V. I.

Lenin

The issue of a Balkan war and of “Europe’s” attitude to
it is the most burning political issue today. It is important for all
democrats in general and for the working class in particular to
understand the class interests guiding this or that party in this
matter.

The policy of the Octobrists, nationalists and unaffiliated
“patriots”, from Novoye Vremya to Russkoye Slovo , is clear and simple. The badgering of Austria, incitement to war against her,
and shouts about the “Slav tasks” of Russia are a poorly disguised
endeavour to divert attention from Russia’s domestic affairs and to “grab
a piece” of Turkey. Support for reaction at home and for colonial,
imperialist plunder abroad—such is the essence of this crude
“patriotic” “Slav” policy.

The Cadets’ policy is couched in more subtle and diplomatic terms, but
in effect their policy is also a reactionary great-power policy of
imperialism . It is particularly important to understand this, for
the liberals cunningly veil their views with democratic-sounding phrases.

Look at Rech . At first—prior to the “love tryst” of
Milyukov and

Sazonov [1] —it accused Sazonov of “readiness to bargain” and
reproached the nationalists with weakening the “great idea” of capturing
Constantinople. But now, after the tryst, Rech agrees with
Rossiya , vigorously censuring the “foolish enthusiasm” of
Novoye Vremya .

But what is the policy of Rech today?

We must not begin with proud demands, for if we do we shall lose
support (from France and Britain), and shall “end by becoming, in spite of
ourselves, even more modest than we should be ” (No. 278)!!

And so, Rech is against the chauvinists because they “will end by being more modest than they should be”. It is as much as to
say: you chauvinists are bragging and you’ll get nothing. But we are in
favour of grabbing a big chunk quietly and peacefully, with the support of
the French and British bourgeoisie!

“ We need” support (from the Triple Entente) “in the interests of our
own Balkan protégés ”, writes Rech . Mark this: Rech, too, favours the idea of Russia
“ protecting ” the Slavs, of the fox protecting the hen-coop,
except that it wants this done more cunningly!

“ All that can be achieved has to be achieved only in this way—through the joint efforts of European diplomacy,” declares
Rech .

It is clear enough: the essence of Cadet policy is the same kind of
chauvinism and imperialism as that of Novoye Vremya , only more
cunning and subtle. Novoye Vremya roughly and stupidly threatens
war on behalf of Russia alone. Rech , “subtly and diplomatically”, likewise threatens war , but only on
behalf of the Triple Entente, for to say “we must not be more modest than
we should be” means precisely threatening war. Novoye Vremya is
in favour of the Slavs being protected by Russia , while
Rech favours their protection by the Triple Entente. In other
words, Novoye Vremya wants to see only our fox in the hen-coop,
while Rech favours an agreement among three foxes.

Democrats in general and workers in particular are opposed to all
“protection” of the Slavs by foxes or wolves, and advocate the complete
self-determination of nations, complete democracy, and the liberation of
the Slavs from all protection by the “Great Powers”.

The liberals and nationalists are arguing about different ways
of plundering and enslaving the Balkan peoples by the European
bourgeoisie. Only the workers are pursuing a genuinely democratic policy,
for freedom and democracy everywhere and completely, against all
“protection”, plunder and intervention!

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Notes:
[1]
Milyukov met Sazonov, Minister of the Interior, in September 1912 to
discuss the Balkan policy of the tsarist government.