Russia today : the official report of the British trade union delegation

Contents

Report on General Conditions

PREFACE— pp. 17 to 29

INTRODUCTION— pp. 31 to 34

PART I Governmental

CHAPTER I. : Politics. — Federalism and Nationalism — Character of the Union — The Ukraine — Moldavia — Jews — Constitutional Rights — Fran¬ chise — Elections — Representative System — Communism — The Comin¬ tern- — Internal Commission — Possibilities of Party Government — The Growth of an Opposition — Amnesty and Political Prisoners — “Reign of Terror” — General Conclusion. pp. 35 to 49

CHAPTER II. : Finance. — Russian Credit Before the Revolution — Cur¬ rency before the Revolution — Revolution and Finance — War Com¬ munism and Finance — War Communism and Revenues — Communism and Currency — Communism and Budget — Restoration of Money — Res¬ toration of Budget — Collapse of Currency — Currency Reform — Gold Standard Restored — The Tchervonetz — Regulation of Exchange — Single Currency — Currency and Budgets — Receipts in Kind and Bud¬ get — Budget of 1922-23 — Budget for 1923-24 — Analysis of Budget Ex¬ penditure — Growth of Budget — Internal Loans — Accuracy of Accounts — Ordinary and Extraordinary Budget — Taxation, Soviet and Tsarist — Economies — Corruption — Direct Taxes — Indirect Taxes — Central and Local Finance — Budget Procedure — General Conclusion. pp. 50 to 71

CHAPTER III. : Industry. — War Communism — New Economic Policy and Nationalization — Trusts and Syndicates — Concessions — Leases — Or¬ ganization of Trusts — Status of Trusts — Status of Mixed Companies and Private Enterprises — Status of Concessions and Lease — State Syndicates — Industrial Congresses — Organization and Regulation of Industry — Gosplan — Private Enterprise — Competition of Public and Private Trading — State and Private Manufacturers — Middlemen — Profiteering — Future of Private Enterprise — Financing of Industry — Increase of Industrial Production — Coal — Oil — Minerals — Machinery — Textile — Electrification- — General Conclusion. pp. 72 to 89

CHAPTER IV. : Transport and Agriculture. — Travel in the Union Ruin of Railways— Rape of Shipping— War Communism— Reconstruction of Railways— Shipping Reconstruction— Transport Reorganization under New Economic Policy — Shipping Reorganization General Conclusion.

Russian Agriculture and the Revolution — Restoration of Agricul¬ ture-Area under Cultivation— Recovery of Population and Livestock —Methods of Agriculture— Tractors— Agricultural Production— The “Scissors’’ and the “Clamp” — The Harvest of 1924 — General Con¬ clusion. PP-

CHAPTER V. : Foreign Commerce. — Organization — Foreign Trade with Russia — Foreign Agents in Russia— Statistics of Trade — Exports- Imports— Regulation of Trade— Contraband— Financing of Trade- Trade Turnover — Foreign Bank Credits — British and German Trade — Legal Status of Foreigners— Entry— Residence— Concessions— Foreign Companies— General Conclusion. PP. 101 to 112

CHAPTER VI. : The Red Army. — Origin — Organization — Character — Gen¬ eral Conclusion. PP- H3 to 118

CHAPTER VII. : The Judiciary. — Early Revolutionary Judicature — Revolu¬ tionary Developments — Restoration to Peace Conditions — The Judi¬ ciary — The People’s Court — Provincial Courts — Supreme Court — Working of the People’s Court — Public Order and Security — The Police— The Codes — The Code of Civil Status — Marriage — Divorce — Married Women’s Rights — Rights of Children — Wardship — General Conclusion. PP- 119 to 128

Social

CHAPTER VIII. : Social and Religious Conditions. — The Soviet Social System — -Work v. Wealth: (a) The Worker; (h) The Peasant; (c) The Non-Worker; (d) The Nepman — Tsarist and Sovietist Society — Position of Women — Family Life — Sexual Immorality — Immorality among Children — Religion— The Lenin Cult — The Living Church — Extent of the System — Liquor Control and Drunkenness — New Social Customs — General Conclusion. pp. 129 to 137

CHAPTER IX. : Education, Press, Art, etc. — Schools — School Curriculum — Universities- — Art — Printing and Publishing — Censorship — Press

Censorship — Press Propaganda — Newspapers — Press Circulation —

Wall Papers — Freedom of the Press — Books — General Conclusion.

