russia in 1919(1919的俄国)-第7章
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〃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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RUSSIA IN 1919
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 publishing about the origin of the war。 He said that
England came out of it best of anybody； but that France and Russia
showed in a very bad light。
Just then； Demian Bledny rolled in； fatter than he used to be
（admirers from the country send him food） with a round face； shrewd
laughing eyes； and cynical mouth； a typical peasant； and the poet of the
revolution。 He was passably shaved； his little yellow moustache was
trimmed； he was wearing new leather breeches； and seemed altogether a
more prosperous poet than the untidy ruffian I first met about a year or
more ago before his satirical poems in Pravda and other revolutionary
papers had reached the heights of popularity to which they have since
attained。 In the old days before the revolution in Petrograd he used to
send his poems to the revolutionary papers。 A few were published and
scandalized the more austere and serious…minded revolutionaries； who
held a meeting to decide whether any more were to be printed。 Since the
revolution； he has rapidly come into his own； and is now a sort of licensed
jester； flagellating Communists and non…Communists alike。 Even in this
assembly he had about him a little of the manner of Robert Burns in
Edinburgh society。 He told me with expansive glee that they had printed
two hundred and fifty thousand of his last book； that the whole edition was
sold in two weeks； and that he had had his portrait painted by a real artist。
It is actually true that of his eighteen different works； only two are
obtainable today。
Madame Radek； who last year showed a genius for the making of
sandwiches with chopped leeks； and did good work for Russia as head of
the Committee for dealing with Russian war prisoners； came and sat down
beside me； and complained bitterly that the authorities wanted to turn her
out of the grand ducal apartments in the Kremlin and make them into a
historical museum to illustrate the manner of life of the Romanovs。 She
said she was sure that was simply an excuse and that the real reason was
that Madame Trotsky did not like her having a better furnished room than
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her own。 It seems that the Trotskys； when they moved into the Kremlin；
chose a lodging extremely modest in comparison with the gorgeous place
where I had found Madame Radek。
All this time the room was filling； as the party meeting ended and the
members of the Executive Committee came in to take their places。 I was
asking Litvinov whether he was going to speak； when a little hairy
energetic man came up and with great delight showed us the new matches
invented in the Soviet laboratories。 Russia is short of match…wood； and
without paraffin。 Besides which I think I am right in saying that the bulk
of the matches used in the north came from factories in Finland。 In these
new Bolshevik matches neither wood nor paraffin is used。 Waste paper
is a substitute for one； and the grease that is left after cleaning wool is a
substitute for the other。 The little man； Berg； secretary of the Presidium
of the Council of Public Economy； gave me a packet of his matches。
They are like the matches in a folding cover that used to be common in
Paris。 You break off a match before striking it。 They strike and burn
better than any matches I have ever bought in Russia； and I do not see why
they should not be made in England； where we have to import all the
materials of which ordinary matches are made。 I told Berg I should try to
patent them and so turn myself into a capitalist。 Another Communist；
who was listening； laughed； and said that most fortunes were founded in
just such a fraudulent way。
Then there was Steklov of the Izvestia； Madame Kollontai； and a
lot of other people whose names I do not remember。 Little Bucharin； the
editor of Pravda and one of the most interesting talkers in Moscow； who is
ready to discuss any philosophy you like； from Berkeley and Locke down
to Bergson and William James； trotted up and shook hands。 Suddenly a
most unexpected figure limped through the door。 This was the lame
Eliava of the Vologda Soviet； who c
