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Bolshevik。
〃Of course；〃 he replied。
He then read me a letter he had written protesting against intervention。
He spoke of his old love for England and for the English people。 Then；
speaking of the veil of lies drawn between Soviet Russia and the rest of
the world； he broke down altogether； and bent his head to hide his tears。
〃I suffer doubly；〃 he said； after excusing himself for the weakness of
a very old man。 〃I suffer as a Russian； and； if I may say so； I suffer as an
Englishman。 I have English blood in my veins。 My mother； you see；
looks quite English；〃 pointing to a daguerreotype on the wall； 〃and my
grandmother was actually English。 I suffer as an Englishman when I see
the country that I love misled by lies； and I suffer as a Russian because
those lies concern the country to which I belong； and the ideas which I am
proud to hold。〃
The old man rose with difficulty； for he； like every one else in
Moscow； is half starved。 He showed me his Byron； his Shakespeare； his
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RUSSIA IN 1919
Encyclopaedia Britannica； his English diplomas。 He pointed to the
portraits on the wall。 〃If I could but let them know the truth；〃 he said；
〃those friends of mine in England； they would protest against actions
which are unworthy of the England we have loved together。〃
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RUSSIA IN 1919
DIGRESSION
At this point the chronological arrangement of my book； already weak；
breaks down altogether。 So far I have set down； almost day by day；
things seen and heard which seemed to me characteristic and clear
illustration of the mentality of the Communists； of the work that has been
done or that they are trying to do； and of the general state of affairs。 I
spent the whole of my time in ceaseless investigation； talking now with
this man； now with that； until at the end of a month I was so tired （besides
being permanently hungry） that I began to fear rather than to seek new
experiences and impressions。 The last two weeks of my stay were spent；
not in visiting Commissariats； but in collecting masses of printed material；
in talking with my friends of the opposition parties； and； while it was in
progress； visiting daily the Conference in the Kremlin which； in the end；
definitely announced itself as the Third International。 I have considered
it best to treat of that Conference more or less as a whole； and am
therefore compelled to disregard chronology altogether in putting down on
paper； the results of some of my talks with the opposition。 Some of these
took place on the same days as my visits to the Kremlin conference； and
during those days I was also partly engaged in getting to see the British
prisoners in the Butyrka prison； in which I eventually succeeded。 This is
my excuse for the inadequacy of my account of the conference； an
inadequacy which I regret the more as I was the only non…Communist who
was able to be there at all。
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RUSSIA IN 1919
THE OPPOSITION
No man likes being hungry。 No man likes being cold。 Everybody in
Moscow； as in Petrograd； is both hungry and cold。 There is consequently
very general and very bitter discontent。 This is of course increased； not
lessened； by the discipline introduced into the factories and the heavy
burden of the army； although the one is intended to hasten the end of
hunger and cold and the other for the defence of the revolution。 The
Communists； as the party in power； naturally bear the blame and are the
objects of the discontent； which will certainly within a short time be
turned upon any other government that may succeed them。 That
government must introduce sterner discipline rather than weaker； and the
transport and other difficulties of the country will remain the same； unless
increased by the disorder of a new upheaval and the active or passive
resistance of many who are convinced revolutionaries or will become so in
answer to repression。
The Communists believe that to let power slip from their hands at this
moment would be treachery to the revolution。 And； in the face of the
advancing forces of the Allies and Kolchak many of the leaders of the
opposition are inclined to agree with them； and temporarily to submit to
what they undoubtedly consider rank tyranny。 A position has been
reached after these eighteen months not unlike that reached by the English
Parliament party in 1643。 I am reminded of a passage in Guizot； which is
so illuminating that I make no apology for quoting it in full：
〃The party had been in the ascendant for three years： whether it had
or had not； in church and state； accomplished its designs； it was at all
events by its aid and concurrence that； for three years； public affairs had
been conducted； this alone was sufficient to make many people weary of it；
it was made responsible for the many evils already endured； for the many
hopes frustrated； it was denounced as being no less addicted to persecution
than the bishops； no less arbitrary than the king：＇196＇its inconsistencies；
its weaknesses； were recalled with bitterness； and； independently of this；
even without factions or interested views； from the mere progress of
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events and opinions； there was felt a secret need of new principles and
new rulers。〃
New rulers are advancing on Moscow from Siberia； but I do not think
that they claim that they are bringing with them new principles。 Though
the masses may want new principles； and might for a moment submit to a
reintroduction of very old principles in desperate hope of less hunger and
less cold； no one but a lunatic could imagine that they would for very long
willingly submit to them。 In the face of the danger that they may be
forced to submit not to new principles but to very old ones； the non…
Communist leaders are unwilling to use to the full the discontent that
exists。 Hu