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cracks and flaws already apparent in the damaged economic structure of
Western Europe。 They believe that conflicting interests will involve our
nations in new national wars； and that each of these will deepen the
cleavage between capital and labor。 They think that even if exhaustion
makes mutual warfare on a large scale impossible； these conflicting
interests will produce such economic conflicts； such refusals of
cooperation； as will turn exhaustion to despair。 They believe； to put it
briefly； that Russia has passed through the worst stages of a process to
which every country in Europe will be submitted in turn by
its desperate and embittered inhabitants。 We may disagree with them；
but we shall not understand them if we refuse to take that belief into
account。 If； as they imagine； the next five years are to be years of
disturbance and growing resolution； Russia will get very little from abroad。
If； for example； there is to be a serious struggle in England； Russia will get
practically nothing。 They not only believe that these things are going to
be； but make the logical deductions as to the effect of such disturbances on
their own chances of importing what they need。 For example； Lenin said
to me that 〃the shock of revolution in England would ensure the final
defeat of capitalism；〃 but he said at the same time that it would be felt at
once throughout the world and cause such reverberations as would
paralyze industry everywhere。 And that is why； although Russia is an
agricultural country； the Communist plans for her reconstruction are
concerned first of all not with agriculture； but with industry。 In their
schemes for the future of the world； Russia's part is that of a gigantic farm；
but in their schemes for the immediate future of Russia； their eyes are
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fixed continually on the nearer object of making her so far self…supporting
that； even if Western Europe is unable to help them； they may be able to
crawl out of their economic difficulties； as Krassin put it to me before he
left Moscow； 〃if necessary on all fours； but somehow or other； crawl out。〃
Some idea of the larger ambitions of the Communists with regard to
the development of Russia are given in a conversation with Rykov； which
follows this chapter。 The most important characteristic of them is that
they are ambitions which cannot but find an echo in Russians of any kind；
quite regardless of their political convictions。 The old anomalies of
Russian industry； for example； the distances of the industrial districts from
their sources of fuel and raw material are to be done away with。 These
anomalies were largely due to historical accidents； such as the caprice of
Peter the Great； and not to any economic reasons。 The revolution；
destructive as it has been； has at least cleaned the slate and made it
possible； if it is possible to rebuild at all； to rebuild Russia on foundations
laid by common sense。 It may be said that the Communists are merely
doing flamboyantly and with a lot of flag…waving；
what any other Russian Government would be doing in their place。
And without the flamboyance and the flag…waving； it is doubtful whether
in an exhausted country； it would be possible to get anything done at all。
The result of this is that in their work of economic reconstruction the
Communists get the support of most of the best engineers and other
technicians in the country； men who take no interest whatsoever in the
ideas of Karl Marx； but have a professional interest in doing the best they
can with their knowledge； and a patriotic satisfaction in using that
knowledge for Russia。 These men； caring not at all about Communism；
want to make Russia once more a comfortably habitable place； no matter
under what Government。 Their attitude is precisely comparable to that of
the officers of the old army who have contributed so much to the success
of the new。 These officers were not Communists； but they disliked civil
war； and fought to put an end of it。 As Sergei Kamenev； the Commander…
in…Chief； and not a Communist； said to me； 〃I have not looked on the civil
war as on a struggle between two political ideas； for the Whites have no
definite idea。 I have considered it simply as a struggle between the
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
Russian Government and a number of mutineers。〃 Precisely so do these
〃bourgeois〃 technicians now working throughout Russia regard the task
before them。 It will be small satisfaction to them if famine makes the
position of any Government impossible。 For them the struggle is quite
simply a struggle between Russia and the economic forces tending
towards a complete collapse of civilization。
The Communists have thus practically the whole intelligence of the
country to help them in their task of reconstruction； or of salvage。 But
the educated classes alone cannot save a nation。 Muscle is wanted
besides brain； and the great bulk of those who can provide muscle are
difficult to move to enthusiasm by any broad schemes of economic
rearrangement that do not promise immediate improvement in their own
material conditions。 Industrial conscription cannot be enforced in Russia
unless there is among the conscripted themselves an understanding；
although a resentful understanding； of its necessity。 The Russians have
not got an army of Martians to enforce effort on an alien
people。 The army and the people are one。 〃We are bound to admit；〃
says Trotsky； 〃that no wide industrial mobilization will succeed； if we do
not capture all that is honorable； spiritual in the peasant working masses in
explaining our plan。〃 And the plan that he referred to was not the
grandiose （but obviously sensible） plan for the eventu