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ourselves。 In the same way we have great quantities of rice in Turkestan；
and actually are being offered rice from Sweden； because we cannot
transport our own。 Then we have over a million poods of copper； ready
for export on the same conditions。 But it is clear that if the Western
countries are unable to help in the transport； they cannot expect to get raw
materials from us。〃
I asked about platinum。 He laughed。
〃That is a different matter。 In platinum we have a world monopoly；
and can consequently afford to wait。 Diamonds and gold； they can have as
much as they want of
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such rubbish； but platinum is different； and we are in no hurry to part
with it。 But diamonds and gold ornaments； the jewelry of the Tsars； we
are ready to give to any king in Europe who fancies them； if he can give us
some less ornamental but more useful locomotives instead。〃
I asked if Kolchak had damaged the platinum mines。 He replied；
〃Not at all。 On the contrary； he was promising platinum to everybody
who wanted it； and he set the mines going； so we arrived to find them in
good condition； with a considerable yield of platinum ready for use。〃
（I am inclined to think that in spite of Rykov's rather intransigent
attitude on the question； the Russians would none the less be willing to
export platinum； if only on account of the fact in comparison with its great
value it requires little transport； and so would make possible for them an
immediate bargain with some of the machinery they most urgently need。）
Finally we talked of the growing importance of the Council of Public
Economy。 Rykov was of opinion that it would eventually become the
centre of the whole State organism； 〃it and Trades Unions organizing the
actual producers in each branch。〃
〃Then you think that as your further plans develop； with the creation
of more and more industrial centres； with special productive populations
concentrated round them； the
Councils of the Trades Unions will tend to become identical with the
Soviets elected in the same districts by the same industrial units？〃
〃Precisely；〃 said Rykov； 〃and in that way the Soviets； useful during
the period of transition as an instrument of struggle and dictatorship； will
be merged with the Unions。〃 （One
important factor； as Lenin pointed out when considering the same
question； is here left out of count； namely the political development of the
enormous agricultural as opposed to industrial population。）
〃But if this merging of political Soviets with productive Unions
occurs； the questions that concern people will cease to be political
questions； but will be purely questions of economics。〃
〃Certainly。 And we shall see the disappearance of political parties。
That process is already apparent。 In the present huge Trade Union
Conference there are only sixty Mensheviks。 The Communists are
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
swallowing one party after another。 Those who were not drawn over to us
during the period of struggle are now joining us during the process of
construction； and we find that our differences now are not political at all；
but concerned only with the practical details of construction。〃 He
illustrated this by pointing out the present constitution of the Supreme
Council of Public Economy。 There are under it fifty…three Departments
or Centres （Textile； Soap； Wool； Timber； Flax； etc。）； each controlled by a
〃College〃 of three or more persons。 There are 232 members of these
Colleges or Boards in all； and of them 83 are workmen； 79 are engineers；
1 was an ex…director； 50 were from the clerical staff； and 19 unclassified。
Politically 115 were Communists； 105 were 〃non…party；〃 and 12 were of
non…Communist parties。 He continued； 〃Further； in swallowing the other
parties； the Communists themselves will cease to exist as a political party。
Think only that youths coming to their manhood during this year in Russia
and in the future will not be able to confirm from their own experience the
reasoning of Karl Marx； because they will have had no experience of a
capitalist country。 What can they make of the class struggle？ The class
struggle here is already over； and the distinctions of class have already
gone altogether。 In the old days； members of our party were men who
had read； or tried to read； Marx's 〃Capital；〃 who knew the 〃Communist
Manifesto〃 by heart； and were occupied in continual criticism of the basis
of capitalist society。 Look at the new
members of our party。 Marx is quite unnecessary to them。 They join
us； not for struggle in the interests of an oppressed class； but simply
because they understand our aims in constructive work。 And； as this
process continues； we old social democrats shall disappear； and our places
will be filled by people of entirely different character grown up under
entirely new conditions。〃
NON…PARTYISM
Rykov's prophecies of the disappearance of Political parties may be
falsified by a development of that very non…partyism on which he bases
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them。 It is true that the parties openly hostile to the Communists in
Russia have practically disappeared。 Many old…time Mensheviks have
joined the Communist Party。 Here and there in the country may be found
a Social Revolutionary stronghold。 Here and there in the Ukraine the
Mensheviks retain a footing； but I doubt whether either of these parties has
in it the vitality to make itself once again a serious political factor。 There
is； however； a movement which； in the long run； may alter Russia's
political complexion。 More and more delegates to Soviets or Congresses
of all kinds are explicitly described as 〃Non…party。〃 Non…partyism is
perhaps a sign of revo