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Communist leaders are unwilling to use to the full the discontent that
exists。 Hunger and cold are a good enough basis of agitation for anyone
desirous of overturning any existing government。 But the Left Social
Revolutionaries； led by the hysterical but flamingly honest Spiridonova；
are alone in having no scruples or hesitation in the matter； the more
responsible parties fearing the anarchy and consequent weakening of the
revolution that would result from any violent change。
… Page 109…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE LEFT SOCIAL
REVOLUTIONARIES
The Left Social Revolutionaries want something so much like
anarchy that they have nothing to fear in a collapse of the present system。
They are for a partisan army； not a regular army。 They are against the
employment of officers who served under the old regime。 They are
against the employment of responsible technicians and commercial experts
in the factories。 They believe that officers and experts alike； being ex…
bourgeois； must be enemies of the people； insidiously engineering reaction。
They are opposed to any agreement with the Allies； exactly as they were
opposed to any agreement with the Germans。 I heard them describe the
Communists as 〃the bourgeois gendarmes of the Entente；〃 on the ground
that having offered concessions they would be keeping order in Russia for
the benefit of Allied capital。 They blew up Mirbach； and would no doubt
try to blow up any successors he might have。 Not wanting a regular
army （a low bourgeois weapon） they would welcome occupation in order
that they； with bees in their bonnets and bombs in their hands； might go
about revolting against it。
I did not see Spiridonova； because on February 11； the very day when
I had an appointment with her； the Communists arrested her； on the ground
that her agitation was dangerous and anarchist in tendency； fomenting
discontent without a programme for its satisfaction。 Having a great
respect for her honesty； they were hard put to it to know what to do with
her； and she was finally sentenced to be sent for a year to a home for
neurasthenics； 〃where she would be able to read and write and recover her
normality。〃 That the Communists were right in fearing this agitation was
proved by the troubles in Petrograd； where the workmen in some of the
factories struck； and passed Left Social Revolutionary resolutions which；
so far from showing that they were awaiting reaction and General
Judenitch； showed simply that they were discontented and prepared to
move to the left。
… Page 110…
RUSSIA IN 1919
THE MENSHEVIKS
The second main group of opposition is dominated by the
Mensheviks 。 Their chief leaders are Martov and Dan。 Of these two；
Martov is by far the cleverer； Dan the more garrulous； being often led
away by his own volubility into agitation of a kind not approved by his
friends。 Both are men of very considerable courage。 Both are Jews。
The Mensheviks would like the reintroduction of capitalists； of
course much chastened by experience； and properly controlled by
themselves。 Unlike Spiridonova and her romantic supporters they
approved of Chicherin's offer of peace and concessions to the Allies （see
page 44）。 They have even issued an appeal that the Allies should come
to an agreement with 〃Lenin's Government。〃 As may be gathered from
their choice of a name for the Soviet Government； they are extremely
hostile to it； but they fear worse things； and are consequently a little shy of
exploiting as they easily could the dislike of the people for hunger and
cold。 They fear that agitation on these lines might well result in anarchy；
which would leave the revolution temporarily defenceless against Kolchak；
Denikin； Judenitch or any other armed reactionary。 Their non…
Communist enemies say of the Mensheviks： 〃They have no constructive
programme； they would like a bourgeois government back again； in order
that they might be in opposition to it； on the left〃
On March 2nd； I went to an election meeting of workers and officials
of the Moscow Co…operatives。 It was beastly cold in the hall of the
University where the meeting was held； and my nose froze as well as my
feet。 Speakers were announced from the Communists； Internationalists；
Mensheviks； and Right Social Revolutionaries。 The last…named did not
arrive。 The Presidium was for the most part non…Communist； and the
meeting was about equally divided for and against the Communists。 A
Communist led off with a very bad speech on the general European
situation and to the effect that there was no salvation for Russia except by
the way she was going。 Lozovsky； the old Internationalist； spoke next；
supporting the Bolsheviks' general policy but criticizing their suppression
of the press。 Then came Dan； the Menshevik； to hear whom I had come。
… Page 111…
RUSSIA IN 1919
He is a little； sanguine man； who gets very hot as he speaks。 He
conducted an attack on the whole Bolshevik position combined with a
declaration that so long as they are attacked from without he is prepared to
support them。 The gist of his speech was： 1。 He was in favour of fighting
Kolchak。 2。 But the Bolshevik policy with regard to the peasants will；
since as the army grows it must contain more and more peasants； end in
the creation of an army with counter…revolutionary sympathies。 3。 He
objected to the Bolshevik criticism of the Berne； delegation （see page 156）
on very curious grounds； saying that though Thomas； Henderson； etc。；
backed their own Imperialists during the war； all that was now over； and
that union with them would help； not hinder； revolution in England and
France。 4。 He pointed out that 〃All power to the Soviets〃 now means 〃All
power to the Bolsheviks；〃 and said that he wished that the Soviets should
actually have all power instead of merely supporting the B