CHAPTER X. : Public Health and Housing, etc. — Disease — Hospitals — Health Resorts and Rest Houses — Welfare Work — Village Welfare and Sanitation — Birth Control — Abortion — Cleanliness— Housing —

Nationalization — House Committees— Rent Regulation — Housing Reg¬ ulations — Results — Family Life — Housing Scheme — Prisons — General Conclusion. pp. 151 to 163

Report on Labor Conditions

PART I

General

CHAPTER I. : Trade Unions. — Labor Conditions — Trade Unions: (a) Pre- War Period; (b) Revolutionary; (c) Recent Reconstruction — Trade Union Organization — Trade Union Congress — Trade Union Finance- — Trade Union Status — Trade Union Activities: (a) Restriction of Activities; (b) Political Activities— <W or ker s’ Clubs: (a) Activities; (b) Finance; (c) Membership; (d) Red Corners; (e) Industrial Exhibi¬ tions; (f) Work Among Women and Youths; (g) Young Pioneers; (h) Trade Union Press; (i) Higher Educational Facilities and Art Classes — Trade Union Social Activities — General Conclusion. pp. 164 to 175

CHAPTER II. : Labor Regulation. — Conscription — Free Contract — Restora¬ tion of Wages — Collective Agreements — Breach of Agreements — Dis¬ putes — Strikes: (a) In State Enterprises; (b) In Private Factories — Labor Exchanges — Unemployment — Increase of Unemployment — In¬ surance — Social Insurance — Labor Inspection — General Conclusion.

CHAPTER III.: Wages. — Wages Under War Communism — Wages During the Change to Money Payments — Money Payments — Present and Pre- War Wages Compared — Inequalities of Wages — Wage Scales and Categories — Wages and Benefits — Productivity of Labor— General Conclusion. PP. 186 to 190

CHAPTER IV. : Co-operation. — Pre-War Co-operatives — Co-operatives and Class War — Co-operatives Under War Communism — Co-operation Communalized — Co-operatives and Intervention — Co-operation Res¬ tored — Co-operatives in Foreign Trade — Growth of Co-operatives — Membership of Consumers’ Co-operatives — Co-operative Finance — The Centrosoyouz — Co-operative Trading — Co-operatives and Private En¬ terprise — Co-operatives in the Soviet Society. pp. 191 to 198

FINAL CONCLUSION.

Special Institutions and Industries

I. Leningrad Trade Union Center — Union of Employes — Moscow, Insurance Department — Convalescent and Holiday Homes — Mine Workers in Russia — Salt Mine at Bakhmut — Electrical Power Station — The Worker — Housing — Volkof Electricity Scheme — General Engineering Shop, Kharkov — Aircraft Works — Locomotive Running Depot — The First State Boot Factory — Rubber Works — State Tobacco Factory, Moscow — Textile Factories. PP. 200 to 227

Report on Trans-Caucasia

PART I General

CHAPTER I. : Trans-Caucasia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. — General Survey — Economic — Political and Racial Conditions in the Caucasus — The Different Races: Georgian, Tartar, and Armenian — Race Wars —First Trans-Caucasian Federation — British Occupation — Pan-Islamism in the Caucasus — War between Armenia and Azerbaijan — Russian Support of Trans-Caucasian Republics — Bolshevist Revolution in Azer¬ baijan, Armenia and Georgia — Second Trans-Caucasian Federation.

