Despite the pleasing pictures which have been drawn of Russian conditions subsequent to the November revolution by sympathizers of the Soviet regime returning to this country from Russia, it is evident from an examination of documents published in the various official journals of the Soviet regime that the description of the conditions necessarily attending upon the Socialist revolution given by Lenin which we have just quoted was fully realized throughout the territory over which the Soviets exerted their power.

While the Russian Communist Party under the leadership of Lenin and Trotzky had succeeded in gaining control of the machinery of the Soviets, it was quite evident that it had not succeeded in gaining the support of the majority of the population. This was shown at the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, elected three weeks after the Bolshevik Revolution, the election of which had been authorized by the Kerensky government.

This Assembly met in Petrograd in January to take charge of the government. But it was at once dissolved by force by Lenin and Trotzky because it was found to have a large anti-Bolshevik majority.

For the purposes of this report the description of conditions bearing on this subject may best be taken from admissions of Ludwig C. A. K. Martens, Soviet representative in the United States, at the public hearing of this Committee on December 11, 1919, when he was asked the following questions:

"Q. After the November revolution of 1917, when the Russian Communist Party assumed control of the government, did they not allow the greatest freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly in Russia? A. Yes, they did. "Q. And subsequent to that time were there elections held for a Constituent Assembly? A. Yes.

"Q. And were those elections held throughout the entire territory under the control of the Soviets? A. Yes.

"Q. About how long a period was occupied in the campaigns for these elections? A. I think a couple of months. "Q. And were delegates chosen during those campaigns for members of the Constituent Assembly? A. Yes, they

were.

Q. And what were the various parties that ran candidates for that Assembly? A. The three main parties: One, the

THE BEGINNING OF THE BOLSHEVIST JULY UPRISING IN PETROGRAD

This Photograph Was Taken From an Official Album of the Russian Revolution, Issued by the Russian Soviet Bureau.

A DETACHMENT OF RED GUARD SAILORS WHO DISSOLVED CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY This Photograph Was Taken From an Official Album of the Russian Revolution, Issued by the Russian Soviet Bureau.