THE SOVIET . ARMY [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] Sm,—I
must take exception to Mr. J. Baker White's statement that I conclude " no information can possibly be accurate unless it is pro-Bolshevik." Undiluted eulogy of Soviet affairs is in my view just as objectionable as the consistent hostility of the Economic League, no matter from what point of view the subject is approached. The Economic League, which I understand is linked through prominent members with the definitely pro-Nazi Anglo-German Fellowship or Association, is, of course, quite free, when commenting on Russia, to confine itself to anti-Soviet propaganda ; but I submit that if it does so then to call itself " The Economic League " is misleading and indefensible. I write as a former manager of factories who has kept in touch with the publica- tions of this body for years.
The list of Soviet army officers referred to but not included in Mr. White's letter has been sent on to me. It contains 72 names only, and bears a marked resemblance to a list previously sent me by the International Anti-Communist Entente, even to the extent of many names beig recorded in the same order (not alphabetically). Neither list gives any information by which it can be checked, and in any event the total falls short of Mr. White's 384 officers by over 3oo—a very considerable difference. In view of anti-Soviet bias I do not feel justified in accepting even these lists withoin means of checking them more satisfactory than Mr. White's vague reference to " the Soviet Press, more particularly Krasnaia Zvesta." • Only a- few weeks ago in the Glozweiter Citizen a correspondent referred me to an article in Isvestia, alleged to contain damaging information which Ilfound was completely non-existent after going to consideiable trouble to get the particular issue of that newspaper containing the .article.
In his remarks on the difficulty of replacing officers Mr. White seems to be thinking in terms of the British Army, where officers are drawn from a limited class, and where irrelevant considerations such as wealth or a title may influence promotion. In the Soviet Army officers are promoted solely for capability and efficiency, and being drawn mainly from the ranks a much greater reserve of capable men is available to select from.
Mr. White treats the statements I quoted from The Times as mere expressions of opinion. But the Special Correspondents of The Times are highly intelligent and experienced sifters of information ; and the fact that they cannot be accused of bias in favour of the Soviet makes their testimony in this instance all the more valuable. I submit that the report of the Warsaw Correspondent does not warrant the interpretation Mr. White seeks to put upon it. Let me add that in The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post of September 24th, the Moscow Corre- spondent of that journal, referring to pressure by the Soviet on Poland to prevent the forcible occupation of Teschen, said : " Such pressure is well within the Soviet's range of effective action."—Yours faithfully, HUGH P. VOWLES. The Old Rectory, Harescombe, Glos.
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