He asked whether Sidney Webb was consciously
working in the interests of the capitalists, and
when I said I was quite sure that he was not, he
said, "Then he has more industry than brains.
He certainly has great knowledge."

He was entirely convinced that England was
on the eve of revolution, and pooh-poohed my
objections. "Three months ago I thought it
would end in all the world having to fight the
centre of reaction in England. But I do not think
so now. Things have gone further there than in
France, if the news as to the extent of the strikes
is true."

I pointed out some of the circumstances, geo-
graphical and economical, which would make the
success of a violent revolution in England proble-
matical in the extreme, and put to him the same
suggestion that I put to Bucharin (see page 81 ),
namely, that a suppressed movement in England
would be worse for Russia than our traditional
method of compromise. He agreed at once, but
said, "That is quite true, but you cannot stop a
revolution . . . although Ramsay MacDonald
will try to at the last minute. Strikes and Soviets,

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