The New York herald., 1921-05-23

dry. Once he allowed the farmers TO
buy and sell he abandoned his Commun-
ism, and that surrender Is. as the able
Russian correspondent Of the New York
World put ii, ''the most momentous
move since the Russian revolution.
1t Is a confession OF mistakes
committed and an unhesitating renun-
ciation Of the most ardently cherished
Communist beliefs"
Michael Farbman. who writes these
words is not a Bolshevik. Like myself
he is only interested in finding out what
the Russian situation actually Is, and
he therefore discounts anti-Bolshevist
propaganda just as much as he discounts
Bolshevist propaganda
1t is possible, Of course, that Lenine
is insincere, but Mr.. Shadweh. we'll
informed student OF Russian affairs and
a merciless critic of Bolshevism recently
has written in the London Times to the
effect that Lenine has always been
frank. | agree with him. The frank
ness OF Leninc is astonishing but 1t is
a mistake to suppose that he has never
changed In his pamphlet Die Not des
Dorfes'' he declared himself in favor of
giving the peasant absolute ownership
of his land. Since 1905 he changed his
views on that point. (See his Revision
bes Agrorischen Programms der Arbeit-
erpartei," Petersburg. 1906, s. 81, where
he insists that the Bolsheviki should
support "the inclination of the revolu-
tionary peasants to abolish present prt-
yate ownership in land.")
Leninc May Change Again.
AS he has changed on this point once,
he may change again. especially in view
of the convincing proofs he has had
tt.. 1pct tl1af naa ~ n q N
never become Communist. And II the
muzhik is not Communist the greater
part of Russia will not be Communist.
The Bolshevlki are now reported to be
getting ready the old imperial mint in
the fortress of IS. Peter and Paul in
order to turn out silver rubles, for they
know that the country folk will not part
with their produce for paper money.
Lenine has even implied in speech of
which l have already sent report to
TIE New YORK HERALD that the for
eign factories will be partly denational-
lied. and If this Is done Communism will
soon disappear from the towns, for the
worlSmen In the private factories Will
be so much better off and do SO much
better work than those in the Govern
ment factories that the latter soon will
| be deserted
| A conference of railway chiefs sitting
| at Moscow resolved to give the supplying
of fuel to private enterprise. The Soviet
Government declared resolutely. of
course. that foreign trade will only be
handled by the Soviet Government but
already we find that an agreement has
been signed between the Rumanian CO.
operatives and the South Russian Co
operatives regarding exchange Of goods.
| The discomfort of the Petrograd work.
men last month also has been dealt with
by Lenine in a way that showed a
change in his policy. At the height of
the riot he sent Imperative orders that
workmen were not TO be fired on, and
these orders prevented him from losing
Petrograd. Then he boldly called to-
gether all the workmen who had been
In revolt against him and told them to
discuss what they desired to do, and,
| II possible, to send as many non-Bol-
shevist workmen as they liked TO work
| In Soviet institutions. THE cooperation
OF the nom party man." he said, "is
essential 10 u.s." and Zinoviev. going
one better said: Criticism is as neces-
sary to the Soviet Government. as oxy-
gen is to a man."
The Bolshevist newspapers and propa-
ganda took UP the same cry, and though
there Is probably a great deal OF insfn-
cerity in IL Ii indicates departure from
Bolshevist customs, which Is certainly
an event of enormous Importance. Per-
sons who refuse to believe that any
change has taken place unless they see
Lenine and Trotzky hanging side by
side in the Red Square at Moscow and
Kerensky ruling In the Kremlin are lack
ing in imagination or else i'll informed
or else SO prejudiced that their minds
are not open to conviction.
Had TussIc In Conference.
As for the Cooperatives Lenine had
f-