Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

178V. I. LENINLet us examine the first possibility.That negotiations for a separate peace between Germanyand Russia were conducted quite recently, that Nicholas IIhimself, or the top Court clique, favour such a peace, that aturn has taken place in world politics from a Russo-Britishimperialist alliance against Germany to a no less imperialistRusso-German alliance against England—all that isbeyond doubt.The replacement of Stürmer by Trepov, the tsaristgovernment’s public declaration that Russia’s “right” toConstantinople has been recognised by all the Allies, andthe setting up by Germany of a separate Polish state—theseseem to indicate that the separate peace negotiations haveended in failure. Perhaps tsarism entered into them solelyto blackmail England, obtain formal and unambiguousrecognition of Nicholas the Bloody’s “right” to Constantinopleand certain “weighty” guarantees of that right?There is nothing improbable in that assumption, consideringthat the main, fundamental purpose of the presentimperialist war is the division of the spoils among thethree principal imperialist rivals, the three robbers, Russia,Germany and England.On the other hand, the clearer it becomes to tsarism thatthere is no practical, military possibility of regainingPoland, winning Constantinople, breaking Germany’s ironfront, which she is magnificently straightening out, shorteningand strengthening by her recent victories in Rumania,the more tsarism is finding itself compelled to conclude aseparate peace with Germany, that is, to abandon its imperialistalliance with England against Germany for an imperialistalliance with Germany against England. And whynot? Was not Russia on the verge of war with England as aresult of their imperialist rivalry over the division of thespoils in Central Asia? And did not England and Germanynegotiate in 1898 for an alliance against Russia? Theysecretly agreed then to divide up the Portuguese colonies“in the event” of Portugal failing to meet her financialobligations!The growing trend among leading imperialist circles inGermany towards an alliance with Russia against Englandwas already clearly defined several months ago. The basis of