The commonwealth., 1921-03-30
STATE Of UNREST AND.
DISTRESS PREVAILS r
IN ALL RUSSIA
~ 's66 boOOst :.

morse Tor three boxes OF matches or =
"a kilo Of salt, it is declared by per- q
sons said to be in tounch with condi n
tions in the interior of the country. Z
Observers cite this state of affairs
as the cause Of the counter revolution
in March which, they say, began to
take definite form in January. I'm
.wieldiness Of the Soviet admintstra-
tive machine, the difference among
the Bolshevist leaders and the fuel
crisis with consequent stoppage Of
transportation and lack of food are
given as the reasons for the subver
sive movement.
Discomfort which was prevalent
throughout Russia during the war
of the invading enemy, could no long
er be repressed when the fighting |
men returned home to find want and i
distress.
| The first signs of revolt against +
the existing order are said to have |
been apparent at the Russian trades
union congress in Moscow last Nov |
ember There were further eviden-
cea of dissatisfaction in the eighth
All Russian Soviet Congress which
;convened in splendor at Moscow last
December. These symptoms of reac
ton, it is stated, were unapparent on
the surface, but made themselves
felt among those behind the scenes.
Harmonious resolutions were adopted,
but the attack came from a quarter
i whose Importance could not be doubt
| ed.
/ In this Eighth Congress, the metal IS
workers and miners unions, led by
Schliapnikoff, urged the democratiza
ton Of the government which, it was
. charged, was military and bureau
cratic. Schliapnikoff also demanded
that the food administration be- plac
ed entirely in the hands Of the trade
unions. This was plainly attack
mittee and the highest soviet author
tiles.
} More recently the press Of the
t country has shown signs of greater
d freedom and has not hesitated to at
:. tack policies of the government,
e which, it is said, has intrenched it
e. self by appointing thousands of petty
e officials.
!, amin osities between leaders. For in
stance, Trotzky and his followers are
declared to be set upon a policy OF
naturalization Of trade unions,
whereas Lenine believes it wiser to
maintain the independence of the un-
4 ions apart from the government and
D';to use them as training schools for
Communism. And there are numerous
s. other groups which, it is stated, are
ID bent upon other projects, revealing a
a tendency to destroy the former unity
i'll of front in Russian policy.
1e Within recent weeks the transpor
n tation of coal from The Donetz val
Of ley has grown steadily less. The pro
e. duction was between 100000 and 400
in 900 tons monthly, but only about
so 10000 tons were loaded for raj
ne haulage, due to the practice of ex
e preparation by subordinate soviet
n, corporations or councils.
e. simultaneously with the reduction
:h in the coal supply, there was an al
or most complete cessation Of delivery
ne of wood In addition to this, th
he snowless winter and the slaughter O.
ed horses in 1920 added to the difficul
ties of local transport.
Lack of fuel resulted in the shut
IN ting down Of rail traffic. Accord1n
lie to soviet newspapers no trains ar
ny running on 50 lines and on the 'otner
only rudimentary schedules are be1n
ma aintained.
Ter Little hope for improvement is hel
zee out unless supplies of napthsa store
Of at Baku can be brought into the ce1
ter of the country.