words, he still expects the revolutionary movement to develop with steadily increasing intensity and to reach such a point that it will be helpful to the Soviets, even economically, before the lapse of many years.
Referring to the question of world revolution, Lenin said:
Aid is coming from the Western European countries. It is not coming as fast as we should like it, but it is coming nevertheless and gathering strength. Of course, the world revolution has made a great step forward, in comparison with last year. We have learned to understand during the last three years that basing ourselves on an international revolution does not mean calculating on a definite date, and that the increasing rapidity of development may bring a revolution in the spring (1921) or it may not. Of course, the Communist International which last year existed merely in the form of proclamations is now existing as an independent party in every country. … In Germany, France and Italy the Communist International has become not only the centre of the labor movement but the focus of attention for the whole political life of those countries. This is our conquest, and no one can deprive us of it. The world revolution is growing stronger, while the economic crisis in Europe is getting worse at the same time.
But, at any rate, were we to draw from this the conclusion that help would come from there within a brief period in the shape of a solid proletarian revolution, we would be simply lunatics; but in this hall, I feel certain, there are none such. We must, therefore, know how to adapt our activity to the mutual class relations existing within our own and other countries, that we may be able for a long time to retain the dictatorship of the proletariat and, at least gradually, to cure all the ills and crises besetting us. Only such a view of the problem will be correct and sober. (Pravda, March 10, 1921.)
