Page:The Proletarian Revolution in Russia - Lenin, Trotsky and Chicherin - ed. Louis C. Fraina (1918).djvu/64

 think of publishing these treaties, for Anglo-French imperialist capital does not desire it, nor do the governments, nor can Russian capital afford to initiate the people into all its dirty practices.

C. Against, but we hope that the Advisory Commision, aided by a simultaneous ^'campaign" among the masses, may "influence" the capitalist government.

D. Against. Our whole task is simply this: to enlighten the masses as to the utter hopelessness of expecting anything of this kind from capitalist governments, and the necessity of giving all power to the proletariat and the poorest peasants.

16.—For annexations or against?

A and B. If the annexations are to be accomplished by the German capitalists and their robber chieftain, Wilhelm, we are opposed to them. If by the English, we are not opposed, for they are "our" allies. If by our capitalists, who forcibly retain within the boundaries of Russia the races oppressed by the Czar, then we are in favor, for we do not use the term annexation in this connection.

C. Against annexations, but we hope it may be possible to obtain from capitalist governments a "promise" to renounce annexations.

D. Against annexations. Any promise of a capitalist government to renounce annexations is a huge fraud. To show it up is very simple: just demand that each nation be freed from the yoke of its own capitalists.

17.—In favor of the "Liberty Loan" or opposed to it?

A and B. Entirely in favor, for it facilitates the waging of an imperialistic war, that is, a war to determine which group of capitalists shall rule the world.

C. In favor, for our illogical attitude on "revolutionary defense" forces us into this obvious defection from the cause of internationalism.

D. Against, for the war remains imperialistic, being waged by capitalists in alliance with capitalists, in the interest of capitalists.

18.—Shall we leave to capitalist governments the task of expressing the desire of the nations for peace, or shall we not?

A and B. We shall, for the experience of the social-patriots of the French Republic shows best how people may be deceived by such a process: say anything you please, but in reality retain all conquests we have made from the Germans (their colonies) and take away from the Germans all conquests made by those robbers.