COM M U N 1ST I N·TE N T ION S
223
contestably exists, both can, and must, be conducted without resort
to all out war?
It
can hardly be contested that the main strand in Lenin's
thinking was to the effect that a further bout of wars, in part at
least between the Soviet
V
nion and some or all of the remaining
capitalist states, was inevitable. He would have smiled his shrewd
smile at any comrade who thought otherwise.* Moreover
his
relent–
less antagonism would have been vented upon anyone who tried to
deflect Russian policy from the necessity of preparing for such con–
flicts. Lenin was representative of the communist thought of his day
in this respect. There is no doubt about what was the real attitude
of the Soviet Government to the matter right up to 1941. It can be
conveniently summed up in two antithetical propositions. First, war
between the Soviet
Vnion
and at least some parts of the rest of the
world was inevitable. But, second, this war must be postponed for
as rong as possible and by every conceivable means, including if neces–
sary great caution and restraint, and even, if unavoidable, by serious
sacrifices upon the part of the Soviet Government.
The explanation of why the Soviet Government should have
gone to such lengths in order to postpone a conflict which they were
convinced was inevitable sooner or later is simple. They were sure
that Soviet strength was on a rapidly rising curve and that capitalist
strength was on a rapidly declining curve.
If
only the war could be
put off long enough it would take place after the curves had inter–
sected. Then Soviet strength would prove the greater and the capital–
ists would be defeated. It would be foolish to suggest that this Leninist
prognosis of world development, and the policy which was built upon
it, had proved entirely mistaken. After all, war between Russia and a
part of the capitalist world did in fact break out in 1941. The Soviet
Government, at least, is no doubt convinced that it was only post–
poned
unti~
the twenty-fourth year after the Revolution by caution
arid deft maneuvring on their own part. And when war did come,
Russia, and her allies, were in fact victorious.
*
I am reminded of the anecdote of Lenin's reaction when he was shown a
pamphlet by Eden and Cedar Paul, two elderly English pacifists (and translators
of the first volume of
Capital)
who were expressing their admiration for the
Soviet Union. After reading a few pages on the wholly pacific character of
communism, Lenin enquired: "These be very young comrades?"