CHAPTER II. : Georgia. — Georgia under Bolshevism — Economic Develop¬ ment, Exports and Imports — Nationalization of Land and Agriculture — Risings Against (1) Menshevists and (2) Bolshevists — Reasons of Insurrections and their Political Effects — Dissolution of Menshevist Party — Elections — The Tcheka — The Army — Georgian Nationalism — The Delegation in Georgia, relations with the Opposition Party and Illegal Bodies — Prisons in Georgia — Delegation’s Recommendations Regarding Political Freedom — General Conclusion. pp. 235 to 244

CHAPTER II.: Armenia. — Situation in Armenia. p. 245

CHAPTER IV. : Baku. — General Appearance of Town and Oilfields — The 26 Commissars — Oilfields Policy. pp. 246 to 247

Special Industries

I. Visit to Baku Oilfields, their Reconstruction, Electrification Scheme, Housing, and Labor Conditions — Visit to Grozny Oilfields— Visit to Co-operatives — Visit to Tiflis Electric Power Scheme— Visit to Labor Palace. Tiflis — Visit to Chiaturi Mines. pp. 248 to 261

Appendix

Report on “Zinoviev” or “Red” Letter. pp. 263 to 272

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MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION

TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL

DELEGATES

HERBERT SMITH, J. P.

Nineteen years President Yorkshire Miners’ Federation. President, Miners’ Federation of Great Britain since 1921. Vice- President, 1907. Served on several Royal Commissions. Presi¬ dent International Miners’ Committee. Member of School Board, West Riding (Yorks.), County Council and other public bodies for many years. Member, Parliamentary Committee, Trades Union Congress, 1913-16, and General Council, 1923-24. Ap¬ pointed J. P. in 1915. Member, Central Committee, Miners' Wel¬ fare and Central Committee, Mining Examining Board.

BEN TILLETT

General Secretary of Trade Unions since 1889. Founder of Dockers’ Union which originated from the Tea Coopers and Gen¬ eral Laborers’ Union established in 1887. A pioneer of Trade Union Movement nationally. Contested several parliamentary elections. Elected for North Salford 1917. Seat held until 1924. Remained Dockers’ general Secretary until amalgamation to Transport and General Workers’ Union. Now Secretary of Pol¬ itical and International Department of Amalgamated Union. Member of Trades Union Congress General Council since 1922. Member of Parliamentary Committee, Trades Union Congress, 1892-4.

JOHN TURNER

Associated with Socialist organizations since 1884. Intimate with founders and leaders of Socialist thought, such as William Morris, Belfort Bax, and other Pioneers. Closely associated with Prince Kropotkin from 1886 until his return to Russia in 1917. A pioneer of Shop Hours Legislation and founder of Shop As¬ sistants’ Union. Official of this union from 1898 until retire¬ ment as General Secretary after twelve years in this position! untTl 1924. Elected to General Council, Trades Union Congress, 1921: re-elected by Congress each year to 1924 for period to September, 1925.

JOHN BROMLEY, M.P.

A pioneer of Railway Trade Unionism and held many posi¬ tions of trust prior to appointment as Branch Secretary of As¬ sociated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, 1904. Elected General Organizing Secretary of the union, 1910. Sec¬ retary also of Conciliation Boards. Elected General Secretary of the union, 1914. Elected member of Labor Party Executive, 1920 and 1921. Elected member of Trades Union Congress Gen¬ eral Council, 1922-24. Member of Labor Party delegation to Ireland. Three times candidate for Barrow, elected 1924. Prominently associated with Labor and Socialist propaganda for many years.

ALAN A. H. FINDLAY

Member of United Patternmakers’ Association since 1893. Branch Secretary and other offices. Elected Assistant General Secretary, Executive Department, 1913. Elected General Secretary, 1917. Formerly Treasurer, Engineering and Shipbuilding i rades Federation for three years, subsequently appointed Presi¬ dent, at present occupying this position. Elected to Trades Union Congress General Council, 1921, re-elected each year until 1924, for term ending September, 1925.

