russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第23节
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Trade and Industry and also President of the Committee for Supplying the
Needs of the Army。 He had disapproved of the November Revolution；
but last year； when things looked like going badly； he came to Russia from
Stockholm feeling that he could not do otherwise than help。 He is an
elderly man； an engineer； and very much of a European。 We talked first of
the Russian plans with regard to foreign trade。 All foreign trade； he said；
is now concentrated in the hands of the State； which is therefore able to
deal as a single customer。 I asked how that would apply to purchase； and
whether they expected that countries dealing with them would organize
committees through which the whole Russian trade of each such country
should similarly pass。 Krasin said； 〃Of course that would be preferable；
but only in the case of socialist countries。 As things are now it would be
very much to our disadvantage。 It is better for us to deal with individual
capitalists than with a ring。 The formation of a committee in England；
for example； with a monopoly of trade with Russia； would have the effect
of raising prices against us； since we could no longer go from a dear shop
to a cheaper one。 Besides； as socialists we naturally wish to do nothing
to help in the trustification of English manufacturers。〃
He recognized that foreign trade on any large scale was impossible
until their transport had been improved。 Russia proposed to do her
paying in raw material； in flax； timber； etc。； in materials of which she had
great quantities although she could not bring them to the ports until her
transport should be restored。 It would； therefore； be in the foreigner's
own interests to help them in this matter。 He added that they were
confident that in the long run they could； without foreign help； so far
restore their transport as to save themselves from starvation； but for a
speedy return to normal conditions foreign help was essential。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
The other question we touched was that of munitions。 I expressed
some surprise that they should be able to do so well although cut off from
the west。 Krasin said that as far as that was concerned they had ample
munitions for a long fight。 Heavy artillery is not much use for the kind
of warfare waged in Russia； and as for light artillery； they were making
and mending their own。 They were not bothering with three…inch shells
because they had found that the old regime had left scattered about Russia
supplies of three…inch shells sufficient to last them several years。
Dynamite also they had in enormous quantities。 They were
manufacturing gunpowder。 The cartridge output had trebled since
August when Krasin's committee was formed。 He thought even as things
were they could certainly fight for a year。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
THE PROPOSED DELEGATION
FROM BERNE
I do not remember the exact date when the proposal of the Berne
International Conference to send a Commission of Enquiry to Russia
became known in Moscow； but on February 20th everybody who came to
see me was talking about it； and from that date the question as to the
reception of the delegates was the most urgently debated of all political
subjects。 Chicherin had replied immediately to Berne； saying that
〃though they did not consider the Berne Conference either socialist or in
any degree representative of the working…class they nevertheless would
permit the Commission's journey into Russia； and would give it every
opportunity of becoming acquainted from all sides with the state of affairs；
just as they would any bourgeois commission directly or indirectly
connected with any of the bourgeois governments； even with those then
attacking Russia。〃
It may well be imagined that a reply in this style infuriated the
Mensheviks who consider themselves more or less affiliated to the parties
represented at Berne。 What； they shrieked； Kautsky not a socialist？ To
which their opponents replied； 〃The Government which Kautsky supports
keeps Radek in irons in a gaol。〃 But to me the most interesting thing to
observe was that Chicherin's reply was scarcely more satisfactory to some
of the Communists。 It had been sent off before any general consultation；
and it appeared that the Communists themselves were widely divided as to
the meaning of the proposal。 One party believed that it was a first step
towards agreement and peace。 The other thought it an ingenious ruse by
Clemenceau to get 〃so…called〃 socialist condemnation of the Bolsheviks as
a basis for allied intervention。 Both parties were； of course； wrong in so
far as they thought the Allied Governments had anything to do with it。
Both the French and English delegates were refused passports。 This；
however； was not known in Moscow until after I left； and by then much
had happened。 I think the Conference which founded the Third
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RUSSIA IN 1919
International in Moscow had its origin in a desire to counter any ill effects
that might result from the expected visit of the people of Berne。
Litvinov said he considered the sending of the Commission from
Berne the most dangerous weapon yet conceived by their opponents。 He
complained that he had been unable to get either Lenin or Chicherin to
realize that this delegation was a preparation for hostilities； not a
preparation for peace。 〃You do not understand that since the beginning of
the war there has been a violent struggle between two Internationals； one
of which does not believe in revolution while the other does。 In this case
a group of men already committed to condemn the revolution are coming
to pass judgment on it。 If they were not to condemn the revolution they
would be condemning themselves。 Chicherin ought to have put a
condition that a delegation of Left Socialists should also come。 But he
replied within an hour of getting the telegram from Berne。 These idiots
here think the delegation is coming to seek a ground for peace。 It is
nothing of the sort。 It is bound to condemn us； and the Bourgeois
Governments will know how to profit by the criticism； however mild； that
is signed by men who still retain authority as socialists。 Henderson； for
example （Henderson was at first named as one of the delegates； later
replaced by MacDonald）； will judge simply by whether people are hungry
or not。 He will not allow for reasons which are not in our control。
Kautsky is less dangerous； because； after all； he will look below the
obvious。〃 Reinstein remembered the old personal hostility between Lenin
and Kautsky； whom Lenin； in a book which Reinstein thought unworthy of
him； had roundly denounced as a renegade and traitor。 The only man in
the delegation who could be counted on for an honest effort to understand
was Longuet。
As the days went on； it became clear that the expected visit had
provided a new bone of contention between the Russian parties。 The
Communists decided that the delegates should not be treated with any
particular honour in the way of a reception。 The Mensheviks at once set
about preparing a triumphal reception on a large scale for the people
whom they described as the representatives of genuine socialism。 Demian
Biedny retorted in an extremely amusing poetic dialogue； representing the
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RUSSIA IN 1919
Mensheviks rehearsing their parts to be ready for the reception。 Other
Communists went to work to prepare a retort of a different kind。 They
arranged a house for the Berne d
