The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-12
Speech by KOlIOntay on Her
ArrivaI in Mexico

impressive reception, to Comrade
Alexander Kollontay, the Plenipoten-
tiary Representative from the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics. This
reception was held at the Russian
Club of Mexico City.
In spite of the fact that the recep-
ton was advertised to begin at
o'clock N the evening, people began
coming rs early as six. And long
before the meeting was formally
opened. every bit of available space,
including the hallway, was filled to
capacity, the croWS even overlooking
che sidewalk.
Comrade Kollontay arrived at
eight, and the people waiting for her
broke into prolonged applause.
The speech Of greeting, on behalf
Of the meeting, was made by Com
rode Frenco.
Greeting by KOllOntay.
Comrade Koilontay spoke as fol-
lows:
Comrades and citizens:
Il thank you sincerely for this
hearty and friendly reception with
which [ am me, here. This recep-
ton is the more dear to me that it
proves a spiritual connection between
the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lies and the Russian Colony here.
Many Of those present here have
probably left the territory of the
union long ago, and others have prob
ably left even earlier. AS / am but
recently from Soviet Russia, you may
rightly request from me an exposi-
ton In detail of the conditions now
prevailing there. If one were to go
there now with the assumption that
he would find there a complete real
ization of Communism, he will I'M
doubtedly feel disappointed. For he
will find there only the process of
Socialstic construction, an intensive
process, taking place at an enforced
pace.
"But it is clear that this construc-
ton cannot be terminated as yet.
consider it necessary to speak in
great detail on this subject as this is
one of the chief reproaches directed
against US by our enemies. One often
hears the reproach that no visible
prosperity has been realized in the
Soviet Union. Well, imagine your
self, the owner Of an enterprise, of
an industrial or a commercial estab-
lishment, which found itself in a
condition of extreme decay. Let US
suppose that this enterprise was put
in the hands of another person. Imag-
inc also, that at the expiration of a
certain period, say Of nine months,
there have taken place in this estab-
ishment notable improvements. Still,
in spite OF these improvements, those
around him are heaping abuse upon
the owner, saying in effect, the fol-
lowing:
What kind of establishment is
this? Its productivity, it is true, has
increased noticeably, its deficit has
been wiped out, there is no doubt Of
its having made many important i'm
provements. Yet, is there any use in
having such an establishment, which
0oes not give all at once a profit of
1000 2"
"Are not the charges thrown
against the Soviet Government of a
similar character?
beginnings Were Difficult.
"The Soviet Government began its
existence in unbelievably difficult
conditions. At the time when the So
Wet power was just emerging, the
country was in a state of a dreadful
dilapidation, the inheritance of the
war. More than that, the Soviet Gov
eminent had to suffer whole lot of
natural and other disasters, such as
the blockade, intervention, the famine
in the Volga districts, etc. Under
such circumstances, the reconstruc-
ton was very difficult. And only to
the saperhuman efforts of the Rus
sian proletariat, headed by the Com
munist Party, is due the resistance
to the pressure of the whole capital
list world, only through such efforts
did the Russian people outlive all the
sufferings endured by them. 1 re-
peat, not to the Soviet Government,
but to the crimes Of other nations,
in intervening in Russia, should be
charged all that the Russian people
have endured.
"The Soviet Government remained
true TO its cause. Out Of the unheard
Of difficulties it continually lead the
country to complete economic restora-
ton. And at the present time, it
can be truthfully stated, that even in
an economic sense there is no more
stable government than that of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The advantage Of the Soviet Govern
ment over other powers consists in
that there is no such chaos as can be
observed in the capitalist countries,
Production, and, in fact, all national
economy, is being conducted accord
ing to a previously conceived plan.
Foreign trade is state monopoly in
the Soviet Union. Thus the state has
the means and the power to control
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