V. I.

Lenin

It has been decided and laid down that socialism cannot
be introduced in Russia. This was proved, in near-Marxist fashion, by Mr. Milyukov at a meeting of the June 3
diehards, following the ministerial Menshevik Rabochaya Gazeta. And it was subscribed to by the largest party in
Russia in general and in the Congress of Soviets in particular,
the Socialist-Revolutionary Party, which, besides being the
largest party, is also the party with the greatest ideological
(disinterested) fear of seeing the revolution develop towards
socialism.

Strictly speaking, a mere glance at the resolution passed by the
Bolshevik Conference held from April 24 to 29, 1917, reveals
that the Bolsheviks, too, recognise the impossibility of
immediately “introducing” socialism in Russia.

What is the argument about, then? Why the fuss?

By the hue and cry against the “introduction” of socialism in
Russia, some people are sustaining (many of them unwittingly)
the efforts of those who are opposed to the exposure of plunder of the state.

Let us not quibble over words, citizens! It is unworthy of
"revolutionary democrats" and, indeed, of grown-ups in general. Let’s not talk about the “introduction” of socialism,
which “everybody” rejects. Let’s talk about the exposure of
plunder.

When capitalists work for defence. i.e., for the state, it is
obviously no longer “pure” capitalism but a special form of
national economy. Pure capitalism means commodity production. And commodity production means work for an
unknown and free market. But the capitalist “working” for defence does not “work” for the market at all—he
works on government orders, very often with money loaned
by the state.

We believe that to conceal the amount of profit made on this
peculiar operation and to appropriate the profit in excess of
what is necessary to cover the living expenses of a person
actually participating in production is embezzlement.

If you disagree, then you are clearly out of step with the
overwhelming majority of the population. There is no shadow of
doubt that by far most of the workers and peasants of Russia
agree with us and would say so in plain language were the
question put to them without evasions, excuses or diplomatic
tricks.

But if you do agree, then let us fight together against excuses
and tricks.

To make the greatest possible concessions on a common undertaking such as this fight and to show a
maximum of tractability, we are proposing the following draft
resolution to the Congress of Soviets:

“ The first step towards any regulation of, or even simple
control over, production and distribution [note that does not
belong to the text of the draft: even Minister Peshekhonov
promised to strive to ensure "that all we have is divided
equitably"], the first step in any serious struggle against
economic dislocation and the catastrophe threatening the
country, must be a decree abolishing commercial (including
banking) secrecy in all transactions arising from supplies to
the state or for defence in general. Such a decree should be
supplemented immediately by a law treating as criminal offences
all direct or indirect attempts to conceal pertinent documents
or facts from persons or groups who have mandates from:

“( a) any Soviet of Workers’ or Soldiers’ or Peasants’ Deputies; “( b) any trade union of industrial workers or office employees,
etc.;

“( c) any major political party (the idea of ’major’ should be
defined specifically, at least on the basis of votes received).”

Everybody agrees that the immediate introduction of socialism in
Russia is impossible.

Does everybody agree that the exposure of plunder of the state
is an immediate necessity?

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