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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
the Committee should tell him。 Lenin's opinion carries great weight
because he is Lenin； but it carries less weight than that of the Central
Committee； of which he forms a nineteenth part。 On the other hand； the
opinion of Lenin and a very small group of outstanding figures is
supported by great prestige inside the Committee； and that of the
Committee is supported by overwhelming prestige among the rank and file。
The result is that this small group is nearly always sure of being able to
use the whole vote of 600；000 Communists； in the realization of its
decisions。
Now 600；000 men and women acting on the instructions of a highly
centralized directive； all the important decisions of which have been
thrashed out and re…thrashed until they have general support within the
party； 600；000 men and women prepared； not only to vote in support of
these decisions； but with a carefully fostered readiness to sacrifice their
lives for them if necessary； 600；000 men and women who are persuaded
that by their way alone is humanity to be saved； who are persuaded （to put
it as cynically and unsympathetically as possible） that the noblest death
one can die is in carrying out a decision of the Central Committee； such a
body； even in a country such as Russia； is an enormously strong
embodiment of human will； an instrument of struggle capable of working
something very like miracles。 It can be and is controlled like an army in
battle。 It can mobilize its members； 10 per cent。 of them； 50 per cent。；
the local Committees choosing them； and send them to the front when the
front is in danger； or to the railways and repair shops when it is decided
that the weakest point is that of transport。 If its only task were to fight
those organizations of loosely knit and only momentarily united interests
which are opposed to it； those jerry…built alliances of Reactionaries with
Liberals； United…Indivisible…Russians with Ukrainians； Agrarians with
Sugar…Refiners； Monarchists with Republicans； that task would long ago
have been finished。 But it has to fight something infinitely stronger
than these in fighting the economic ruin of Russia； which； if it is too strong；
too powerful to be arrested by the Communists； would make short work
of those who are without any such fanatic single…minded and perfectly
disciplined organization。
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
A CONFERENCE AT
JAROSLAVL
I have already suggested that although the small Central Committee of
the Communist Party does invariably get its own way； there are essential
differences between this Dictatorship and the dictatorship of； for example；
a General。 The main difference is that whereas the General merely writes
an order about which most people hear for the first time only when it is
promulgated； the Central Committee prepares the way for its dictation by a
most elaborate series of discussions and counter discussions throughout
the country； whereby it wins the bulk of the Communist Party to its
opinion； after which it proceeds through local and general congresses to do
the same with the Trades Unions。 This done； a further series of
propaganda meetings among the people actually to be affected smooths
the way for the introduction of whatever new measure is being carried
through at the moment。 All this talk； besides lessening the amount of
physical force necessary in carrying out a decision； must also avoid； at
least in part； the deadening effect that would be caused by mere
compulsory obedience to the unexplained orders of a military dictator。
Of the reality of the Communist Dictatorship I have no sort of doubt。
But its methods are such as tend towards the awakening of a political
consciousness which； if and when normal conditions…of feeding and peace；
for example…are attained； will make dictatorship of any kind almost
impossible。
To illustrate these methods of the Dictatorship； I cannot do better than
copy into this book some pages of my diary
written in March of this year when I was present at one of the
provincial conferences which were held in preparation of the All…Russian
Communist Conference at the end of the month。
At seven in the evening Radek called for me and took me to the
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THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA
Jaroslavl station； where we met Larin； whom I had known in 1918。 An
old Menshevik； he was the originator and most urgent supporter of the
decree annulling the foreign debts。 He is a very ill man； partially
paralyzed； having to use both hands even to get food to his mouth or to
turn over the leaves of a book。 In spite of this he is one of the hardest
workers in Russia； and although his obstinacy； his hatred of compromise；
and a sort of mixed originality and perverseness keep him almost
permanently at loggerheads with the Central Committee； he retains
everybody's respect because of the real heroism with which he conquers
physical disabilities which long ago would have overwhelmed a less
unbreakable spirit。 Both Radek and Larin were going to the Communist
Conference at Jaroslavl which was to consider the new theses of the
Central Committee of the party with regard to Industrial Conscription。
Radek was going to defend the position of the Central Committee； Larin to
defend his own。 Both are old friends。 As Radek said to me； he intended
to destroy Larin's position； but not； if he could help it； prevent Larin being
nominated among the Jaroslavl delegates to All…Russian Conference which
was in preparation。 Larin； whose work keeps him continually traveling；
has his own car； specially arranged so that his uninterrupted labor shall
have as little effect as possible on his dangerously frail body。 Radek and
I traveled in one of the special cars of the Central Executive Committee； of
which he is a member。
The car seemed very clean； but； as an additional precaution； we began
by rubbing turpentine on our necks and wrists and angles for the
discouragement of lice； now generally known as 〃Semashki〃 from the
name of Semashko； the Commissar of Public Health； who wages
unceasing war for their destruction as the carriers of typhus germs。I
rubbed the turpentine so energetically into my neck that it burnt like a
collar of fire； and for a long time I was unable to get to sleep。
In the morning Radek； the two conductors who had charge of the
wagons and I sat down together to breakfast and had a very merry meal；
they providing cheese and bread and I a tin of corned beef providently sent
out from home by the Manchester Guardian。 We cooked up some coffee
on a little spirit stove； which； in a neat basket together with plates； knives；
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forks； etc。 （now almost unobtainable in Russia） had been a parting present
from the German Spartacists to Radek when he was released from prison
in Berlin and allowed to leave Germany。
The morning was bright and clear； and we had an excellent view of
Jaroslavl when we drove from the station to the town； which is a mile or
so off the line of the railway。 The sun poured down on the white snow；
on the barges still frozen into the Volga River； and on the gilt and painted
domes and cupolas of the town。 Many of the buildings had been
destroyed during the rising art