the crisis in russia(俄国危机)-第8节
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formless chaotic mass？ No。 The Central Committee of the party is called
together to discuss and decide the question。 And when we have to wage
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war； to form new divisions； to find the best elements for them…to whom do
we turn？ To the party； to the Central Committee。 And it gives directives
to the local committees； 'Send Communists to the front。' The case is
precisely the same with the Agrarian question； with that of supply； and
with all other questions whatsoever。〃
No one denies these facts； but their mere statement is quite
inadequate to explain what is being done in Russia and how it is being
done。 I do not think it would be a waste of time to set down as briefly as
possible； without the comments of praise or blame that would be
inevitable from one primarily interested in the problem from the Capitalist
or Communist point of view what； from observation and inquiry； I believe
to be the main framework of the organization whereby that dictatorship of
the party works。
The Soviet Constitution is not so much moribund as in abeyance。
The Executive Committee； for example； which used to meet once a week
or even oftener； now meets on the rarest occasions。 Criticism on this
account was met with the reply that the members of the Executive
Committee； for example； which used to meet once a week or even oftener；
now meets on the rarest occasions。 Criticism on this account was met
with the reply that the members of the Executive Committee were busy on
the front and in various parts of Russia。 As a matter of fact； the work
which that Committee used to do is now done by Central Committee of
the Bolshevik Party； so that the bulk of the 150 members of
the Central Executive are actually free for other work； a saving of
something like 130 men。 This does not involve any very great change；
but merely an economy in the use of men。 In the old days； as I well
remember； the opening of a session of the Executive Committee was
invariably late； the reason being that the various parties composing it had
not yet finished their preliminary and private discussions。 There is now
an overwhelming Communist majority in the Executive Committee； as
elsewhere。 I think it may be regarded as proved that these majorities are
not always legitimately obtained。 Non…Communist delegates do
undoubtedly find every kind of difficulty put in their way by the rather
Jesuitical adherents of the faith。 But。 no matter how these majorities are
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obtained； the result is that when the Communist Party has made up its
mind on any subject； it is so certain of being able to carry its point that the
calling together of the All…Russian Executive Committee is merely a
theatrical demonstration of the fact that it can do what it likes。 When it
does meet； the Communists allow the microscopical opposition great
liberty of speech； listen quietly； cheer ironically； and vote like one man；
proving on every occasion that the meeting of the Executive Committee
was the idlest of forms； intended rather to satisfy purists than for purposes
of discussion； since the real discussion has all taken place beforehand
among the Communists themselves。 Something like this must happen
with every representative assembly at which a single party has a great
preponderance and a rigid internal discipline。 The real interest is in the
discussion inside the Party Committees。
This state of affairs would probably be more actively resented if the
people were capable of resenting anything but their own hunger； or of
fearing anything but a general collapse which would turn that hunger into
starvation。 It must be remembered that the urgency of the economic
crisis has driven political questions into the background。 The
Communists （compare Rykov's remarks on this subject； p。 175） believe
that this is the natural result of social revolution。 They think that political
parties will disappear altogether and that people will band together； not for
the victory of one of several contending political parties； but solely for
economic cooperation or joint enterprise in art or science。 In support of
this they point to the number of
their opponents who have become Communists； and to the still greater
number of non…Communists who are loyally working with them for the
economic reconstruction of the country。 I do not agree with the
Communists in this； nor yet with their opponents； who attribute the death
of political discussion to fear of the Extraordinary Commission。 I think
that both the Communists and their opponents underestimate the influence
of the economic ruin that affects everybody。 The latter particularly； feeling
that in some way they must justify themselves to politically minded
foreign visitors； seek an excuse for their apathy in the one institution that
is almost universally unpopular。 I have many non…Communist friends in
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Russia； but have never detected the least restraint that could be attributed
to fear of anybody in their criticisms of the Communist regime。 The fear
existed alike among Communists and non…Communists； but it was like the
fear of people walking about in a particularly bad thunderstorm。 The
activities and arrests of the Extraordinary Commission are so haphazard；
often so utterly illogical； that it is quite idle for any one to say to himself
that by following any given line of conduct he will avoid molestation。
Also； there is something in the Russian character which makes any
prohibition of discussion almost an invitation to discuss。 I have never
met a Russian who could be prevented from saying whatever he liked
whenever he liked； by any threats or dangers whatsoever。 The only way
to prevent a Russian from talking is to cut out his tongue。 The real
reason for the apathy is that； for the moment； for almost everybody
political questions are of infinitesimal importance in comparison with
questions of food and warmth。 The ferment of political discussion that
filled the first years of the revolution has died away； and people talk about
little but what they are able to get for dinner； or what somebody else his
been able to get。 I； like other foreign visitors coming to Russia after
feeding up in other countries； am all agog to make people talk。 But the
sort of questions which interest me； with my full…fed stomach； are brushed
aside almost fretfully by men who have been more or less hungry for two
or three years on end。
I find； instead of an urgent desire to alter this or that at once； to…
morrow； in the political complexion of the country； a general desire to do
the best that can be done with things as they are； a general fear of further
upheaval of any kind； in
fact a general acquiescence in the present state of affairs politically； in
the hope of altering the present state of affairs economically。 And this is
entirely natural。 Everybody； Communists included； rails bitterly at the
inefficiencies of the present system； but everybody； Anti…Communists
included； admits that there is nothing whatever capable of taking its place。
Its failure is highly undesirable； not because it itself is good； but because
such failure would be preceded or followed by a breakdown of all e
