may 1, 1899 - Sergei Witte: Report to Tsar Nicholas II 1899

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In 1899, Sergei Witte< Russia's minister of finance, prepared a report for Tsar Nicholas II on the necessity of industrialization. Remember, Russia was still viewed as a "backwards" country back then. They had a population of 170 million, yet their workforce only consisted of 3 million. The report offers insights into the tsarist empire's economic weakness and the problems of trying to overcome that weakness. Witte left no doubt that rapid economic development would bring much hardship for the Russian people, and he therefore pressed the emperor to industrialize the country.

"Russia is an independent and strong power. She has the right and the strength not to want to be the eternal handmaiden of states which are more developed economically. She should know the price of her rwa materials and of the natural riches hidden in the womb of her abundant territories"

"It is necessary not only to create industries but to force them to work cheaply; it is necessary to develop in our growing industrial community an energetic and active life."

"Industry give birth to capital; capital gives rise to enterprise and love of learning and knowledge, enterprise, and capital combined to create new industries."

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