Evening star., 1921-06-12


dictator tTrotsky ct al having been definitely
relegated to the background. according to some
recent repofts). one cannot say. Nor Is per-
fectly trustworthy information at hand as to the
precise nature Of that program. Undoubtedly
very great concessions have been made to the
peasants; Lenin saw that they had to be con-
ciliated at once. the jig was up. They now
pay tax In kind Of a portion Zone report says
one-third) of their crops, and may do what they
like with the rest.
Doubtless too. very important concessions
have been made permitting revival of co-opera-
tives and private industries and giving larger
scope to the trade unions But on this head
reports greatly differ. According to one, only
small and medium-sized co-operatives and
private industries are allowed, the government
leasing factories to the latter, and allowing
the trade unions to fix the rates of pay but e.
tanning the important right Of inspection, the
government keeping in it's hands the larger in
dustries, transportation and the great natural
assets, mines. etc. According to another
port Lenin has acknowledged the complete
bankruptcy of communism. He wishes to
throw the door wide open to capital and to
invite the moderate parties to full cooperation
in the state. Moderate concessions will not do.
Capital must be completely conciliated II the
huge sums required for rehabilitation are to
be obtained.
According to this latter dispatch (and con-
trary to sundry previous reports) the govern
ment has not yet granted single important
great COHceSS0n II the government Is to make
concessions to foreign capital, it must do SO
on terms advantageous to itself as possible
There has been no real bidding as yet; capital
Is shy. Certain offers, from Dutch Shell
for Caucasus oil, from Germans for coal and
iron have been declined. On the other hand,
Rote Fahne Of Berlin quotes krassin as saying
that the great German financial interests are
negotiating furiously for concessions We
should know before long how liberal may be
Lenin's program Supposing the door thrown
wide open to capital. and supposing the mode
rate parties admitted to cooperation in the
state. and supposing that capital responds, and
supposing "a thing most difficult to suppose)
the red Muscovites retain their power under
such conditions will Lenin deal honestly by
such foreign capital after 1t has served his
turn? Will he drop his subversive propaganda
in other countries? Perhaps that is only
sop to the disgruntled fanatics Perhaps Lenin
Is really converted. as Mr.. Lloyd George thought
he might be. And then, again. perhaps he
isn't.
On June the third congress of the third
international opened at Moscow. There was
joy. there was high jinks. at previous con-
crosses Of the some. But the dictatorship of the
proletartat lags. the world revolution tarries;
Moscow is sad this year.
X X
NEAR EAST-It has been repeatedly as
serted of late that the Greeks would launch
another general offensive against the Turks yery
shortly: King Constantine himself is on his
way to the Anatolian front. Whether the
British are going to pocket the anronts
showered on them lately by Mustapha kemal or
in return therefore openly assist the Greeks,
remains to be seen. The British cabinet Is
earnestly debating the matter. Though the
British embargo arms and munitions has
not been revoked. tits said the Greeks have
received airplanes. tanks and gas shells a-plenty
from British sources. British assistance openly
given would probably be confined to naval
he fIrn 0f
possibly some military experts Moscow has
sent to Mustapha kemal a goodly number of
artillery pieces and machine guns. and probably
detachments of ussian Moslems promised
under recent treaty. One should like to know
the number of the latter. The French l
understand. will not help the Greeks in any
way.
X X
EASTERN SIBERIA.-Last week 1 cited
report that Semenov formerly master Of Trans
Baikalia and protege of the japanese.
his way from Port Arthur to vladvostok
offer himself leader of the movement (anti-