THE present volume contains' a representative selection from the writings and speeches of Lenin in the period 1918-20, the years known as the period of W ar Communism.
In accordance with the general scheme followed in the Selected Works of Lenin, these writings and speeches are not given in strict chronological order, but are divided into four main divisions, corresponding to the problems of the period to which their contents are prineipally devoted: Part I deals with the general problems of the period of W ar Communism, Part II with the policy of the Communist' Party towards the peasants, Part III with questions of economic organisation and administration, and Part IV with the revision of the programme of the Communist Party.
The volume is furnished with copious explanatory notes, providing the general background to the articles and speeches here reproduced. These are indicated in the text by an asterisk (* ), and the note in question will be found under the number in the explanatory notes corresponding to the number of the page in the text. Where more than one note occurs on a page, subsequent notes are indicated by two or more asterisks as the case may be. Footnotes are designated by superior figures.