An Aspect of Russian Communim

Extract

AN ASPECT OF RUSSIAN COMMUNISM

Sir,

A correct understanding of Communism, both in theory and in practice, is perhaps at this moment the most important of all questions facing the civilised world. Therefore at the risk of tiring your readers I revert to it again. In a letter published two months ago your contributor, Fr. J. F. T. Prince, expressed the opinion that only personal knowledge of the situation could discredit the views expressed by him in a series of articles. As personal knowledge may always be questioned, whatever the qualifications of the writer, I prefer to give the translation of an official document, reference to which has already appeared in the daily Press. It is the report of Comrade Steinhart, head of the Politsector mtc (political section?), North Caucasus, to the Central Committee of the (Communist) Party, published in the official daily Pravda, Moscow, August 8th. A copy of this paper has been secured at the Soviet Bookshop, Bush House, and can be produced, if necessary. I believe it is now unobtainable. The translator has aimed at preserving the style and language of the original, though a few paragraphs have been curtailed.

‘REPORT

of Comrade Steinhart to the C.C. of the R.C.P. upon the safeguarding of the collective crops.

‘According to the initiative of the Political Section of North Caucasus a number of measures have been taken for the enlisting of the children of the collective farms (Kolkhosy) for the safeguarding of the harvest. On July 2nd the Kraikom (Regional Committee) of the Russian Communist Party agreed with the suggestion of the Political Section upon this question. Units of “light cavalry” formed from children of the collective farms and “pioneers” (soviet scouts) have already been organized.