Speech at the Moscow Gubernia Congress of Soviets, Committees of the Poor, and District Committees of the RCP(b), December 8, 1918. Brief Newspaper Report
Речь на московском губернском съезде Советов, комитетов бедноты и районных комитетов РКП(б) 8 декабря 1918 г. Краткий газетный отчет
Date: 1918
Source: PSS vol 37
Translated by: AI (Claude)

(Thunder of applause.) The events of recent weeks in Austria and Germany, Comrade Lenin began his speech, have shown that in our assessment of the international situation we were right, basing our policy on a precise, clear, and correct estimation of all the consequences of the four-year war, which has turned from a war of the capitalists for the division of spoils into their war against the proletariat of all countries. It was difficult for the revolution in Western Europe to begin, but once it began, it develops faster, more firmly, and in a more organised manner than ours.

Noting the workers' movement in other countries that is coming to our aid, calling for the exertion of all forces, Comrade Lenin states that every month of our existence, defended at a heavy price, brings us closer to a firm victory.

Touching next on the immediate task -- the re-elections of volost and village Soviets -- Comrade Lenin emphasised that all the difficulties of the independent organisation of the toiling people from the very bottom will be overcome with the awareness that the power must rest upon the workers, the poorest and middle peasantry, which, in the opinion of Vladimir Ilyich, is not our enemy but merely vacillates and with the consolidation of Soviet power will come over to our side.

We have begun to build a cause, Comrade Lenin concluded, which will be carried to its end by the workers of the whole world. (Prolonged applause.)

Izvestia VTsIK, No. 271, December 11, 1918

Printed from the text of the newspaper Izvestia VTsIK