russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Russia； to be once more in a 〃secret meeting。〃 It was really an
extraordinary affair and； in spite of some childishness； I could not help
realizing that I was present at something that will go down in the histories
of socialism； much like that other strange meeting convened in London in
1848。
The vital figures of the conference； not counting Platten； whom I do
not know and on whom I can express no opinion； were Lenin and the
young German； Albrecht； who； fired no doubt by the events actually taking
place in his country； spoke with brain and character。 The German
Austrian also seemed a real man。 Rakovsky； Skripnik； and Sirola the
Finn really represented something。 But there was a make…believe side to
the whole affair； in which the English Left Socialists were represented by
Finberg； and the Americans by Reinstein； neither of whom had or was
likely to have any means of communicating with his constituents。
March 4th。
In the Kremlin they were discussing the programme on which the
new International was to stand。 This is； of course； dictatorship of the
proletariat and all that that implies。 I heard； Lenin make a long speech；
the main point of which was to show that Kautsky and his supporters at
Berne were now condemning the very tactics which they had praised in
1906。 When I was leaving the Kremlin I met Sirola walking in the
square outside the building without a hat； without a coat； in a cold so
intense that I was putting snow on my nose to prevent frostbite。 I
exclaimed。 Sirola smiled his ingenuous smile。 〃It is March；〃 he said；
〃Spring is coming。〃
March 5th。
Today all secrecy was dropped； a little prematurely； I fancy； for when
I got to the Kremlin I found that the first note of opposition had been
struck by the man who least of all was expected to strike it。 Albrecht； the
young German； had opposed the immediate founding of the Third
International； on the double ground that not all nations were properly
represented and that it might make difficulties for the political parties
… Page 120…
RUSSIA IN 1919
concerned in their own countries。 Every one was against him。 Rakovsky
pointed out that the same objections could have been raised against the
founding of the First International by Marx in London。 The German…
Austrian combated Albrecht's second point。 Other people said that the
different parties concerned had long ago definitely broken with the Second
International。 Albrecht was in a minority of one。 It was decided therefore
that this conference was actually the Third International。 Platten
announced the decision； and the 〃International〃 was sung in a dozen
languages at once。 Then Albrecht stood up； a little red in the face； and
said that he； of course； recognized the decision and would announce it in
Germany。
March 6th。
The conference in the Kremlin ended with the usual singing and a
photograph。 Some time before the end； when Trotsky had just finished
speaking and had left the tribune； there was a squeal of protest from the
photographer who had just trained his apparatus。 Some one remarked
〃The Dictatorship of the Photographer；〃 and； amid general laughter；
Trotsky had to return to the tribune and stand silent while the unabashed
photographer took two pictures。 The founding of the Third International
had been proclaimed in the morning papers； and an extraordinary meeting
in the Great Theatre announced for the evening。 I got to the theatre at
about five； and had difficulty in getting in； though I had a special ticket as
a correspondent。 There were queues outside all the doors。 The Moscow
Soviet was there； the Executive Committee； representatives of the Trades
Unions and the Factory Committees； etc。 The huge theatre and the
platform were crammed； people standing in the aisles and even packed
close together in the wings of the stage。 Kamenev opened the meeting by
a solemn announcement of the founding of the Third International in the
Kremlin。 There was a roar of applause from the audience； which rose
and sang the 〃International〃 in a way that I have never heard it sung since
the All…Russian Assembly when the news came of the strikes in Germany
during the Brest negotiations。 Kamenev then spoke of those who had
died on the way； mentioning Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg； and the
… Page 121…
RUSSIA IN 1919
whole theatre stood again while the orchestra played； 〃You fell as
victims。〃 Then Lenin spoke。 If I had ever thought that Lenin was losing
his personal popularity； I got my answer now。 It was a long time before
he could speak at all； everybody standing and drowning his attempts to
speak with roar after roar of applause。 It was an extraordinary；
overwhelming scene； tier after tier crammed with workmen； the parterre
filled； the whole platform and the wings。 A knot of workwomen were
close to me； and they almost fought to see him； and shouted as if each one
were determined that he should hear her in particular。 He spoke as usual；
in the simplest way； emphasizing the fact that the revolutionary struggle
everywhere was forced to use the Soviet forms。 〃We declare our solidarity
with the aims of the Sovietists；〃 he read from an Italian paper； and added；
〃and that was when they did not know what our aims were； and before we
had an established programme ourselves。〃 Albrecht made a very long
reasoned speech for Spartacus； which was translated by Trotsky。
Guilbeau； seemingly a mere child； spoke of the socialist movement in
France。 Steklov was translating him when I left。 You must remember
that I had had nearly two years of such meetings； and am not a Russian。
When I got outside the theatre； I found at each door a disappointed crowd
that had been unable to get in。
The proceedings finished up next day with a review in the Red
Square and a general holiday。
If the Berne delegates had come； as they were expected； they would
have been told by the Communists that they were welcome visitors； but
that they were not regarded as representing the International。 There
would then have ensued a lively battle over each one of the delegates； the
Mensheviks urging him to stick to Berne； and the Communists urging him
to express allegiance to the Kremlin。 There would have been
demonstrations and counter…demonstrations； and altogether I am very
sorry that it did not happen and that I was not there to see。
… Page 122…
RUSSIA IN 1919
LAST TALK WITH LENIN
I went to see Lenin the day after the Review in the Red Square； and
the general holiday in honour of the Third International。 The first thing
he said was： 〃I am afraid that the Jingoes in England and France will make
use of yesterday's doings as an excuse for further action against us。 They
will say 'How can we leave them in peace when they set about setting
the world on fire？' To that I would answer； 'We are at war； Messieurs！
And just as during your war you tried to make revolution in Germany； and
Germany did make trouble in Ireland and India； so we； while we are at war
with you； adopt the measures that are open to us。 We have told you we
are willing to make peace。'〃
He spoke of Chicherin's last note； and said they based all their
hopes on it。 Balfour had said somewhere； 〃Let the fire burn itself out。〃
That it would not do。 But the quickest way of restoring good conditions
in Russia was； of course； peace and agreement with t
