The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-08

nndut CledT tHdI the rdInlne, inc
Industrial decline, the general retro
gression. economically and socially,
in Russia have not shaken the
power of the Communist party. nor
OF its leaders. particularly Lenin.
1t seems quite clear that the only
going political concern in Russia
today is the Communist party. 1t
has, forcibly, eliminated its rivals.
The Congress also supplied proof
of the loyalty and relatively salts
factory condition of the Red army
upon which the Lenin-Trotzky re-
Sime rests. Discussions in the con-
gress brought out the fact that the
new economic policy has not yet
produced any great effects and that
very great problem in Russia is
still the land question. The peas
ants do not know just how COM
plete their ownership is. are
anxious to ind out. And, from an
other angle. II is clear that a great
task of the Soviet government Is
to induce greater and more efficient
production.
If one may draw any conclusion
from the Ninth All-Russian Soviet
Congress. it would be that the pres
emit government can be changed
only by evolution, not revolution
and that. further. it will be so
changed. One might venture to
predict, further. that the govern
ment of Russia is likely to becom.
more genuinely representative and
democratic. as the policy of the
Communists, led by Lenin. becomes
more in accord with the real desires
of the Russian people.
Indian Situation Favorable.
Three congresses. not one, were
in session during the past week in
India The prominence given to the
rOn-cO-Operationist campaign of
MOhandas C"Mahatmas") Gandhi
might almost cause one to overlook
other elements and other factors
present in the Indian situation and
to fail to notice the two other con-
crosses which took place stimuli
taneOusly with Gandhfs All-India
National Congress. The other two
congresses were those OF the ALL
India Liberal Federation and the
All-India Moslem League. The con-
gress of the All-lndia Mosiem
League was held in the same city
as the All-lndia National Congress,
Ahmedabad. and Gandhi was in
attendance as an invited guest. The
~All-India Liberal Federation held
its sessions at AIlahabad.
At the Arl-India National Con-
gress, Gandhi was voted sole exec
utive power. and his policy of nom
violence was Endorsed. An attempt
to get the congress to approve
force in a campaign to secure COM
plete Indian independence was
Overwhelmingly defeated. 1t seemed
to be well understood a 1.-THE con-
clusion Of the congress that Gan
dhi's political program is not sep
aratiOn from the British empire
but a different status. apparently a
dominion status, within the en-
pire. At the opening session OF the
All-India Moslem League President
Hazrat Mohandi called for the dec
!. laration Of a republic on New Years
Day, and advocated guerilla war
fare to secure the republic, IL nec-
essary. but it is significant that
when the league came to adopt res
olutions. no such radical action as
suggestion by the president was
taken. The resolutions, as reported
were of a non-contentious charac-
ter. At the session of the All-India
Liberal Federation, the president
Govind Araghava Iyer. urged the
Liberals to strive for dominion
status within the empire, to well
come the Prince of Wales and to
cooperate peacefully with the Brit
ish authorities. He also regretted
-
which had resulted in aba ndonment
of the conference with the viceroy.
Violence Not Threatened.
One may venture to judge from
the actions and events mentioned
that the prospect Of violence in In
dia Is not imminent. The Moslems,
who are not by nature prone to
use merely peaceful means to gain
their ends, but who, apparently,
fall In with the non-co-operationist
plan as a temporary matter of ex-
pediency, do not dare to break
AWAY from the Gandhi method. Yet,
perhaps, Gandhi himself may see in
the sentiments expressed at the
Moslem congress the inherent dim
Guilty OF a permanent peaceful ac-
commodation between Hindus and
Moslems: and he may also be con-
WINGED, from the attitude of the Lib
erals. OF the desirability of favorinS
a moderate, non-separationist pol
icy.
1t may be apparent to Gandhi that
an alliance between Moslems and
Hindus is likely to be temporary
and fraught with danger. If he
has this in mind. he will not seek to
throw Off the steadying power OF
the British connection. He will,
rather. seek a greater degree of In
dian self-government and Indian
self-development. and this, it Is not
unlikely. Britain will grant The
round-table conference, abandoned
on account of Gandhi's attitude,
may be an occurrence OF the not
disant future after all.
Move en,' Say All.
Ebba Goldman and Alexander
Berkman seem now to be playing the
role OF the Wandering Jew or 1.-THE
Man Without a Country" Of the
famous story. They found they were
-. out of place in Russia; there was
much too much government in Rus
STA to suit them. So. apparently with
the consent. and perhaps to the re-
lief. of the Soviet government, the
two somewhat soiled idealists left
Russia for Latvia. in their inter-
minsble wearying effort to find, or
create. a happy. ungoverned Utopia.
At Riga they met chilly, incon-
siderate reception They were told to
Move on" And they were informed
that they must not stay more than