Written: April 14, 1917
First Published: Pravda No. 32, April 14, 1917
Online Version: marxists.org 1999
N. N. Pokrovsky, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the present Vice-Chairman of the Central War Industries Committee, has become a member of the Board of the Russian Bank for Foreign Commerce. Count V. N. Kokovtsov, the former Chairman of the Council of Ministers, has also become a member of the Board.
These happy tidings were brought to us by last night's papers.
A minister today, a banker tomorrow; a banker today, a minister tomorrow. It is "war to the end" — both today and tomorrow.
This state of affairs prevails not only in Russia, but in every other country where Capital rules. A handful of bankers, who have the whole world in their grip, are making a fortune out of the war.
But Pokrovsky and Kokovtsov, we may be told, were ministers during the old regime, and we are now living in a regenerated Russia.
We will answer with a question:
In how many banks do the present ministers, Guchkov, Tereshchenko, and Konovalov — have an interest (in the capacity of directors, shareholders, or actual owners)?
Our comrades, the bank employees (who, by the way, should organise a union of their own as soon as possible), would do well to gather material on this subject and publish it in the labour press.