Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12

To world fascinated by the eccentric
brilliance of the aristocratic Tchicherin
and the dynamic bluster of the individu-
alist Litvinoff, the emergence of Russian
Foreign Minister Vyacheslaff Mikhailo-
vich Molotoff as the voice of Josef Stain
in international affairs comes as q mild
shock His rise to prominence, however,
has been thoroughly in keeping with
Stains practice Of advancing only those
associates in whom he has implicit trust.
Before Molotoff was appointed peoples
commissar for foreign affairs in May to
succeed Litvinoff, whose Jewish blood
and democratic tendencies were hinder
ing the conclusion of Soviet agreements
with National Socialist Germany, he was,
as he still is, chairman of the Council of
Peoples Commissars, or Prime Minister.
Not until his later appointment, how
ever, did the chancelleries of Europe and
the Americas and the international jour-
nalists think him important enough for
biographical study. As a result, little is
known Of the personal history of this
efficient Bolshevik, who at the age of -,
is one Of the five top Russians who are
determining the fate of 180,O000 900 So
Wet citizens and who may have a decisive
hand in shaping the future Of the world.
Many disparaging phrases have been
applied to Molotoff, such as the one at
tributed to Lenin that he was the best
filing clerk in the Soviet Union" or the
covert observation in Moscow that he is
Stains shadow" But among those who
have known him, he has the reputation
Of being highly intelligent, quick witted.
suave and well poised with an attractive
personality Of his own. He Is one of the
few Russian leaders without trace of
affectation or. pose. He makes no effort
to gain popularity with the masses, and
unlike most Russians he has a highly
developed sense Of order and neatness
which he carries into his personal dress.
Outstanding Achievements.
Within the Communist party and the
Soviet government, Molotoff has several
outstanding achievements to his credit.
As Stains man Friday he cleaned up
several political messes when the op-
position to Stain began to get out Of
hand; he took over the collective farm
ing program Stain had previously ap-
propriated from Trotsky; he helped draft
the constitution of 1886, and with Stain
conducted the negotiations with Foreign
Minister Won Ribbentrop which led to
the signing of the Soviet German trade
and non-aggression pacts.
Before he was appointed Prime Min
lister he held many important party posi-
lions, such as secretary of the Central
Committee of the party in the Ukraine
and of the All-Union Central Commit
tee. He was a delegate to the Third,
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth World Con-
crosses of the Communist International
and at one time was member of the
presidium and of the political secretariat
of the Executive Committee of the Com.
intern.
In the government, as distinct from
the party, he has been member of the
presidium of the Central Executive Com
mittee Of the U. S. S. r., and formerly
was president Of the Soviet OF Labor and
Defense, an influential post with great
power over the economic development of
the nation.
Most impressive to the foreign Offices
OF the world, however, is the fact that
he Is member of the dictatorial Politi-
cal Bureau of the party, which deter
mines the policies the government must
follow. He was appointed to this post
in 1924 after serving an apprenticeship
as deputy member. Tchicherin and
Litvinof were never members of this
unique group and were forced to carry
out the foreign policies it determined
BY virtue of his membership, Molotoh
has voice in making policy.
Family Well-to.Do.
To understand Molotofis present i'm
portance. 1t. is necessary to understand
his early background. especially the Pc
Rod when he first subor1inated his per-
sonality and ambitions to the older and
more aggressive Stain, his colleague In
communism for more than q quarter Of
century.
Like Stain he discarded his family
name. He was born In Kukard, q small
town near Kazan on the upper volga
River, in 1890. His fathers name was
Scriabjn, and his uncle was the famous
modern composer, Alexander scriabin.
When he was l6 years old he took the
oath Of loyalty to the Social Democratic
party, renouncing his family and taking
the name Molotoh, which means "ham.
mer." Subsequent events demonstrated
that II he is the Communist hammer,
the person who Yields that hammer Il
Stain, the man of steel.
According to Russian standards, Molo-
toff's family was modestly well-to-do.
When only 10 years old and still stu
dent In Kazan, Moloton was arrested
when leaving q political meeting. He
was sentenced to two years imprison-
ment, but because Of his age or perhaps
because Of family influence he was exiled
to his home village. 2ESfs
After the two years had passed, he en-.
rolled In the Polytechnical Institute ut
Petersburg, but year later he was writ
ing for the underground Marxist news
papers zvezda (star) ana Pravda