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The establishment of communes was not to be compulsory in any way； it
was to be an illustrative means of propaganda of the idea of communal
work； not more。 The main task before them was to raise the standard of
Russian agriculture； which under the old system was extremely low。 By
working many of the old estates on a communal system with the best
possible methods they hoped to do two things at once： to teach the peasant
to realize the advantages of communal labour； and to show him that he
could himself get a very great deal more out of his land than he does。 〃In
other ways also we are doing everything we can to give direct help to the
small agriculturists。 We have mobilized all the agricultural experts in the
country。 We are issuing a mass of simply written pamphlets explaining
better methods of farming。〃
（I have seen scores of these pamphlets on forestry； potatoes； turf；
rotation of crops； and so on； besides the agricultural journals issued by the
Commissariat and sent in large quantities to the villages。）
I told Sereda I had heard that the peasants were refusing to sow more
than they wanted for their own needs。 He said that on the contrary the
latest reports gave them the right to hope for a greater sown area this year
than ever before； and that even more would have been sown if Denmark
had not been prevented from letting them have the seed for which they had
actually paid。 I put the same question to him that I put to Nogin as to
what they most needed； he replied； 〃Tractors。〃
… Page 84…
RUSSIA IN 1919
FOREIGN TRADE AND
MUNITIONS OF WAR
February 25th。
I had a talk in the Metropole with Krasin； who is Commissar for
Trade and Industry and also President of the Committee for Supplying the
Needs of the Army。 He had disapproved of the November Revolution；
but last year； when things looked like going badly； he came to Russia from
Stockholm feeling that he could not do otherwise than help。 He is an
elderly man； an engineer； and very much of a European。 We talked first of
the Russian plans with regard to foreign trade。 All foreign trade； he said；
is now concentrated in the hands of the State； which is therefore able to
deal as a single customer。 I asked how that would apply to purchase； and
whether they expected that countries dealing with them would organize
committees through which the whole Russian trade of each such country
should similarly pass。 Krasin said； 〃Of course that would be preferable；
but only in the case of socialist countries。 As things are now it would be
very much to our disadvantage。 It is better for us to deal with individual
capitalists than with a ring。 The formation of a committee in England；
for example； with a monopoly of trade with Russia； would have the effect
of raising prices against us； since we could no longer go from a dear shop
to a cheaper one。 Besides； as socialists we naturally wish to do nothing
to help in the trustification of English manufacturers。〃
He recognized that foreign trade on any large scale was impossible
until their transport had been improved。 Russia proposed to do her
paying in raw material； in flax； timber； etc。； in materials of which she had
great quantities although she could not bring them to the ports until her
transport should be restored。 It would； therefore； be in the foreigner's
own interests to help them in this matter。 He added that they were
confident that in the long run they could； without foreign help； so far
restore their transport as to save themselves from starvation； but for a
speedy return to normal conditions foreign help was essential。
… Page 85…
RUSSIA IN 1919
The other question we touched was that of munitions。 I expressed
some surprise that they should be able to do so well although cut off from
the west。 Krasin said that as far as that was concerned they had ample
munitions for a long fight。 Heavy artillery is not much use for the kind
of warfare waged in Russia； and as for light artillery； they were making
and mending their own。 They were not bothering with three…inch shells
because they had found that the old regime had left scattered about Russia
supplies of three…inch shells sufficient to last them several years。
Dynamite also they had in enormous quantities。 They were
manufacturing gunpowder。 The cartridge output had trebled since
August when Krasin's committee was formed。 He thought even as things
were they could certainly fight for a year。
… Page 86…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE PROPOSED DELEGATION
FROM BERNE
I do not remember the exact date when the proposal of the Berne
International Conference to send a Commission of Enquiry to Russia
became known in Moscow； but on February 20th everybody who came to
see me was talking about it； and from that date the question as to the
reception of the delegates was the most urgently debated of all political
subjects。 Chicherin had replied immediately to Berne； saying that
〃though they did not consider the Berne Conference either socialist or in
any degree representative of the working…class they nevertheless would
permit the Commission's journey into Russia； and would give it every
opportunity of becoming acquainted from all sides with the state of affairs；
just as they would any bourgeois commission directly or indirectly
connected with any of the bourgeois governments； even with those then
attacking Russia。〃
It may well be imagined that a reply in this style infuriated the
Mensheviks who consider themselves more or less affiliated to the parties
represented at Berne。 What； they shrieked； Kautsky not a socialist？ To
which their opponents replied； 〃The Government which Kautsky supports
keeps Radek in irons in a gaol。〃 But to me the most interesting thing to
observe was that Chicherin's reply was scarcely more satisfactory to some
of the Communists。 It had been sent off before any general consultation；
and it