russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第21章
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！
the party which De Leon founded in America）； read them for the first time；
and was amazed to see how far and how early De Leon had pursued the
same train of thought as the Russians。 His theory that representation
should be by industries； not by areas； was already the germ of the Soviet
… Page 68…
RUSSIA IN 1919
system。 He remembered seeing De Leon at an International Conference。
De Leon made no impression at all； a grey old man； quite unable to speak
to such an audience： but evidently a much bigger man than he looked；
since his pamphlets were written before the experience of the Russian
Revolution of 1905。 Some days afterwards I noticed that Lenin had
introduced a few phrases of De Leon； as if to do honour to his memory；
into the draft for the new programme of the Communist party。
Talking of the lies that are told about Russia； he said it was
interesting to notice that they were mostly perversions of truth and not
pure inventions； and gave as an example the recent story that he had
recanted。 〃Do you know the origin of that？〃 he said。 〃I was wishing a
happy New Year to a friend over the telephone； and said 'And may we
commit fewer stupidities this year than last！' Some one overheard it and
told some one else。 A newspaper announced Lenin says we are
committing stupidities' and so the story started。〃
More than ever； Lenin struck me as a happy man。 Walking home
from the Kremlin； I tried to think of any other man of his calibre who had
had a similar joyous temperament。 I could think of none。 This little；
bald…headed； wrinkled man； who tilts his chair this way and that； laughing
over one thing or another； ready any minute to give serious advice to any
who interrupt him to ask for it； advice so well reasoned that it is to his
followers far more compelling than any command； every one of his
wrinkles is a wrinkle of laughter； not of worry。 I think the reason must be
that he is the first great leader who utterly discounts the value of his own
personality。 He is quite without personal ambition。 More than that； he
believes； as a Marxist； in the movement of the masses which； with or
without him； would still move。 His whole faith is in the elemental forces
that move people； his faith in himself is merely his belief that be justly
estimates the direction of those forces。 He does not believe that any man
could make or stop the revolution which he thinks inevitable。 If the
Russian revolution fails； according to him； it fails only temporarily； and
because of forces beyond any man's control。 He is consequently free
with a freedom no other great man has ever had。 It is not so much what
he says that inspires confidence in him。 It is this sensible freedom； this
… Page 69…
RUSSIA IN 1919
obvious detachment。 With his philosophy he cannot for a moment
believe that one man's mistake might ruin all。 He is； for himself at any
rate； the exponent； not the cause； of the events that will be for ever linked
with his name。
… Page 70…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF
PUBLIC ECONOMY
February 20th。
To…day was an unlucky day。 I felt tired； ill and hungry； and had
arranged to talk with both Rykov； the President of the Supreme Council of
People's Economy； and Krestinsky； the Commissar of Finance； at such
awkward times that I got no tea and could get nothing to eat until after
four o'clock。 Two such talks on an empty stomach （for the day before I
had had only a plate of soup and a little scrap of fish） were a little too
much for me； and I fear I did not gather as much information as I should
have collected under better conditions。
I had a jolly drive； early in the morning； through the Chinese Town；
and out by the gate in the old wall； up Myasnitzkaya Street； and round to
the right to a building that used to be the Grand Hotel of Siberia； a
loathsome place where I once stayed。 Here in the old days provincial
merchants put up； who did not mind high prices and a superfluity of bugs。
It has now been turned into a hive of office work； and is the headquarters
of the Supreme Council of Public Economy； which； controlling
production and distribution alike； is the centre of the constructive work
going on throughout the country。
This Council； the theorists tell me； is intended to become the central
organization of the state。 The Soviets will naturally become less and less
important as instruments of political transition as that transition is
completed and the struggle against reaction within and without comes to
an end。 Then the chief business of the state will no longer be to protect
itself against enemies but to develop its economic life； to increase its
productivity and to improve the material conditions of the workers of
whom it is composed。 All these tasks are those of the Supreme Council
of Public Economy； and as the bitterness of the struggle dies away this
body； which came into being almost unnoticed in the din of battle； will
become more and more important in comparison with the Soviets； which
… Page 71…
RUSSIA IN 1919
were in origin not constructive organizations but the instruments of a
revolution； the hardest stages of which have already been accomplished。
It is perhaps worth while to set out here the constitution of this
Council。 It is considered at present as the economic department of the
All…Russian Central Executive Committee； to which； and to the Council of
People's Commissaries； it is responsible。 It regulates all production and
distribution。 It reports on the various estimates of the state budget and； in
conjunction with the Commissariats of Finance and State Control； carries
out the financing of all branches of public economy。 It consists of 69
members； and is composed as follows：Ten representatives from the All…
Russian Executive Committee； thirty from the All…Russian Industrial
Productive Union （a union of Trade Unions）； twenty from the ten District
Councils of Public Economy； two from the All…Russian Council of
Workers' Cooperative Societies； and one representative each from the
Commissariats of Supply； Ways of Communication； Labour； Agriculture；
Finance； Trade and Industry； and Internal Affairs。 It meets as a whole at
least once in every month。 The work of its members is directed by a
Presidium of nine members； of which it elects eight； the President being
elected by the All…Russian Central Executive Committee； and enjoying the
rank of a People's Commissar or Minister。
I had a long talk with Ryko
