Microsoft Word translation Aznaurova doc

It was just at 8.40 when a thundering wave of cheers announced the entrance of the 
presidium, with Lenin — great Lenin —among them. A short, stocky figure, with a big head 
set down In his shoulders, bald and bulging. Little eyes, a snobbish nose, wide, generous mouth, 

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and heavy chin; clean shaven now, but already beginning to bristle with the well-known beard of 
his past and future ... Loved and revered as perhaps tew leaders in history have been. A strange 
popular leader — a leader purely by virtue of intellect; colourless, humourless, uncompromising 
and detached, without picturesque idiosyncrasies —but with the power of explaining profound 
ideas in simple terms, oi analysing a concrete situation. And combined with shrewdness, the 
greatest intellectual audacity . . . 
. . . Now Lenin, gripping the edge of the reading stand, letting his little winking eyes 
travel over the crowd as he stood there waiting, apparently oblivious to the long-rolling ovation 
which lasted several minutes. When it finished, lie said simply, «We shnll now proceed to 
construct the Socialist order! Again that overwhelming huma;i roar. 
«The first thing is the adoption of practical measures to realize peace . . . We shall offer 
peace to the peoples of all the belligerent countries upon the basis of the Soviet terms — no 
annexations, no indemnities, and the right of selfdeter-minatkm of peoples. At the same time, 
according to our promise, we shall publish and repudiate the secret treaties . . . The question 
of War and Peace is so clear that I think that 1 may, without preamble, read the project of a 
Proclamation to the Peoples of All the Belligerent Countries ...» 
... For emphasis he bent forward slightly. No gestures. And before him, a thousand simple 
faces looking up in intent adoration .. . 
. . . «The revolution of November Gth and 7tli,» he ended, «lias opened the era of the 
Social Revolution . . . The labour movement, in the name of peace and Socialism, shall win, and 
fulfil its destiny . . .» 
There was something quiet and powerful in all tins, which stirred the souls of men It was 
understandable \vhy people believed when Lenin spoke . . . 
By crowd vote it was quickly decided that only representatives of political factions should be 
allowed to speak on the motion and that speakers should be limited to fifteen 
minutes . . . 
. . . One spoke oE the scorning World Revolution, of which we are the advance-guard*; 
another of «the new age of brotherhood, when all the peoples will become one great family ...» 
An Individual member claimed the floor. «Thtre is contradiction here, «he said. «First you offer 
peace without annexations and indemnities, and then you say you will consider all peace offers. 
To consider means to accept . . .» 
Lenin was on his feet , . . «We consent to examine all conditions of peace, hut that doesn't 
mean that we shall accept them . . . For some of our terms we shall fight totheend but possibly 
for others we will find it impossible to continue the war . . . Above all, we want to finish the war 
. . .» 
Suddenly, by common impulse, we found ourselves on cur feei, mumbling together into 
the smooth lifting unison of the Internationale. A grizzled old soldier was sobbing like a child. 
The immense sound rolled through the hall, burst windows and doors and seared into the quiet 
sky.