WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 1924 (UP) - The sudden death of Nikolai Lenin, who was perhaps the greatest single force in the Bolshevik revolution and the subsequent soviet government, will not cause any material changes in the conduct of the government, as far as I can see.
During my visit to Russia last summer I was unable to see Lenin, because at that time he was quite ill, but I did see Trotsky and I had talks with other soviet officials which gave me a good insight into their government. In addition to these talks, only Monday night I had a long conversation with Colonel William Haskell, who was in charge of American relief in Russia, and who, I think, is about the best informed man on Russian affairs in this country.
When I say I think no great change will occur in Russia, I say I think I speak advisedly, because, according to the latest reports, Trotsky has been relegated to lower place in the administration of Russian affairs.
Lenin was a moderationist. He was a man willing to compromise when he saw the best interests of the country at stake. He cast aside a great many of the ideas with which he started the communist regime, and in the end he gave up practically all of them with the exception of the ownership of the land, which he firmly kept in the hands of the soviet government.
The men now in charge, Kamenoff in particular, will carry on the policies which the great Russian leader dictated from his sick bed. With the ousting of Trotsky, the fruition of these policies seems assured. Trotsky was a radical, while Lenin and the men now in power were moderationists.
The trend of affairs will be away from communism except insofar as the land is concerned, and I am informed that the soviet leaders intend to maintain government ownership at all costs. The cooperative movement is growing. When I was in Russia it had reached the point where its stability is assured, and I think that it will grow instead of slacken. The death of Lenin was unfortunate, but I believe that they will carry on without him, as they have done, to all intents and purposes, during the past two years.
(Copyright 1924 by United News)
