Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-02
Trotsky Expelled

Leon Trotsky, once the right hand
OF Lenin in the organization and
maintenance of the bolshevik regime
in Russia, has at last been expelled
from the Communist internationale
at Moscow. This action was taken
yesterday by the Presidium Of the
Soviet, which is the central governing
body, after many months of conflict
and disturbance within the ranks of
the Communists. Ever since Lenin's
death Trotsky has been slipping from
his position Of authority and infiu.
ence. In 1928 he clashed with the new
rulers Of the Communist party, and
his expulsion was then expected, but
a compromise was effected. 1t was
announced that Trotsky was des.
perately ill and that he was in need
Of a protracted rest. He went into
seclusion. Whether his illness was
real or feigned, he recovered and
emerged from his retirement with
much of his old popularity. But he
had failed to take warning from the
action Of the commissars in power at
Moscow in granting him leave Of alb.
sence," and he continued his furious
opposition to the new economic policy
of the Soviet government. With him
was associated Gregory Zinovief, and
on several occasions these two have
been disciplined and denoted, only to
recant their antagonism and be re-
ceived back into some degree Of au.
thority. At last Trotsky and Zinovief
undertook the organization OF a def.
mite group Of opposition against
Stain. who is today the real head of
the Communist organization. In June
the Presidium Of the central control
committee recommended the dismis.
sal Of Trotsky and Zinovief, and in
August the committee voted to extend
expulsion proceedings. It seems as
though again these two had escaped
custer. But at last it became neces-
sary to determine their status in view
OF the fact that the all-Russian Con-
gress Is to meet in November and that
If Trotsky and Zinovief were left un.
disciplined they would carry their oppo.
sition into that assemblage. Yesterday
action resulted through the unanimous
vote Of the Presidium. But Zinovief
was not included. The order of expul.
sion ran against Trotsky and vuyo.
vich, who has been one Of his chief
aids in the opposition fight. Why Zinc.
vlef was not disciplined remains to be
explained.
Trotsky has stood for a more thor.
oughly communistic policy than that
which has been adopted by the Stain
group now in control. In his final
speech before the Presidium, where he
defended his course, he declared that
the Stalin.Bukharin coalition has
placed the question Of survival above
everything else. Then followed his
expulsion, which was explained as
necessary to prevent the disruption of
the Lenin ranks and to counteract the
undermining activities Of Opposition
list rebels"
1t is not to be expected that Trotsky
will cease his activities. His persist
ence in opposition shows that he IL de-
termined to force the issue. He was
at one time the idol Of the Red army.
Should he possess any remaining In
fiuence or prestige with the troops he
may make serious trouble for the
Soviet government. But the chances
are that his power has waned and
that, while he will be a thorn in the
Soviet flesh. he will not be able te
effect its dissolution. -'