policy of the American ambassador, Francis, whom he culled the “weather-cock of the chatter-box Noulens.” He therefore hastened to America to avert intervention. Colonel Robins was much assisted in acquiring his knowledge of Russian affairs by the author of this pamphlet, Arthur Ransome, a man who came to Russia without any political convictions and who was sent, as a well known writer, in order that he might in vivid pictures acquaint the English reader with the condition of affairs on the Russian front. Arthur Ransome, who in the ordinary course of events was more interested in ethical and philosophical questions, developed his ideas, during the three years’ war in Russia, just as any honest cultured man would have done, who loves the people and has no bourgeois prejudices. In his daily communications with the soldiers on the front and afterwards with all circles of Russian society, beginning with people like Peter Struve and Miliukov and ending with the “bloodthirsty” Bolsheviks, he passed from the Cadet outlook on Russian affairs to that of the Bolsheviks. Nevertheless he is not a Bolshevik. He is a man with his eyes open, with a warm heart, without any prejudices, a man whose deep love for the masses and for all who were hurled into this war and its hellish misery, enabled him to understand Russia. To his honor let it be said that so-called Socialists, yes and alas! “Marxists,” like Martoff, could learn, if they would, from this English correspondent, what Soviet Russia really is, and in so learning, would not lose sight of the mighty river, because of the dirt which it carries with it.
Finally it is necessary to add a few words supplementing this pamphlet. In actual fact they have already been written by Ransome’s colleague, Philips Price, correspondent in Russia of the “Manchester Guardian,” in his courageous pamphlet, “The Truth about the Allied Intervention in Russia.” But since we do not know if Price’s pamphlet will reach the hands of its readers, it is necessary for me, in the absence of my friend Ransome, to explain in a few words why his efforts and the efforts of Colonel Robins were not crowned with success.
Russia made to American and English capital a business offer, which would have given to the latter a certain profit and to the former the possibility of restoring her economic
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