russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第20节
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Her dependence on imports from abroad is lessening。〃 He gave an
example in salt； the urgent need of which has led to the opening of a new
industry； whose resources are such as to enable Russia not only to supply
herself with salt； but the rest of the world as well if need should be。
I asked what were their immediate plans with regard to the
electrification of Moscow。 He said that there was no water power near
Moscow but big turf deposits which would be used as fuel。 In order not
to interfere with the actual lighting of the town from the power…station
already in existence； they are taking the electric plant from the Provodnik
works； which will supply enough electricity for the lighting of the town。
As soon as that is set up and working； they will use it for the immediate
needs of Moscow； and set about transferring the existing power…station to
the new situation near the turf beds。 In this way they hope to carry out
the change from coal to turf without interfering with the ordinary life of
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the town。 Eventually when things settle down they will get a larger plant。
I said； 〃Of course you have a double object in this； not only to lessen
the dependence of the industrial districts on fuel that has to be brought
from a distance； and of which you may be deprived； but also to lessen the
strain on transport！〃
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃Indeed at the present moment the latter is our
greatest difficulty； hampering everything we would wish to do。 And
transport we cannot put right without help from abroad。 Therefore we do
everything we can to use local resources； and are even developing the coal
deposits near Moscow； which are of inferior quality to the Donetz coal；
and were in the old days purposely smothered by the Donetz coal…owners；
who wished to preserve their monopoly。〃
I asked him if in his opinion Russia could organize herself without
help from abroad。 He said； 〃I rather think she will have to。 We want
steam dredgers； steam excavators； and locomotives most of all； but we
have small hope of getting them in the immediate future； because the
effects of the war have been so serious in the disorganization of industry
in the western countries that it is doubtful whether they will be in a
position to supply even their own needs。〃
While we were talking Berg； the secretary； came in。 I asked him how
his Soviet matches were progressing； and he said that the labels were
being printed and that the first lot would soon be ready。 They will be
distributed on the card system； and he had calculated that they could sell
them at twelve kopecks a packet。 I paid a rouble for a box of ordinary
matches at Bieloostrov； and a rouble and a half here。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
THE RACE WITH RUIN
After leaving Rykov I went to see Krestinsky； the Commissar of
Finance； the curious little optimist whose report on the Extraordinary Tax I
had heard at the last meeting of the Executive Committee。 I found him in
the Ilyinka street； in the Chinese town。 I began by telling him that I did
not believe that they meant to pay the loans。 He laughed and gave me
precisely the answer I had expected： 〃Of course we hope there will be a
revolution in other countries； in which case they will repudiate their debts
and forgive us ours。 But if that does not happen we know very well that
we shall have to pay； and we are prepared to pay； and shall be able to pay；
in concessions； in raw material which they need more than they need
gold。〃
Then； being myself neither an economist nor a theoretical socialist； I
put before him what had been said to me in Stockholm by an Englishman
who was both one and the other； namely； that； being isolated from
European finance； the Soviet Government of Russia was bound to come to
an end on economic and financial grounds alone。
He said： 〃That would certainly be so； if rising prices； rising wages；
were to mean indefinitely increased demands on the printing machines for
paper money。 But； while we are at present forced to print more and more
money； another process is at work which； in the long run； will bring this
state of things to an end。 Just as in our dealings with other countries we
exchange goods instead of paying in money； so within our own frontiers
money is ceasing to be the sole medium of exchange。 Gradually the
workmen are coming to receive more and more in other forms than money。
Houses； for example； lighting and heating are only a beginning。 These
things being state monopolies； the task of supplying the workman's needs
without the use of money is comparatively easy。 The chief difficulty is；
of course； food supplies； which depend on our ability to keep up an
exchange of goods with the villages。 If we can supply the villages with
manufactured goods； they will supply us with food。 You can fairly say
that our ruin or salvation depends on a race between the decreasing value
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of money （with the consequent need for printing notes in ever greater
quantities） and our growing ability to do without money altogether。 That
is of course； a broad view； and you must not for a moment suppose that we
expect to do without money in the immediate future。 I am merely
showing you the two opposing tendencies on which our economic fate
depends。〃
I will not set down here what he said about the Extraordinary Tax； for
it was merely a repetition of what I had heard him say in committee。 In
connection with it； however； he admitted that capitalism and profiteering
were hard things to root out； saying that they had great difficulty in getting
at what he called 〃the new bourgeoisie；〃 namely the speculators who have
made fortunes since the revolution by selling scarce food products at
fantastic prices。 It was difficult to tax them because they carried on their
operations secretly and it was next to impossible to find out who they were。
They did not bank their money； and though an attempt had been made to
get at them through the house committees； it was found that even these
committees were unable to detect them。 They will； however； be made to
disgorge their ill…gotten gains when the measure first proposed by
Sokolnikov last summer is put into practice。 This is a general exchange
of new money for old； after which the old will be declared invalid。 〃Of
course；〃 said Krestinsky； 〃they will cheat in every possible way； scattering
out the money among a number of friends and relations。 But something
will have been done in cleaning them up； and that process will be
completed by a second exchange of money later on。〃
Fifteen milliards of new notes for the first exchange are already
printed； but they think that twenty milliards will be necessary。
I asked if the new money was better looking than the old； if it looked
more like money that was worth having than the wretched little notes
printed by the Provisional Government and scornfully called 〃Kerenkies〃
by the populace。 Krestinsky said he was afraid not； but that the second and
final exchange would be made in notes which they expected to be
permanent。 They did not expect the notes of the first exchange to
circulate abroad； but the notes of the second would carry with them state
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obligation and they expected them to go into general currency。 He added；
smiling that the words 〃Proletariat of all lands； unite；〃 were to appear on
the notes in eight languages。 The question of the look of the notes； of
their ability to inspire confidence by their mere appearance； is of real
importance in a country where so many of the peasantry will judg
