WesWorld

Excerpt of interview with V. I Lenin, Duma member and leader of Russian Social Democratic Worker's Party (Bolshevik)

Iskra - Comrade Lenin, what is your opinion of events in Philippines, and of the "Democratic Oriental Republic of the Philippines" of General Greco?

Lenin - Well, I must say that this revolution of his seems more a straightforward military coup than any manifestation of Class Struggle. So far, actual participation by small Working Class there appears conspicuous by its absence. General Greco's power base is his Army, not Working Class.

Iskra - But is it not possible that elements of Filipino Army drawn from the Working Class have had an ideological influence on it?

Lenin - That is certainly concievable. In earliest part of 1917, Imperial Russian Army was beginning to become receptive to Socialist concepts, I recall that very well. But this was an army depressed morally from years of defeats, losses, and privations, in a bloody war that seemed endless. Filipino Army has suffered no such conditions. Therefore, I doubt that it has actually become receptive to Socialism.

Iskra - What do you make of Greco's denunciation of SATSUMA?

Lenin - Well, insofar as stable member of that alliance has excersized some restraining influence on their volatile Filipino ally, I'm not so sure that this is positive for Russia, or for our ally France, whose interests are materially impacted by this event. In this regard, it appears that France offered a small degree of support to India in hunting PRS Panay, which indicates that our French ally has reservations about Presidente Greco as well.

Iskra - And Japan's efforts to influence events there?

Lenin - Hmmmmmm...... Considering... Japanese.... Filippinos.... There is something about idea of events directly involving those two countries that gives me pause...

Nice article. Good to get a revolutionary's take on the revolution.

It is kinda odd that France and India might be cooperating in some fashion...

Considering the tenuous French lines of communication through the Indian Ocean, the French would very much like to cooperate with India. Much better than fighting them!