Evening star., 1937-07-02
Soviet Strife Spans Sea
America Has Own Stain Trotsky Dispute Under
Camouhaged Banners.

openly stated, for policies which are
made with a continual eye on far
distant events in Russia, Germany |
and Spain. He is not asked to join |
Communists" Of either coloration. He
is asked to join "progressives" or
liberals" And if he happens to think
that neither Trotsky nor Stain is a
liberal or holds the key to policies
which will give organized labor its
happiest position in the American
democracy, he is branded as a
Fascist"
Makes Adjustment.
Yet the whole popularfro move
ment is nothing but an adjustment
which the Russian Government has
made to its own peculiar international
situation. Until Hitler came into
power the international policy OF the
Russian Government under Stain was
what is now called Trotskyist. 1t
vigorously opposed the collaboration
OF American, French or British Com
munists with any progressive or
liberal" factions. In Germany for
instance. 1t opposed collaboration with
the middle of the road parties to de-
feat Hitler for president, in behalf OF
Hindenburg 1t looked forward then
to precisely what Mr.. Hitler looks for
ward to now, the ultimate collabora-
ton Of Russia and Germany, in
mutual exchange Of goods and serv-
ices, under a common banner. The
only difference was that Russia then
thought the banner would be the red
flag, and Germany now intends that
the banner shall be the sWastika.
The fear OF a German conquest led
the Communist International, domi-
mated by Russia, radically to reverse
itself. Now Russia felt that she
needed help from the democratic
capitalistic countries. Therefore she
joined the League Of Nations, made
overtures to France, adopted a fake
democratic" constitution and in
structed her yes-men in all countries
to urge the popular front. AS result
Mr.. BroWder became liberal" and
began talking in way which two
years earlier would have caused him
TO be read out of the Communist party.
And Trotsky, the exiled international
and permanent revolutionary, was
forced by sheer logic to embark on a
totally nihilistic policy Of opposition
in the hope OF saving. or restarting,
the Bolshevist revolution.
Natural Disagreement in A.ussia.
Now il these changes in the world
situation have so disrupted radical
movements even in the United States,
how could they help but lead to the
most serious difficulties inside Russia?
The complete volte-face which Rus
sia has made since Hitler could hardly
| be accomplished without enormous in
ternal differences Of opinion. About
these differences We know almost Moth
ing because differences OF opinion
about fundamental policy express
themselves behind closed doors in Rus
sia, in inner party councils. There
must have been immense differences of
opinion in the Russian army-as there
are in the German army-since for
years the two armies had collabora ted
in a most intimate way We may take
it that those differences have not died
down; that the prospect Of possible
victory for Franco in Spain, OF the
possible loss Of any British or French
support in the event Of . war with
Germany confined to Eastern Europe,
seriously dismays the Red Army lead
ers. And under despotisms all differ
ences Of opinion which seek transla-
tion into action must, Of necessity,
take the form Of conspiracy.
tCopyright, 1877