russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第32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！
took place on the same days as my visits to the Kremlin conference； and
during those days I was also partly engaged in getting to see the British
prisoners in the Butyrka prison； in which I eventually succeeded。 This is
my excuse for the inadequacy of my account of the conference； an
inadequacy which I regret the more as I was the only non…Communist who
was able to be there at all。
… Page 107…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE OPPOSITION
No man likes being hungry。 No man likes being cold。 Everybody in
Moscow； as in Petrograd； is both hungry and cold。 There is consequently
very general and very bitter discontent。 This is of course increased； not
lessened； by the discipline introduced into the factories and the heavy
burden of the army； although the one is intended to hasten the end of
hunger and cold and the other for the defence of the revolution。 The
Communists； as the party in power； naturally bear the blame and are the
objects of the discontent； which will certainly within a short time be
turned upon any other government that may succeed them。 That
government must introduce sterner discipline rather than weaker； and the
transport and other difficulties of the country will remain the same； unless
increased by the disorder of a new upheaval and the active or passive
resistance of many who are convinced revolutionaries or will become so in
answer to repression。
The Communists believe that to let power slip from their hands at this
moment would be treachery to the revolution。 And； in the face of the
advancing forces of the Allies and Kolchak many of the leaders of the
opposition are inclined to agree with them； and temporarily to submit to
what they undoubtedly consider rank tyranny。 A position has been
reached after these eighteen months not unlike that reached by the English
Parliament party in 1643。 I am reminded of a passage in Guizot； which is
so illuminating that I make no apology for quoting it in full：
〃The party had been in the ascendant for three years： whether it had
or had not； in church and state； accomplished its designs； it was at all
events by its aid and concurrence that； for three years； public affairs had
been conducted； this alone was sufficient to make many people weary of it；
it was made responsible for the many evils already endured； for the many
hopes frustrated； it was denounced as being no less addicted to persecution
than the bishops； no less arbitrary than the king：＇196＇its inconsistencies；
its weaknesses； were recalled with bitterness； and； independently of this；
even without factions or interested views； from the mere progress of
… Page 108…
RUSSIA IN 1919
events and opinions； there was felt a secret need of new principles and
new rulers。〃
New rulers are advancing on Moscow from Siberia； but I do not think
that they claim that they are bringing with them new principles。 Though
the masses may want new principles； and might for a moment submit to a
reintroduction of very old principles in desperate hope of less hunger and
less cold； no one but a lunatic could imagine that they would for very long
willingly submit to them。 In the face of the danger that they may be
forced to submit not to new principles but to very old ones； the non…
Communist leaders are unwilling to use to the full the discontent that
exists。 Hunger and cold are a good enough basis of agitation for anyone
desirous of overturning any existing government。 But the Left Social
Revolutionaries； led by the hysterical but flamingly honest Spiridonova；
are alone in having no scruples or hesitation in the matter； the more
responsible parties fearing the anarchy and consequent weakening of the
revolution that would result from any violent change。
… Page 109…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE LEFT SOCIAL
REVOLUTIONARIES
The Left Social Revolutionaries want something so much like
anarchy that they have nothing to fear in a collapse of the present system。
They are for a partisan army； not a regular army。 They are against the
employment of officers who served under the old regime。 They are
against the employment of responsible technicians and commercial experts
in the factories。 They believe that officers and experts alike； being ex…
bourgeois； must be enemies of the people； insidiously engineering reaction。
They are opposed to any agreement with the Allies； exactly as they were
opposed to any agreement with the Germans。 I heard them describe the
Communists as 〃the bourgeois gendarmes of the Entente；〃 on the ground
that having offered concessions they would be keeping order in Russia for
the benefit of Allied capital。 They blew up Mirbach； and would no doubt
try to blow up any successors he might have。 Not wanting a regular
army （a low bourgeois weapon） they would welcome occupation in order
that they； with bees in their bonnets and bombs in their hands； might go
about revolting against it。
I did not see Spiridonova； because on February 11； the very day when
I had an appointment with her； the Communists arrested her； on the ground
that her agitation was dangerous and anarchist in tendency； fomenting
discontent without a programme for its satisfaction。 Having a great
respect for her honesty； they were hard put to it to know what to do with
her； and she was finally sentenced to be sent for a year to a home for
neurasthenics； 〃where she would be able to read and write and recover her
normality。〃 That the Communists were right in fearing this agitation was
proved by the troubles in Petrograd； where the workmen in some of the
factories struck； and passed Left Social Revolutionary resolutions which；
so far from showing that they were awaiting reaction and General
Judenitch； showed simply that they were discontented and prepared to
move to the left。
… Page 110…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE MENSHEVIKS
The second main group of opposition is dominated by the
Mensheviks 。 Their chief leaders are Martov and Dan。 Of these two；
Martov is by far the cleverer； Dan the more garrulous； being often led
away by his own volubility into agitation of a kind not approved by his
friends。 Both are men of very considerable courage。 Both are Jews。
The Mensheviks would like the reintroduction of capitalists； of
course much chastened by experience； and properly controlled by
themselves。 Unlike Spiridonova and her romantic supporters they
approved of Chicherin's offer of peace and concessions to the Allies （see
page 44）。 They have even issued an appeal that the Allies should come
to an agreement with 〃Lenin's Government。〃 As may be gathered from
their choice of a name for the Soviet Government； they ar
