THE TESTIMONY OF MONSIEUR HERRIOT 241
deeply impressed by the precise and conscientious work done
at this institution. He even made observations on the greatness
. of the two revolutionary movements, the French and the
Russian, and expressed his readiness to arrange for the exchange
of "relics of the revolutionary movement" between France and
Russia. The same thing happened at the Marx-Engels Institute,
where he waxed enthusiastic at the scientific precision with
which the greatest movement in the history of mankind was
being studied.
On the following day he insisted on inspecting the Kagano-
vitch model school outside Moscow, which was visited in the
company of high Soviet officials. The arrangements of this
school—they are visited by all guests of honour—are excellent*
The food was tasted in the kitchen, and M. Herriot described
the dishes prepared for the children as wholesome and tasty, a
verdict which was duly repeated for days in all the Russian
papers and in France. But this was not all. It would have been
a modest achievement if M. Herriot's evidence had been used
only to spread the news of the efficient arrangements and the
good and tasty food provided in the Soviet schools. Something
more was wanted, and, full of the pleasant impressions of the
moment, M. Jlerriot was induced to make the following entry
in the school's Book of Honour: "I congratulate the teachers of
this admirable school and wish luck to the pupils. The
principles which are being inculcated are splendid." Thus the
former Prime Minister of what the Bolsheviks recently had
called^the "rotten republic of the French bourgeoisie" had
been induced to approve publicly of the principles of Soviet
. education. Once again the expert's verdict was published in the
entire Soviet press and in many Western papers. Everything
went according to plan. There were inspections from morning
till night, and M. Herriot was liberal in his expressions of
appreciation: indeed, compared with his conduct at Moscow*
his attitude during the stay in the Ukraine might almost be
described as lacking in warmth,
Q