VIII
THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE; FICTITIOUS
REFORMS
While industry was somewhat backward in Russia under the Czars there was already a considerable development. The country had risen to an economic level far in advance of Asia or even of the other outlying parts of Europe. Several millions of working men were employed in modern industries and 40,000 miles of railroad were being operated under modern methods and with modern equipment, as good as that of a number of other European countries. In a country in this semi-developed condition and with a backward political government the war did more damage than elsewhere and the civil war that followed greatly increased the work of destruction. We do not quote any figures as to the economic collapse, since it is impossible to say what part of the existing condition is due to the present government and what part is due to previous causes. Without, however, quoting any figures Bolshevist authorities show that no effective effort is being made to fight the constantly increasing economic disintegration in spite of the fact that such efforts are more needed in Russia than in any other part of the world today.
In the report of the Central Soviet Executive Committee (Moscow wireless March 23, 1921) Kalinin said:
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