Red Congress

At the fifth Congress of the Third Internationale, attended by 500 delegates of 60 countries, "Red Emperor" Zinoviev, President of the Third Internationale, admitted that the Communist cause Was losing ground in the majority of western countries. Figures quoted to show the decreased strength of the Party in the following countries:

U. S. from 20,000 to 5,000 Britain from 10,000 to 3,000 France from 130,000 to 100,000 Germany from 300,000 to 250,000

It was also admitted that there had been a considerable falling off in South America.

Zinoviev, however, counselled the Reds not to lose heart. Said he naively: "We were mistaken in our judgment regarding the speed of the world revolution, and where we had to calculate upon years we have been calculating upon months. But time works in our favor, and we are now witnessing the strengthening of the Communist movement in practically every country of the globe." One fine, starry night the 500 delegates trooped into Red Square at Moscow and grouped themselves around the jet black tomb of Lenin. To the top of the tomb went Kalinin, the peasant-President of the Central Executive Committee of Soviets, and there he extolled the greatness of the dead Russian leader. More than 15,000 people assembled to witness the impressive scene.

After Kalinin had spoken, the delegates were permitted to descend into the tomb and view the body of Lenin through the heavy glass cover of the red coffin. Outside the proletariat sang revolutionary songs.

At a session of the Congress in the Opera House, the wildest ovation was given to War Lord Leon Trotzky.

The Secretary of the Internationale called the roll of the "presidium," each member answered his name, took his seat at the red-clothed table on the stage, was greeted by hand-clapping. When Trotzky's name was mentioned, there was no response. The Secretary was about to pass on to other business when the War Lord stole in, silently took his seat.

"There's Trotzky! Hurrah for Trotzky!" cried a voice from the gallery.

Bedlam was let loose. Cheers and shouts for Trotzky filled the Opera House. The orchestra tried to compel silence by playing The Internationale, but apparently no one heard it. Throughout the earsplitting demonstration Trotzky sat motionless, his head resting on his hands. Minute followed minute, and still the cheers continued to reverberate from wall to wall until, ten minutes later, Nature conquered the super-vociferous by robbing them of their breath.

The Secretary, soon afterward, asked the Congress to salute the Red Army, Navy and Air Forces. "Why not Trotzky?" yelled a voice. For five long minutes the proceedings were held up again while the whole assembly rose to its feet and cheered with furious enthusiasm.

Said a spectator: "If Trotzky had risen to speak then, he would have carried the audience, Moscow and all Russia with him. He might have swept the other party leaders aside and become a dictator--anything. But he remained motionless and gave no sign. That's Trotzky--too loyal, too sincere, to think of self at the risk of causing a split in the party--Trotzky, the man they accused of menshevism, individualism, ambition."

* Lenin's body, which of necessity had been shut off from public view (TIME Tune 2) has recently been reembalmed and placed in a new coffin.