about the
caliber and the purposes of these men;
and that his influence exerted to pres
vent some allied governments from
the LenfneTrotzky regime and his ref
erence to Russia's right to work out her
own problems may reflect his informa-
tfon on Russian conditions.
Do Not Excel in Statecraft. Il
Observations of the boIsheviki con-
duct of international affairs has been
the basis of most of the deductions
drawn about their ability in statecraft.
In this field they do not shine. But It
grows clearer that they have a large
following in Russia. gained by a clear
and definite knowledge of what a large
mass of Russians desire. and by prom4
Using the Russian people these things,
principally peace. land and economic
opportunity. whether they will be able
| to carry out their liberal promises Is
another question, and constitutes the
rock upon which they may be wrecked
Iaccording to men who know Russia.
| Early lack of knowledge OF the per-
sonalities in the saddle in Russia has
been followed by inquiries which have
disclosed some interesting facts Lenino
was in Austria when the war broke
out He betook himself 10 Switzerland
and started a radical paper. wherein
preached that it was necessary for
| Russia, then an autocracy. to be de-
feated. This gives clue to his mental
processes. To him 1t was illogical that
could bring freedom to the mass OF
Russians.
After the car was overthrown, an
event which paved the way for Amers
teas participation in the war, Lenino
returned to Russia and there began to
work loyalty for what he believed tQ
be the best interests of the new dee
mocracy.
Trotzki has imbfbed the spirit Of fred
government from his stay in America
and from his association with the most
radical thinkers and iagitators in New
York His ideas about internationaf
relations seem hazy and impractical
but there are Indications, 1t Is stated
| that he has proved most able in ap1
pealing to the Russian people SO far al
internal reforms are concerned.
Krylenko, about whom little is heard,
now in command of the disorganied
Russian army, has been under arrest
| for revolutionary activities. He also
was uAder arrest during Kerensky's
supremacy for his extreme preach
ments. But he is said to be a man OF
education and forceful orator.