V. I. Lenin

Comrades, About a year ago, in my letter to the American workers (dated August 20th, 1918) I exposed to
you the situation in Soviet Russia and the problems facing the
latter. That was before the German revolution. The events which
since took place in the world’s history proved how right the
Bolsheviks were in their estimation of the imperialist war of
1914-18 in general and of the Entente imperialism in particular. As for the Soviet power it has become familiar and
dear to the minds and hearts of the working masses of the whole
world. Everywhere the working people, in spite of the influence of
the old leaders with their chauvinism and opportunism penetrating
them through and through, become aware of the rottenness of the
bourgeois parliaments and of the necessity of the Soviet power,
the power of the working people, the dictatorship of the
proletariat, for the sake of the emancipation of humanity from the
yoke of capital. And Soviet power will win in the whole world,
however furiously, however frantically the bourgeoisie of all
countries rages and storms. The bourgeoisie inundates Russia with
blood, waging war upon us and inciting against us the counter-revolutionaries, those who wish the yoke of capital to be
restored. The bourgeoisie inflicts upon the working masses of
Russia unprecedented sufferings through the blockade and through
the help it gives to counter-revolution, but we have already
defeated Kolchak and we are carrying on the war against Denikin
with the firm assurance of our coming victory.

N. Lenin

September 23, 1919 z * * *

I am often asked whether those American opponents of the war
against Russia—not only workers, but mainly bourgeois—are right, who expect from us, after peace is
concluded, not only resumption of trade relations, but also the
possibility of receiving concessions in Russia. I repeat once
more that they are right. A durable peace would be such a relief
to the working people of Russia that they would undoubtedly
agree to certain concessions being granted. The granting of
concessions under reasonable terms is desirable also for us, as
one of the means of attracting into Russia, during the period of
the coexistence side by side of socialist and capitalist states,
the technical help of the countries which are more advanced in
this respect.

N. Lenin

September 23, 1919