russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第9章
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concession。 On February 10th； the Executive Committee met to consider
the international position。
Before proceeding to an account of that meeting； it will be well to
make a short summary of the note in question。 Chicherin； after referring to
the fact that no invitation had been addressed to them and that the absence
of a reply from them was being treated as the rejection of a proposal they
had never received； said that in spite of its more and more favourable
position； the Russian Soviet Government considered a cessation of
hostilities so desirable that it was ready immediately to begin negotiations；
and； as it had more than once declared； to secure agreement 〃even at the
cost of serious concessions in so far as these should not threaten the
development of the Republic。〃 〃Taking into consideration that the enemies
against whom it has to struggle borrow their strength of resistance
exclusively from the help shown them by the powers of the Entente； and
that therefore these powers are the only actual enemy of the Russian
Soviet Government； the latter addresses itself precisely to the powers of
the Entente； setting out the points on which it considers such concessions
possible with a view to the ending of every kind of conflict with the
aforesaid powers。〃 There follows a list of the concessions they are
prepared to make。 The first of these is recognition of their debts； the
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RUSSIA IN 1919
interest on which； 〃in view of Russia's difficult financial position and her
unsatisfactory credit；〃 they propose to guarantee in raw materials。 Then；
〃in view of the interest continually expressed by foreign capital in the
question of the exploitation for its advantage of the natural resources of
Russia； the Soviet Government is ready to give to subjects of the powers
of the Entente mineral； timber and other concessions； to be defined in
detail； on condition that the economic and social structure of Soviet Russia
shall not be touched by the internal arrangements of these concessions。〃
The last point is that which roused most opposition。 It expresses a
willingness to negotiate even concerning such annexations； hidden or open；
as the Allies may have in mind。 The words used are 〃The Russian Soviet
Government has not the intention of excluding at all costs consideration of
the question of annexations； etc。 。 。 。〃 Then； 〃by annexations must be
understood the retention on this or that part of the territory of what was the
Russian Empire； not including Poland and Finland； of armed forces of the
Entente or of such forces as are maintained by the governments of the
Entente or enjoy their financial； military； technical or other support。〃
There follows a statement that the extent of the concessions will depend
on the military position。 Chicherin proceeds to give a rather optimistic
account of the external and internal situation。 Finally he touches on the
question of propaganda。 〃The Russian Soviet Government； while
pointing out that it cannot limit the freedom of the revolutionary press；
declares its readiness； in case of necessity to include in the general
agreement with the powers of the Entente the obligation not to interfere in
their internal affairs。〃 The note ends thus： 〃On the foregoing bases the
Russian Soviet Government is ready immediately to begin negotiations
either on Prinkipo island or in any other place whatsoever with all the
powers of the Entente together or with separate powers of their number；
or with any Russian political groupings whatsoever； according to the
wishes of the powers of the Entente。 The Russian Soviet Government begs
the powers of the Entente immediately to inform it whither to send its
representatives； and precisely when and by what route。〃 This note was
dated February 4th； and was sent out by wireless。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
》From the moment when the note appeared in the newspapers of
February 5th； it had been the main subject of conversation。 Every point
in it was criticized and counter…criticized； but even its critics； though
anxious to preserve their criticism as a basis for political action afterwards；
were desperately anxious that it should meet with a reply。 No one in
Moscow at that time could have the slightest misgiving about the warlike
tendencies of the revolution。 The overwhelming mass of the people and
of the revolutionary leaders want peace； and only continued warfare
forced upon them could turn their desire for peace into desperate； resentful
aggression。 Everywhere I heard the same story： 〃We cannot get things
straight while we have to fight all the time。〃 They would not admit it； I am
sure； but few of the Soviet leaders who have now for eighteen months
been wrestling with the difficulties of European Russia have not acquired；
as it were in spite of themselves； a national； domestic point of view。
They are thinking less about world revolution than about getting bread to
Moscow； or increasing the output of textiles； or building river power…
stations to free the northern industrial district from its dependence on the
distant coal…fields。 I was consequently anxious to hear what the
Executive Committee would have to say； knowing that there I should
listen to some expression of the theoretical standpoint from which my
hard…working friends had been drawn away by interests nearer home。
The Executive Committee met as usual in the big hall of the Hotel
Metropole； and it met as usual very late。 The sitting was to begin at
seven； and； foolishly thinking that Russians might have changed their
nature in the last six months； I was punctual and found the hall nearly
empty； because a party meeting of the Communists in the room next door
was not finished。 The hall looked just as it used to look； with a red
banner over the presidium and another at the opposite end； both inscribed
〃The All Russian Executive Committee；〃 〃Proletariat of all lands； unite；〃
and so on。 As the room gradually filled； I met many acquaintances。
Old Professor Pokrovsky came in； blinking through his spectacles；
bent a little； in a very old coat； with a small black fur hat； his hands
clasped together； just as； so I have been told； he walked unhappily to and
fro in the fortress at Brest during the second period of the negotiations。 I
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did not think he would recognize me； but he came up at once； and
reminded me of the packing of the archives at the time when it seemed
likely that the Germans would take Petrograd。 He told me of a mass of
material they are
