Page:John Reed - Ten Days that Shook the World - 1919, Boni and Liveright.djvu/171

Rh Bolsheviki. But we will vote for it because we agree with its spirit…”

For the Social Democrats Internationalists Kramarov, long, stoop-shouldered and near-sighted—destined to achieve some notoriety as the Clown of the Opposition. Only a Government composed of all the Socialist parties, he said, could possess the authority to take such important action. If a Socialist coalition were formed, his faction would support the entire programme; if not, only part of it. As for the proclamation, the Internationalists were in thorough accord with its main points…

Then one after another, amid rising enthusiasm; Ukrainean Social Democracy, support; Lithuanian Social Democracy, support; Populist Socialists, support; Polish Social Democracy, support; Polish Socialists support—but would prefer a Socialist coalition; Lettish Social Democracy, support… Something was kindled in these men. One spoke of the “coming World-Revolution, of which we are the advance-guard”; another of “the new age of brotherhood, when all the peoples will become one great family…” An individual member claimed the floor. “There is contradiction here,” he said. “First you offer peace without annexations and indemnities, and then you say you will consider all peace offers. To consider means to accept…”

Lenin was on his feet. “We want a just peace, but we are not afraid of a revolutionary war… Probably the imperialist Governments will not answer our appeal—but we shall not issue an ultimatum to which it will be easy to say no… If the German proletariat realises that we are ready to consider all offers of peace, that will perhaps be the last drop which overflows the bowl—revolution will break out in Germany…

“We consent to examine all conditions of peace, but that doesn’t mean that we shall accept them… For some of