Evening star., 1939-05-07
By. Joseph H. Baird.

What he knows of Western Europe and
European politics is second hand.
1t will be recalled that the funda-
mental split between Stain and Trotsky
was over the question of whether the
Soviet regime should become a ma
tionalistic state, concentrating on the
task Of building Socialism in Russia, or
continue toward Lenins original goal OF
world revolution. Stain took the former
view, triumphed and booted Trotsky
over the border.
Now the old Bolsheviks, like the four
mentioned, eventually came to terms with
Stain and accepted his thesis. Publicly,
they denounced Trotskyism. Their
choice was between that and oblivion.
But it is doubtful whether in their souls
their conviction was sincere. And Stain,
apparently, never believed that it was.
Radek, Mikhailsky and Doletzsky all
were removed from their jobs and dis
appeared" in 1887 and 1888 Whether
Litvinoff will follow them is open to
conjecture. He is, in the international
world, of larger stature than the other
three. He has been perhaps. the most
astute and widely known foreign min
lister of the postwar period So it is
quite possible that Stain may find
further use for him in the diplomatic
field. But the guess Of most observers
who know Russia we'll is that he, like
his three friends, will fade in time from
the official Russian picture.
Stains personal dislike of Litvinof
has been we'll known in Moscow for some
years. In late 1888 and 1884 there was
a recurrent series of rumors in the diplo-
matte corps there that the foreign mill
lister soon would be replaced. Shortly
thereafter, however, he began his broad
scale campaign to build up safeguards
against the rising and aggressive Hitler
regime Although Litvinoff failed in his
major plan for an Eastern European
security pact, he formed series of al
liances with France, Czecho- -Slovakia and
Rumania; concluded non-aggression
pacts with Poland and the Baltic states
and led his one-time pariah country into
the Council of the League of Nations.
This series of diplomatic coups, it was re-
ported. saved him from the dismissal
which was supposedly imminent.
He was made, for the first time,
member of the Central Committee of
the Communist party and was awarded
the Soviet Unions highest decoration
the Order of Lenin. But his new achieve
ments quite probably, had no effect on
Stains innate dislike for him. They
only postponed the day of his downfall.
Lityinoff, like most of the old Bolshe-
viks. has led varied and colorful life.
He has, in his span of 81 years, run the
pamut of human conditions. He has
slept in jails and palaces. He has
known the thrills Of revolutionary
gun runner and the tedium of life as
travelling salesman in Great Britain. He
has been a common soldier and an inter-
national figure.
Born in the town of Bialostok-now In
Poland-of working-class family, Lit
yinof, while youth, entered the Rus
sian Army and joined the Social Demo-
cratic Revolutionary party while in the
service.
Met Lenin in Switzerland.
After leaving the army, he went to
Kiey in 1899 and established contact with
the underground" Revolutionary Com
mittee there. They were exposed and
tailed, but in 1902 Litvinof escaped and
went to Switzerland, where, in those
wears. the international revolutionary
movement, taking advantage Of Swiss
leniency toward political refugees, made
its headquarters. It was there that he
met Lenin and the group around him.
Iitvinoff's history between then ana
the revolution in Russia Of October,
1918. was very much like that Of all the
old Bolsheviks. Several times he sue
ceeded In entering Russia to conduct