A. A. PURCELL (Chairman of Delegation)

Member, Furnishing Trades Union since 1891. Member, So¬ cial Democratic Federation many years. Member, Salford Borough Council for six years. Sectional Secretary, subsequent¬ ly Organizer, Furnishing Trades. Parliamentary candidate, West Salford, 1920. Contested Coventry, 1923-24. Elected 1923. Successful arbitrator in Co-operative and other disputes. Elected to General Council, Trades Union Congress, 1919, re-elected each year. Elected by Trade Union International Conference, Vien¬ na, 1924, as President at 1924 Trades Union Congress. Vice- Chairman, General Council. Appointed delegate to American Federation of Labor Convention, 1925. Accompanied the Delega¬ tion to Russia in 1920.

FRED BRAMLEY (Secretary to Delegation)

Many years actively associated with political and industrial branches of the Labor Movement. Several years full time Lec¬ turer on Social and Economic subjects in connection with “Clarion” Newspaper. Formerly Organizing Secretary, Fur¬ nishing Trades Association. Appointed Assistant Secretary, Trades Union Congress, 1917; General Secretary, 1923. Served on several Government Committees. Member of Royal Commis¬ sion on National Health Insurance and National Debt Com¬ mission.

ADVISORY DELEGATES HAROLD G. GRENFELL

Entered Navy, 1883; retired in 1920 with rank of Captain. Admiralty Intelligence Department, 1904-1905; Governor of Hong Kong Naval Prison, 1907-8; Admiralty War Staff, 1910- 1911; Naval Attache, British Embassy, St. Petersburg, April, 1912 to November, 1917; Head of Naval Mission to Finland, December, 1918-June, 1919; Joined Independent Labor Party, 1919. Member of Advisory Committee on Army, Navy, and Pen¬ sions.

A. R. McDONELL

Educated St. Paul’s School, London, C.B.C. (Civil); Resident in Russia, 1902-1919; British Vice-Consul, Baku, South Russia, 1907-1916. British Military Forces in Caucasus and North Per¬ sia, 1916-19 (Temporary Major). Foreign Office Temporary 1st Division Clerk, 1919-1923.

GEORGE YOUNG

Educated Eton and Foreign Universities. M.V.O. Diplomatic Service (passing in Russia) 1896-1915. Admiralty Intelligence, 1915-18. Volunteered in ranks, February, 1918 and commissioned R.M.A., August. “Daily News” Correspondent through German Revolution, December, 1918-August, 1919. Professor of Port¬ uguese, 1919-1922, and Examiner in Ottoman Law, London Uni¬ versity. Joined the Labor Party, 1915, and accompanied Delega¬ tion to Russia in 1920. Member of Advisory Council on Inter¬ national Affairs. Parliamentary candidate, South Bucks, 1923, and 1924. Author of numerous works on foreign affairs.

Preface

The Delegation representing the British Trades Union Con-' gress left London on November 7th, 1924, and travelled to Moscow. After a stay there it went on to Kharkov, the Don Basin, Rostov, the Caucasus, Baku, and Tiflis. Thence it re¬ turned by a different route to Moscow, and, after a second stay there, came home by Leningrad, arriving back in London on December 19th.

One of the advisory delegates spent another ten days study¬ ing rural and political conditions in the Ukraine and Moldavia, and came home by Odessa and Constantinople.

During our journey from London to Moscow we travelled through Belgium, Germany, Lithuania and Latvia, and through the agricultural districts of Russia to Moscow, arriving in Moscow on Tuesday, November 11th.

The journey was not without incidents of an interesting character even before we arrived at the Russian frontier. At Berlin, we were informed that the official delegation appointed by the Government of Germany to proceed to Moscow for the purpose of discussing a trading agreement between Germany and Russia was to occupy another portion of the same train in which we were travelling. No detailed comment is necessary to indicate what we considered to be a remarkable coincidence, namely that having just left our own country after a severe attack on the Labor Party because of its attempt to arrange a trading agreement with Russia, we should on our way be joined on the same train by the official representatives of a country which for many years has been our most successful competitor, especially in Russian markets — representatives who were charged with the special task of promoting the trading inter¬ ests of their own country.

