New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-17
Trade Issues
Widen Breach
In Soviet Ranks
Factions War Over Conces-
sions to Foreign Capital
lists and Reopening of
Relations ON Old Basis
Lenine's Influence Gone
Premier's Illness Renders
the Struggle More Acute;
Fight for Control of Press

A grave split in the ranks of the
Soviet government and the Bolshevik
party is indicated in news reaching
this city in the Bolshevik and non-Bol-
shevik press in connection with the re-
ported serious illness Of Nikolai Lee
nine, Bolshevik Premier.
According to information received by
the VOLTA Rossi, of Prague, the most
prominent Bolshevik Russian or
gan appearing in western Europe, Lee
nine is for the moment out of all touch
with the situation in Moscow. The
temporary withdrawal Of his influence,
it is declared, has served to render
more acute the struggle between the
Left and Right wings in the Soviet
government over the question of con-
cessions to foreign cap talists and the
reopening of trade relations on the old
economic basis.
Already, it is asserted, the struggle
has taken a sharp form, the two Boz
shevik factions being engaged in acrl-
monious debate and mutual accusa-
tions of "betrayal' and Counter rcvo-
luton" The Right faction is led by
Trotzky and Rykoff, head of the Su.
preme Economical Council. The Left
faction is under the leadership Of the
Bucharin. The conflict between these
two factions has taken the form
among others, of fighting for con-
troll of the two chief Bolshevik organs.
the Pravda and Izvestia. Copies OF
both papers reaching. this city snow
that the two principal organs Of Dol.
shevsm are supporting the policy OF
Lenine, Trotzky and Rykotf.
Admit Hostile Sentiment
The main argument of the so-callcd
conservative faction for the resumption
of trade relations with the Western
world is that just as the Bolsheviki
had agreed to the peace Of Brest Litovsk
with the Germans so should they now
accept a Brest-Litovsk peace with the
Entente along economic lines in order
to obtain another breathing space "
which would enable the Soviet govern
ment to buttress up the shattered eco
nomic structure of Russia.
Both factions admit the spread Of
hostile sentiment toward the Soviet
government and proclaim the neccs-
s;tv Of restoring the confidence of the
Russian working classes in the Soviet
government and it's leaders. At the
same time. however, it is declared by
the Bolshcvik chieftains that there can
be no let up in the measures of COM
rulsion and the militarist rule of
the Soviet government.
Writing in the Pravda, Trotzky says:
"There is growing among the broad
masses of workers and peasants feel
ing of acute discomfort because Of the
economic disorganization of the coun-
try" This discomfort, according to
Trotzky, "is so serious that it may
easily express itself in elemental out
bursts of opposition"
A+t;frJo Of tho DoOrIo
Referring to the frank criticism of
the Bolshcvik bureaucracy appearing
recently in the ,Bolshevik press, and
made openly by I1ninc himself, at the
recent conference Of the Communist
party Of the province of Moscow
Trotzky deplored this frankness, say
ing:
"By our cry against the bureaucracy
Of the Soviet regime, we are raising
in the minds Of the people the idea
that this bureaucracy is 4 monstrosity
which has found nest in the very
center Of the Soviet government and is
responsible for the lack Of food The
result is that the people arc now main
tanning the same attitude toward the
Soviet regime which they maintained
against capitalism, as force exploit
ing it and robbing it of it's toll. Our
prob is to regain the support of the
workers as We had in the days Of
t e October. revolution and to rein
snire the enthusiasm Of the workers.
However, do not think we can do away
with rerressons and the punishment
of the disobedient ones"
The hostile attitude of the workers