The Washington herald., 1922-06-06
SOVIET TOTTERS
With LENlN ILL;
DEMOCRACY seen
Bakhmeteff, Leaving U.S.,
Will Consult Kerensky
Adherents in Paris,
PLOTTING IN DENIED
Anti-Bolsheviks Will Capital.
ize to Utmost American OPP
position to Present Rule.

NEW YORK. June 5.-A serious
blow to the strength of the Soviet
government is seen in the critical
Illness of NicolA Lenin, the Boil
shevik premier. by Russians here
who were connected with the Ker-
ensky regime.
Should Lenin be forced to give
up his leadership a period of fac
tional disturbance Is looked for,
which Is likely to be followed by
general disintegration of the GEN.
trail Soviet organization, according
to the Judgment OF those anti
Soviet Russians who are following
the situation closely.
After a season of general con-
fusion. Bolshevism. lacking the
dynamic personality Of Lenin to
hold it together. will disappear and
be succeeded by democratic form
OF government organized on more
or less conventional lines with pos
sibly numerous vestiges of the So
time. they think
Bakhmeter Going to Paris.
In this connection II is learned
that Boris Bakhmeteff. who has
agreed to retire as Ambassador to
the United States from the old pro-
visional government. is going to
Paris within a short time, where
he will consult with leaders OF the
anti Bolshevik group.
AnCng those Bakhmeteff expects
to see are Prince Lvoff, who was
president Of the first provisional
government and was succeeded by
Kerensky; Paul Miliukotf. who was
secretary of foreign affairs. and
Nicholas Avksentieff. who was sec
rotary Of interior and a powerful
figure in the councils of the pro-
visional government. though he is
less well known in America
number of other men who pos
sessed great influence during the
brief regime Of Kerensky will see
Eakhmeteff in Paris.
II is denied by Russians here
who are In a position to know that
any concerted plans have been
Whether any are made after Bakh-
meter gets to Paris will probably
depend on the situation in Russia
at that time. But IL is certain
that those Russians who were as
ISOLATED in the provisional govern
ment which formed upon the abb
dication of the Gar are planning
to take full advantage Of every
situation offered
VIII Overlook No Asset.
This group will not overlook the
asset they have in the rigidly anti
Bolshevist attitude OF the American
government. Hakhmeteff and his
associates have enjoyed che favor
Of the Wilson and Harding admin
iStrations alike and this IA :. is the
biggest taking point they will have
IL they decide to conduct a whis-
pering campaign through Russia IN
the near future. to prepare the
way for a return to power at the
Opportune moment
Russians remarked upon the
unique position of the United states
in relation to Russia now that
Rakhmeteff is retiring as Ambas-
sador. This leaves the United
States without a connecting link of
as was the case with Bakhmetefr.
Charles Recht. a New York lawyer,
is attorney for the Soviet govern
ment here. but he has no diplomatic
or official status other than as legal
representative engaged to attend
to Soviet business. He is not rccog-
nized by the United States as an
official representative and he Is SIM
ply an American citizen who has
been retained by the Moscow gov
eminent.
All other countries of conse-
Guence have exchanged representa-
tives with the Soviets. Even France.
IL is said by Russian spokesman
here. has exchanged official agents
with Moscow Each country has its
representative in the others cap
ital. with an adequate clerical stan.
to attend to business between the
two governments and their ma
tionals. although the governments
have not formally recognized each
other.
Farm Supplies Needed.
ReCht. who has just returned from
Russia, brought back an appalling
picture Of conditions there. I'm
eleven provinces alone, where the
famine has been most severe, sup
plies for 3.5OO.000 farms are needed"
Recht said.
The Soviet government for this
territory alone needs zoe. 700 plows.
$1,000 reapers and binders, 10000
tractors. $4,000 drilling machines,
10000 hay rakes. not to mention
binder Irvine. hand tools and other
farm supplies. Russia cannot hope
to procure over 5. or at the most
20 per cent of these. The remainder
must be imported"
Recht said there were difficulties
in the way Of making purchases.
however. as Russia cannot buy IN
America until her currency s,tua-
tion is adjusted. He thought some
form of credit might be extended.
however.
For her great industries, such as
mining and shipping, the Soviet
government Is seeking to bring In
foreign interests on a fifty-ffty
basis.
The valuable concessions within
Soviet control make such a plan
profitable for both sides. Recht said.
He is not authorized to negotiate
concessions or close contracts.
however, being only a legal repre-
sentative here. All trade arrange
ments in the United States must be
made by Leonid Krassin. the Soviet
trade commissioner in London.