The Washington times., 1921-03-16

Trotxky was In front OF general
star headquarters on his way to
confer with generals of the army
when he was interviewed for ihs In
ternationsl News Service This 10
lhs nrst intervisw Trotsky has given
|eut since the uprising occurred At
Kronstadt and because Of his posi-
tion In the cabinet, 1t 10 Of the ut
most Importance
Trotxky said:
TT is Impossible to understand TIE
kronstadt events unless taken in
conjunction with our internal and
external. situation Our economic
situation after six and one-half
years of war IL we'll known. We
have published frank statistical
statements. We DO not consider IL
necessary to conceal our actual con-
ditions from our workers, from our
country or from our friends and our
enemies in other countries
BANKRUPTs' EXPLOITATION.
"ouite naturally those parties
which, two or three times before gave
demonstrations of their bankruptcy.
should try to revive themselves by
exploiting conditions Of the present
moment OF the workers revolution.
II am speaking OF social revolution
aries and Mensheviki, who. unable to
play an independent role, are unable
to obtain or maintain themselves In
power. They have no stable social
foundation. They are trying to be the
banana peel on which the working
class would slip into counter-revolu-
ton against the soviets-
AS to the rising, the Baltic fleet
represents that part of our country
most exposed to Europe. During the
past two years the personnel of the
fleet has changed greatly. The best
elements were taken out and trans
ferred to other branches of soviet
| work and were supplanted by casual
elemants among which were many
representatives OF our border nation
alities who regarded their service
in fact as temporary work. The
transitory conditions and unstable
personnel OF the fleet created an un-
favorable atmosphere and gave op-
portunity for smuggling into the
fleet elements that were openly
hostile.
SAILORS ARE EXPLOITED.
-The masses of sailors formulated
demands which originally did not
| exceed the demands presented by
| various groups of laborers Ito the
Soviet government. The revolu-
| Itionaries utilized these demands as
a fulcrum for their lever. Behind
their backs cautiously emerged the
| figures of revolutionary officers.
'sThe broad masses OF the Kronstadt
population kept on working without
understanding the acuteness Of the
conflict. Kronstadt being located upon
the Gulf OF Finland, stands at the
gateway from which the worlds high
ways leaf to the imperialistic coun.
tries. At Reva1 the white guard Of
I-f,cers became active. The counter
revolutionary agents in the Baltic at
once began to establish contact with
Kronstadt. The original leaders OF
the movement became badly fright
ened and began to complain OF the
growing influence of the counter-revo-
iutionary military officers, but then 1t
was too late.
IMPERIALIsTs DUE FOR FALL.
quite obviously after the ice is
gone from the Gulf of Finland the
counter revolutionaries could remove
our vessels and deliver them into the
hands of the imperialists as they
did In the Black sea II the Baltic
fleet fell into the hands of the
rebels.
KNOWING this we presented an
u,timatum to the mutineers and then
applied armed force. There is no
doubt that the mutiny will have col
lapsed within a short time regard.
less Of the fact that the mutinecrs
! possess heavy artillery.