On our way to Russia we were met at Riga (Latvia) by the official representatives of the Soviet Government. The Ambas¬ sador and other officials who received the Delegation at the Russian Embassy in the name of the Soviet Government ex¬ pressed the hope that our investigations would enable us to ob¬ tain the facts and convey the truth to the workers of our own and other countries.

After this brief first introduction to Russian representatives we proceeded to Moscow accompanied by official representatives of the All-Russian Trades Union Council and some of the officials attached to the Moscow Trade Union center.

The first impression we received in Soviet Russia was on our arrival at the frontier station of Sebezh. The entrance into Soviet Russia at the frontier was marked by a specially constructed arch upon which were displayed on a red cloth covering, various mottoes with which we were well acquainted in our own language. These declared the international solidar¬ ity of the workers, and informed all who entered this new coun¬ try that the main purpose of Russia was the building up of an economic system which would eliminate the capitalist. Here we were also introduced to representatives of Russia’s Red Army. It was the first time that the majority of the members of the Delegation had seen an army raised and organized by workers for the purpose of defending a State controlled by themselves.

The present frontier town of Sebezh was formerly an al¬ most unknown and unimportant village consisting of 500 individuals. It is now becoming an important frontier center, and building operations for housing the people were in progress. The first building to be erected after the workers’ houses had been built was the workmen’s club. This club had been erected by the workers themselves in their spare time as a voluntary contribution to their own cause. We saw the first attempt at a library, the first lecture room, and the first form of rural educa¬ tion which have ever been known in this area, and we were here also confronted with an important economic fact. We were privileged to inspect eight enormous railway engines, newly con¬ structed, up-to-date, with all the modern appliances for heavy transport service, these being the first installment of a contract order given to Sweden for 180 of the same type. We could not avoid noting the great importance of this first lesson, and we regretted very much indeed that we were not able to bring the British electorate to this spot for the purpose of reconsidering their decision at the last election. We had no doubt that our engineering employers and also the shareholders and investors in engineering works would have required a few hours’ solitude for the purpose of considering their position in view of this man¬ ifestation that if Great Britain will not take the opportunity for commercial extension of the Russian market, other countries, including Sweden, France, and Germany, will be before us, and at a later date it will be no longer a question of election decisions to keep out of Russia but of commercial competition to get in.

At various centers our train was pulled up for the purpose of enabling us to receive a welcome from the officials and re¬ presentatives of the Soviet Government and workers’ unions. The space which would be necessary to convey to the mind of the reader our rapidly accumulated impressions would occupy many pages of this report, and in this, the introductory section we can only give the barest outline of our experiences at way-side stations of Soviet Russia. There were demonstrations of enthusiastic workers — men and women — with banners flying, beautifully embroidered with gold and silver mottoes artistically designed and very impressive. Our deepest impressions were received in relation to the bands of children known as “Young

Pioneers,” who were lined up to take the front place in these receptions. Their singing of revolutionary songs reminiscent of the folk-songs of our country, were inspiring but melancholy and full of depth. We seemed to be called back through the centuries of persecution, and we felt that through this revolu¬ tionary music we could hear the wailing cry of a people long oppressed brought into contact with a glimpse of freedom and hope for a better future.

The children appeared to us to be happy. They were un¬ doubtedly well-cared for. Their eyes were bright and full of young life. We saw no signs amongst them of extreme poverty, and it appeared to us that a special effort was being made to make the lives of the young happier and more pleasant by the changes which had already been made. As a contrast to these, we noticed, standing among the representatives of the present generation, many old people who had evidently passed through a period of great trial, oppression, and persecution. They bore on their faces indelible marks of the terrible conditions of the past and the scars of war. The haunted expression of persecuted men was still left in their eyes, and the contrast to us was a most eloquent expression of the difference between the old order and the new.

