Radek and Ransome
on Russia
Preface by Karl Radek
This pamphlet was written last May, by Arthur Ransome, the correspondent in Russia of the “Daily News,” as a report for the President of the United States of America. It was taken to America by Colonel Robins, the representative of the American Red Cross in Russia, a man who had the confidence of President Wilson. When Colonel Robins was leaving for America, it was clear that the policy of “watchful waiting” was coming to an end, that American capital would soon decide either to help Soviet Russia or else go over to the camp of her enemies. Colonel Robins, himself a workman by origin, was able to understand that in Russia only two things were possible; either the Soviet Government or else complete chaos. He did not waver and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to give economic help to Russia for her consolidation, otherwise, in his opinion, she would be threatened with disruption at the hands of German imperialism. A believer in modern economic giants and having no faith in the strength of Socialism in America, he was nevertheless a man with clear penetrative insight and understood that the effete Russian bourgeoisie was not capable of taking in its weak trembling hands the task of the economic regeneration of Russia. He was convinced that Russia would be a socialistic state and that the capitalist countries would have to take her into consideration. He was convinced that it would be impossible to conquer hundreds of thousands of people, whose development foreign capital would not be able to guarantee. For him there existed two alternatives: either German capital would assist the economic reorganization of Russia, in which case American capital would lose its greatest market in the future, or on the other hand American capital would help Russia economically and thus prevent a German monopoly. Basing his ideas on these facts, Colonel Robins was an energetic and convinced opponent of intervention and regarded with deep disdain the
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