Item 283 - Letter from the Earl of Listowel to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence

1 single sheet

Oxton, Kenton, S. Devon.—Thanks him for an account of his visit to Russia. Explains why he thinks the present régime in that country of limited importance to the progress of socialism in western Europe.

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Transcript

September 11th 1932
Oxton, Kenton, S. Devon

Dear Mr. Pethick Lawrence,

I appreciated very much indeed your kindness in sending me the account of your expedition to Russia, and I would have written earlier to thank you had I not been abroad until two days ago.

You give no account of your findings about the Soviet methods in finance, but no doubt this would be hard to explain to the layman. I am inclined myself sometimes to think that people exaggerate the importance of the present regime in Russia to the progress of socialism in western Europe; after all, it is a very different matter building a collectivist economic system on a democratic foundation to superimposing by force the same system on a vast body of passive and ignorant peasants. Socialism can be of no use to us unless it is born of the free and spontaneous choice of the people themselves; and that is how it differs so profoundly from the Russian model. Perhaps, some day, the kulaks and mouziks will be educated by us to collective ownership; one hopes so.

With very many thanks for the deeply interesting account of your experiences.

Yours sincerely,
Listowel

This description was created by A. C. Green in 2020.