Members of our Delegation who had visited Russia in con¬ nection with the 1920 Delegation, gave us information which indicated the very great contrast between the conditions of these people at the way-side stations and the conditions which existed during the previous visit. The demonstrations in 1920 consisted mainly of large crowds of people — young, middle-aged, and old — who had covered their starving bodies with rags and who were evidently going through a period of extreme misery. This contrast was the first sign of the rapid improvement in social conditions which we have witnessed throughout Russia and place on record in this report. To members of the Delega¬ tion who had resided in Russia many years before the war, other changes were made evident. The improved cleanliness, as compared with pre-war days of buildings, such as restaurants and even lavatories, used by the peasants and the working class, was very marked. The stations and station buildings were en¬ tirely free from the accumulation of cigarette ends and the husks of sun-flower seeds, also the defacement of the walls which were so prevalent before the war. Another impression was received in conversation with the employes in charge of the railway carriage in which the Delegation travelled. These con¬ ductors and other employes were now State employes. We were travelling with three officials of the Government, yet the employes discussed freely the conditions under which they lived and stated frankly their personal objections with regard to some of the restrictions under which they worked. This to some extent, refutes the idea that expressions of this kind were unsafe or unwise in Soviet Russia.

On our arrival in Moscow we were met by officials of the

All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, and after making hotel arrangements we were conducted to the Sixth Congress of the All-Russian Trade Unions. This Congress was attended by 843 delegates, representing approximately a membership of 6,000,000 Trade Unionists throughout Russia. We noted a great variety in type and temperament, as will be understood in view of the fact that Russia includes a population of about 130,000,000, with from 120 to 130 distinct nationalities. The arrival of the British Delegation aroused great enthusiasm. Three speakers were appointed to speak on behalf of the Delegation — the Chairman, Mr. A. A. Purcell, the Secretary, Mr. Fred Bramley, and Mr. Ben Tillett. The speeches were followed with great attention and the point of view expressed in conveying the fraternal greetings on behalf of the British Trade Union Move¬ ment was wholly endorsed by this remarkable gathering.

The All-Russian Trades Union Congress was held in a build¬ ing known as the “Hall of Trade Unions,” a magnificent building which has been placed at the disposal of the Trade Union organ¬ izations of Moscow by the Soviet authorities. It was formerly known as the Noble’s Club, and was utilized by the Russian aristocracy as one of their principal centers for receptions and amusement, including what might be described as high speed gambling on an intensive scale. The Congress Hall was mag¬ nificently illuminated and decorated inside and out for the purpose of the Congress. Along each side of the building there were huge white pillars with carved capitals, and these pillars were artistically decorated with red cloth, on which were printed various mottoes in the form of declarations of Soviet principles and policy. We were later conducted round this build¬ ing, which contains the offices and club of the Moscow Trades Council and in which a good deal of the Trade Union business in connection with Trade Union organization is transacted. The premises were kept in perfect order and cleanliness, and along the corridors we noticed some magnificent specimens of art in metal, marble and stone. On the walls many fine pictures were hung, some of them representing the old order, others painted by revolutionary artists depicting in vivid outline the main in¬ cidents of the Revolution and the aspirations of Russian demo¬ cracy.

We were taken into the Council Chamber where the nobles, under the old regime, held their meetings, in the centre of which was placed a round table around which were beautifully carved chairs, each one of them decorated with the coat of arms of the Grand Duke or other aristocrat who occupied the chair.

It is our duty to place on record here our impression that the works of art in this and all other centers of Trade Unions and Government activity have been very specially cared for by the authorities whether the treasures represented the old order or the new. There is no evidence of abuse, and every respect is shown to the art creations taken over by the new social or¬ ganization in Russia.

The Delegation also visited the Mausoleum in which the body of Lenin still lies in state, and in the name of British Trade Unions deposited a special wreath to mark our respect to the departed leader. This burial place of Lenin is erected close to the Kremlin walls and constitutes an impressive and tragic memory of the Revolution.

