of autocracy, and that therefore all such elements must, without delay, be made to unite.  But it is also clear that at first they, even united, will not be able to bring about order in this country on their own accord.  I do not believe that at this time there is in Russia any social force which would be able to organize the conditions in the country.  For that reason, to my mind, we should, to begin with, frankly and honestly rely on the help of the Allied Powers.  Help from Germany cannot be considered, as Germany, because of her own interests, is compelled to support the Bolshevik rule as long as possible, as Germany from the Bolshevik rule is pressing more and more political and economic advantages, to such an extent even that all of Russia is becoming practically a colony of Germany.  Russia thus would serve to compensate Germany for the colonies lost in South Africa.

A question presents itself at once whether the Allied Powers are better.  And it must be answered instantly that neither would they establish in Russia any Socialist society.  Yet the democratic traditions of these countries are some surety that the social order established by them will be a democratic one.  It is clear as day that the policy of the Allied Powers is also imperialistic, but the geographical and economic position of these countries is such that even their own interests demand that Russia should be able to develop somewhat freely.  The problem has finally evolved into such a state of affairs where Russia must rely on the help either of the Allies or Germany; we must choose, as the saying goes, “between two evils,” and, things being as badly mixed as they are, the lesser evil must be chosen frankly and openly.  It does not seem possible to get anywhere by dodging the issue.  Russia perhaps would have saved herself some time ago from this unfortunate situation if she had understood immediately after the February Revolution the necessity of a union between the more democratic elements.  Bolshevism undoubtedly has brought Russia a big step toward her misfortune, from which she cannot extricate herself on her own accord.

Thus there exists no more any purely Socialist army, and all the fighting forces and all those who have taken to arms are fighting for the interests of the one or the other group of the Great Powers.  The question therefore finally is only this—­in the interests of which group one wants to fight.  The revolutionary struggles in Russia and in Finland, to my mind, have clearly established that a Socialist society cannot be brought about by the force of arms and cannot be supported by the force of arms, but that a Socialist order must be founded on a conscious and living will by an overwhelming majority of the nations, which is able to realize its will without the help of arms.

But now that the nations of the world have actually been thrown into an armed conflict, and the war, which in itself is the greatest crime