Berianidze
11-22-2005, 04:10 AM
In the trying critical period of the revolution and the days that immediately followed it the Provisional Revolutionary Committee was compelled to take a number of measures against the counter-revolutionary press of different shades.
Immediately outcries were heard from all sides that the new, socialist power had violated a fundamental principle of its programme by encroaching upon the freedom of the press.
The Workers' and Peasants' Government call the attention of the population ot the fact that what this liberal facade actually conceals is freedom for the propertied classes, having taken hold of the lion's share of the entire press, to poison, unhindered, the minds and obscure the consciousness of the masses.
Every one knows that the bourgeois press is one of the most powerful weapons of the bourgeois. Especially at the crucial moment when the new power, the power of workers and peasants, is only affirming itself, it was impossible to leave this weapon wholly in the hands of the enemy, for in such moments it is no less dangerous than bombs and machine-guns. That is why temporary extraordinary measures were taken to stem the torrent of filth and slander in which the yellow and green press would be only too glad to drown the recent victory of the people.
As soon as the new order becomes consolidated, all administrative pressure on the press will be terminated and it will be granted complete freedom within the bounds of legal responsiblity, in keeping with a law that will be broadest and most progressive in this respect.
However, being aware that a restriction of the press, even at critical moments, is permissible only within the limites of what is absolutely necessary, the Council of People's Commissars resolves:
General Provisions on the Press:
1. Only those publications can be suppressed which (1) call for open resistance or insubordination to the Workers' and Peasants' Government; (2) sow sedition through demonstrably slanderous distortion of facts; (3) instigate actions of an obvious criminal, i.e. criminally punishable, nature.
2. Publications can be proscribed, temporarily or permanently, only by decision of the Council of People's Commissars.
3. The present ordinance is of a temporary nature and will be repealed by a special decree as soon as normal conditions of social life set in.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars,
VLADIMIR ULYANOV (LENIN)
This is a perfect examply of Bolshevik use of state measures in order to suppress certain aspects of society in serving the best interests of society. Note the bold-print sections, which clearly specify that the Bolshevik policy was directed only at press that presented a claer and present threat of sedition, subversion, or obvious criminal natures. These are the same principles that Stalin upheld in dealing with the state getting involved with social life.
If we look further, when Lenin oversaw the establishment of the first Soviet Police Agency:
The Commission is to be called the All-Russion Extraordinary Commission for the Struggle with Counter-Revolution and Sabotage and is to be attached to the Council of People's Commissars.
The duties of the Commission are to be as follows:
1. To investigate and nullify all acts of counter-revolution and sabotage throughout Russia, irrespective of origin.
2. To bring before the Revolutionary Tribunal all counter-revolutionaries and saboteurs and to work out measures to combat them.
3. The Commision is to conduct the preliminary investigation only, sufficient to suppress (the counter revolutionary act). The Commission is to be divided into sections: (1) the information (section) (2) the organization section (in charge of organizing the struggle with counter-revolution throughout Russia) with branches, and (3) the fighting section.
The Commission shall be set up finally tomorrow. Then the fighting section of the All-Russian Commission shall start its activities. The Commission shall keep an eye on the press, saboteurs, right Socialist Revolutionaries, and strikers. Measure to be taken are confiscation, imprisonment, confiscation of cards, publication of the names of the enemies of the people, etc.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars,
V. ULYANOV (LENIN)
Specialized police agencies have been used by all governments; for instance, prior to the October Revolution, the tsar actively used his secret police force to investigate "enemies of the Monarchy." The Bolsheviks utilized specialized police commissions to deter and subjugate enemies of the people, an entirely different task altogether.
The Bolsheviks used the only means necessary in order to protect the interests of the people and sustain the revolution; such is the act of any government.
Immediately outcries were heard from all sides that the new, socialist power had violated a fundamental principle of its programme by encroaching upon the freedom of the press.
The Workers' and Peasants' Government call the attention of the population ot the fact that what this liberal facade actually conceals is freedom for the propertied classes, having taken hold of the lion's share of the entire press, to poison, unhindered, the minds and obscure the consciousness of the masses.
Every one knows that the bourgeois press is one of the most powerful weapons of the bourgeois. Especially at the crucial moment when the new power, the power of workers and peasants, is only affirming itself, it was impossible to leave this weapon wholly in the hands of the enemy, for in such moments it is no less dangerous than bombs and machine-guns. That is why temporary extraordinary measures were taken to stem the torrent of filth and slander in which the yellow and green press would be only too glad to drown the recent victory of the people.
As soon as the new order becomes consolidated, all administrative pressure on the press will be terminated and it will be granted complete freedom within the bounds of legal responsiblity, in keeping with a law that will be broadest and most progressive in this respect.
However, being aware that a restriction of the press, even at critical moments, is permissible only within the limites of what is absolutely necessary, the Council of People's Commissars resolves:
General Provisions on the Press:
1. Only those publications can be suppressed which (1) call for open resistance or insubordination to the Workers' and Peasants' Government; (2) sow sedition through demonstrably slanderous distortion of facts; (3) instigate actions of an obvious criminal, i.e. criminally punishable, nature.
2. Publications can be proscribed, temporarily or permanently, only by decision of the Council of People's Commissars.
3. The present ordinance is of a temporary nature and will be repealed by a special decree as soon as normal conditions of social life set in.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars,
VLADIMIR ULYANOV (LENIN)
This is a perfect examply of Bolshevik use of state measures in order to suppress certain aspects of society in serving the best interests of society. Note the bold-print sections, which clearly specify that the Bolshevik policy was directed only at press that presented a claer and present threat of sedition, subversion, or obvious criminal natures. These are the same principles that Stalin upheld in dealing with the state getting involved with social life.
If we look further, when Lenin oversaw the establishment of the first Soviet Police Agency:
The Commission is to be called the All-Russion Extraordinary Commission for the Struggle with Counter-Revolution and Sabotage and is to be attached to the Council of People's Commissars.
The duties of the Commission are to be as follows:
1. To investigate and nullify all acts of counter-revolution and sabotage throughout Russia, irrespective of origin.
2. To bring before the Revolutionary Tribunal all counter-revolutionaries and saboteurs and to work out measures to combat them.
3. The Commision is to conduct the preliminary investigation only, sufficient to suppress (the counter revolutionary act). The Commission is to be divided into sections: (1) the information (section) (2) the organization section (in charge of organizing the struggle with counter-revolution throughout Russia) with branches, and (3) the fighting section.
The Commission shall be set up finally tomorrow. Then the fighting section of the All-Russian Commission shall start its activities. The Commission shall keep an eye on the press, saboteurs, right Socialist Revolutionaries, and strikers. Measure to be taken are confiscation, imprisonment, confiscation of cards, publication of the names of the enemies of the people, etc.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars,
V. ULYANOV (LENIN)
Specialized police agencies have been used by all governments; for instance, prior to the October Revolution, the tsar actively used his secret police force to investigate "enemies of the Monarchy." The Bolsheviks utilized specialized police commissions to deter and subjugate enemies of the people, an entirely different task altogether.
The Bolsheviks used the only means necessary in order to protect the interests of the people and sustain the revolution; such is the act of any government.