While in Moscow we witnessed a huge demonstration of Trade Union delegates, with bands and banners, that passed the specially erected stand outside the Congress Hall occupied by the British Delegation and other Trade Union representatives. The huge space was packed by thousands of workers who gave expression to unreserved enthusiasm and interest in our Delega¬ tion. The march past was a magnificent sight. Huge battalions of workers with banners of various kinds, many of them beauti¬ ful examples of art in cloth, gold, and metal. This conveyed to us the message that art and handicraft are closely allied to the revolutionary sentiments which now inspire the Russian people.

The most moderate estimate of this demonstration was at least 100,000 people assembled for the purpose of giving a united reception to the British Delegation. The speeches deliv¬ ered by the British representatives were well received.

We attended a demonstration of quite another kind on the morning of our first Sunday spent in Russia. The Delegation, along with Russian and other representatives attending the Congress, were invited to view the maneuvers of the special cavalry detachment of the Red Army, known as Budenny caval¬ ry. Budenny, the Commander-in-Chief, is known as a famous cavalry leader. The honorary colonel of this regiment is the Presidium of the All-Russian Trade Council, and reports are given direct from the regiment to the Congress by represent¬ atives of the battalion in the same way as reports are given regarding other department work under the control of the council. The mounted cavalry gave us some wonderful demon¬ strations of horsemanship and military movement and the manipulation of artillery equipment was a new experience for the representatives of British Labor. We were here witnessing the operations of the first disciplined, armed and trained force created and utilized for the defence of working-class institu¬ tions, an important detachment of an army of well-equipped, well-trained soldiers kept in existence by the workers them¬ selves, organized, and working under the orders of their officers appointed and recognized by working-class organizations. We are not quite sure what those who are included in organizations in Great Britain known as pacifists, would have to say regarding this demonstration. It appears, however, to be an indispensable necessity so far as the Russian Republic is concerned. Every precaution is taken in Russia by those in authority and respon¬ sible for the social and economic life in the country to make adequate provision for the defence of the present social order against all enemies, including the danger of counter-revolution and attacks upon the Soviet State from without.

In Moscow we visited various institutions, and saw much that was of very great interest. We saw performances at the Opera House, and were specially interested in a demonstration of Russian talent at the Congress Hail, including a huge orchestra, special groups of Russian dancers, well organized choirs re¬ presenting the gipsy tribes of Russia, and the peasant singers of the agricultural areas. The singing of their peasant songs and folk songs was extremely interesting to the Delegation, and the performance would, in our opinion, receive the en¬ thusiastic applause of the most severe of our musical critics. The Russian people are great artists, great musicians, and ideal¬ ists. The Russian temperament as reflected in this magnificent display of talent at the Congress Hall and other places, con¬ veyed to us the fact that in Russia music and art and even amusement are recognized as important instruments of social education. They are encouraged and developed by the Socialist Government for this purpose.

We were also favored with special facilities to investigate the Kremlin, and we passed through various Government build¬ ings and offices. We cannot in a report of this kind attempt to describe the many beautiful examples of architecture and the marvellous collection of Russian craftmanship of many ages, treasured in one of the buildings which is set apart for the purpose of a national museum. We must however, again place on record the fact that in passing through the throne room, the living apartments and the state bedrooms, formerly occupied by the royal family, we noticed not the slightest case of damage to the very beautiful decorations and furniture in these apart¬ ments. This appeared to us to indicate that the alleged des¬ tructiveness of the Revolution was not allowed to penetrate in¬ side the Kremlin walls.

Visits were also paid to the principal prisons, where we visited the workshops and living apartments utilized by those serving terms of inprisonment for criminal offences. The prison¬ ers work at various occupations. At the Boutirka prison we saw the saw-mill, chair-making factory, tailoring shop, bake-house, and laundry, and were very much impressed by the occupa¬ tional organization inside this prison. Many of the prisoners before internment were not trained for any skilled occupation, and we noted that in the boot-making department, a number of young men were going through a period of apprenticeship. The prison is kept in a satisfactory state of cleanliness. We sampled the food, saw the bills of fare, and were much pleased to see that prisoners in what were once the worst prisons in Europe are permitted to enjoy a fair standard of comfort, are treated with very great humanity, and get good opportunities for a fresh start.