J. V. Stalin
Source : Works, Vol.
3, March - October, 1917
Publisher : Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow,
1954
Transcription/Markup : Salil Sen for MIA, 2008
Public Domain : Marxists Internet Archive (2008).
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In connection with the Kornilov conspiracy a mass exodus of foreigners from Russia is lately to be observed. The bourgeois press hacks seek to suggest a connection between this phenomenon and "rumours of peace" or even the "triumph of Bolshevism" in Petrograd and Moscow. But this blatant and shallow stratagem of the yellow press is designed to conceal from the reader the real reason for the exodus. The real reason is the undeniable fact that certain foreigners were implicated in the Kornilov conspiracy, and now these brave gentry are wisely seeking to escape being called to account.
It is known that the armoured cars which escorted the "Savage Division" to Petrograd were manned by foreigners.
It is known that certain representatives of the embassies at General Headquarters not only knew of the Korni-lov conspiracy, but helped Kornilov in hatching it.
It is known that the adventurer Aladin, agent of The Times and the imperialist clique in London, who on his arrival from England went straight to the Moscow Conference and then "proceeded" to General Headquarters, was the moving spirit and the first fiddle of the Kor-nilov revolt.
It is known that already in June a certain prominent representative of the most prominent embassy in Russia definitely associated himself with the counter-revolu-lionary machinations of Kaledin and the others, and backed his association with substantial subsidies out of he funds of his patrons.
It is known that The Times and Le Temps 1 did not conceal their displeasure at the failure of the Kornilov revolt and abused and vilified the revolutionary Committees and Soviets.
It is known that the Provisional Government's commissars at the front were constrained to issue a definite warning to certain foreigners who were behaving in Russia like Europeans in Central Africa.
It is known that it was owing to such "measures" that the mass exodus of foreigners began, and that the Russian authorities, not desiring to allow valuable "witnesses" to slip from their hands, were obliged to take measures against the exodus, and that Buchanan (Buchanan himself!), evidently fearing exposure, took "measures" in his turn and recommended members of the British colony to leave Russia. Buchanan now "categorically denies" the "rumours" that all the members of the British colony in Petrograd were recommended by the British ambassador to leave Russia (see Rech). But, in the first place, this strange "denial" only corroborates the "rumours." Secondly, what good are these false "denials" now that some of the foreigners (not "all," but some of them!) have already left—slipped away?
All that, we repeat, is old and stale.
Even the "dumb stones" are crying it.
And if, after all that, certain "government circles," and especially the bourgeois press, are trying to hush up the matter by putting the "blame" on the Bolsheviks, that is a sure sign that those "circles" and that press "in their heart of hearts" fully sympathize with the counterrevolutionary schemes of "certain foreigners."
Listen to what Dyen, organ of "socialist thought," has to say:
"In connection with the mass exodus of foreigners—French and British—from Russia it is regretfully remarked in Provisional Government circles that it is not surprising that foreigners prefer, in view of the unstable situation in the country, not to incur the risk of unpleasantness. Unfortunately, there is some basis for the assertion that in the event of the complete triumph of the Bolsheviks the representatives of foreign powers will prefer to leave Russia" (Dyen, September 10).
So writes the organ of the philistines who are scared by the spectre of Bolshevism.
So "remark," and, moreover, "regretfully remark," certain anonymous "circles" of the Provisional Government.
There can be no doubt whatever that the yellow elements of all countries are uniting and plotting against the Russian revolution, that the hacks of the bankers' press are trying to justify that "work" with vociferous and mendacious talk about a "Bolshevik danger," and that anonymous government "circles," in obedience to the behest of the British and French imperialists, hypocritically point a finger at the Bolsheviks and clumsily endeavour to justify the absconding criminals by falsely prating about the "unstable situation" in Russia.
What a picture! . . .
Rabochy Put No. 8, September 12, 1917
1. Le Temps—a bourgeois daily published in Paris from 1829 to 1842 and from 1861 to 1942.