But to say everything that might be said about this gallant little Socialist Republic, or even one-half of what we ourselves saw during our two weeks’ visit, is out of the question. The impressions formed need time for their ripening, but on certain matters we formed very clear and definite judgments.
The Republic of Georgia, about the same size as Switzerland and with the same population, is equally beautiful if it is not even more lovely. It has a good soil, very fertile, with useful deposits of valuable minerals and a rich supply of oil. Its industries might be made very productive if modernized and supplied with the necessary capital. Foreign capital is shy, however, since the Russian Revolution. It fears confiscation by even the moderate Socialist Government of Georgia, and is certain of it if Georgia comes to be Bolshevized either by Lenin from the outside or revolutionaries from within.
Georgia needs peace and security for her happiness. There is no immediate prospect of either. From the Turks on one side and the Bolsheviks all round she is in constant danger.
I had the very strongest impression when in Georgia that the population was overwhelmingly against Bolshevism, and that their support of the Social Democrats was founded on the love of the peasants for the land and the fear of the bourgeoisie and aristocracy that a worse fate might befall them. I believe it to be true of Georgia, as of other countries whose ancient orders have been overthrown, that the vicious terms of the various Peace Treaties have united all classes in support of a party which has not failed in government because it has never been tried, and which stands for the national existence against a world of foes combined. In other words, there is a thick streak of nationalism running through every Socialist Movement of Europe, not excepting the Russian, whose chief leaders only, and not the rank and file to any extent, are believers in that anti-nationalism they falsely parade before the world as internationalism. Surely there can be no internationalism unless there are nations out of which to make it.
Since the writing of the above I have received this letter from Paris. President Jordania is there, in exile. He writes in French, but I have translated the letter:
Paris,
April 9th, 1921.
Dear Madam:
I enclose the manifesto signed by my comrades and myself and addressed to all the Socialist parties and workers’ organizations. You will find in it in detail the latest events in Georgia. This exact document gives in brief amongst other things, the purpose of our action in Europe: it is to expedite the evacuation of Georgia by the Bolshevik troops.
The war is not yet finished in Georgia, but it has taken a new form: it is no longer the Republican army which desperately resists the invaders, it is the whole country which fights against the armies of occupation as it has formerly fought against the power of the Czar.