The Dictatorship of the Proletariat

...Some rejected dictatorship under any circumstances...

...By this double game the Socialists risk to lose the support of the followers of both ideas, and particularly of the great masses of the electorate...

...The coming of Hitler into power brought a change in this position...

...Such mast he the inevitable consequence Of any united front with 'the Communists...

...The methods of struggle against the fascist dictatorship cannot for, the moment be clearly 3etermined...

...The superiority of numbers is the sole decisive weapon the proletariat con command ife any great, decisive contests...

...Capitulation to Communists The French Socialists have concluded a "united front" with the Communists in the name of "the dictatorship of the proletariat," i.e., the dictatorship of an obvious minority in an overwhelmingly middle class country...

...It adopted a resolution demanding "organic amalgamation with the Communists into one working class party for the conquest of power and the transformation of capitalist society into a collectivism or Communist society...

...Social Democrats and Dictatorship Social Democrats themselves did not adopt a united stand with respect to the dictatorship in Russia...

...A majority of 51 per cent will set suffice...

...To his opponents at the meeting of the Centaal Committee he said quite openly: "The Communis^ are closer to me than you...

...It waa first necessary to grasp the meaning ajaj nature of the historic process...

...therefore, set s statists' by which a working ctase party can advance in a democracy or achieve results that cannot be achieved by democratic methods...

...United Front Helps Commu' ¦•*?» v "Thus by going into the' united front we have strengthened the chances of the Communists," Riviere declared...

...Much confusion has resulted from the fact that in the discussion of this question the two points -of view have not been clearly defined...

...The leader of these elements, Zyromski, frankly demands "union with Stajhi...

...And, indeed, delegates at the meeting of the Central Committee painted a most somber picture of the many and varied maneuvers to which the Communists resort "to liquidate the influence of the Socialists upon the masses...

...on March 3rd to discuss the results and perspectives of the united front...

...And this they seek to attain under the guise of fraternization in the united front...

...The only trouble with this proposition, however, is that the Communists do not want it...

...During all those years the Communist Party gained little influence among the workers and in the country at large...

...This was particularly true in Germany...

...Thus we have both Communist wings doing good business within the hospitable fold of the French Socialist Party...

...The Communists having declined te conclude a united front with the Trotskyists...

...These are two different questions...

...Where Democracy Rules But it would be ridiculous, with this past period in mind, to consider ourselves obliged to preach a violent political overthrow in countries where the democratic republic has been attained...

...In this connection we shall yet learn much from experience...

...Why do not the unemployed, the discontented peasants and impoverished intellectuals in France come to the Socialists or Communists...

...What concerned committee members particularly was the tone assumed by the Communists, as reflected in their central organ, Cahiers du Bolsheinsme, where the purposes of the united front are quite clearly formulated as follows: "Our principal task is to bring ever the Socialist masses into the Communist Party for the establishment of a Soviet regime...

...Some now make the distinction between democratic and revolutionary methods...

...What the Bfanquists had yearned for, but never attained, came to realisation in Russia through Socialists who came to believe that Blanquiem was, indeed, that true Marxism which the Social Democrats had falsified...

...Both insurrection and general strike have proven quite useless, however, when they were utilised by a minority of the .people m efforts to overthrow not a morally bankrupt government but a government, supported by a majority of the people...

...Under the pressure of these warnings and the Communist maneuvers, the Central Committee resorted to a rather original conclusion...

...Both agreed that for the last mentioned countries dictatorship was quite unacceptable...

...It is interesting to note that they publish a paper, La Ferttfi.with the following trade mark: "Organ of the Bolshevik| Leninists Within the Socialist j Party...

...We will not subject ourselves to such a dangerous maneuver...

...New Elements After the War The now elements who entered the labor movement after the war war* devoid also of any party tradition, which in the absence of more sound education may serve . as a valuable guiding fores...

...The uaitm of the workers is spseisli only oa the basis of democr a tic Socialism, directed against all dictatorship aad the smmlbatioa of tyrants of any sad sal (aimit...

...Thus ~ was created the soil for a revival of pre-Marxian Socialist conception, This recrudescence* of primitive Socialist ideas found powerful stimulus in the example of Bussia, wham the war had brought about complete dissolution of the old military and state organization, and with it the collapse of the entire Czariat order...

...Is this any reasee for Socialists to minimize the value of democracy...

...To achieve this particular objective they have even gdbe so far as to raise the slogan of "a united national front of the Socialist, Communist aad fascist youth...

...But in France, while the Socialists and Communists are quarreling about who of them is to put into effect the dictatorship of the proletariat when they come to power, the fascists are making progress and are utilizing the advantages the depression gives them for making war on democracy and the labor movement...

...The reader must keep in mind that these articles ware written shortly after the coming of Hitler into power...

...To be continued) The United Front in France n^P"* T^Ji Thretttwdl at Communists Seek to Capture Its "-^^^tpSfr*^™****- by Dr...

...For in the latter instance the weapons at the disposal of oar opponents will prove eveu more effective than under the form of demoeratie struggle...

...Otherwise we shall run the danger of misunderstandings, which can lead only to bitterness without achieving the clarity that is so essential...

...Bat a Socialist Party which is askable, regardless of these obst seles...

...This continued without interruption until the World War...

...The latter are characterized as implying insurrection and the general strike...

...The increasing dominance of this conception coincided with the consistent development of the Socialist and labor movement in all industrially advanced countries...

...What, for the moment, may appear as the weakness of democracy is in reality the weakness of the proletariat...

...On the other hand, the aso of force and violence requires the support of a much greater majority of the people if we are to wis...

...On March 16 the French Socialist Party, under the signatures of its secretaries, Severak and Zyromski, addressed a proposition for amalgamation to the Communists...

...Some take the position that democracy having failed where fascism is in power it must fail also where fascism has been kept from power...

...Such was the case in the Jury revolution in Paris (1890), as well as in the uprisings of February and March, 1848, and, later, in the general strike in Russia of 1906 and in Germany in 1920...

...This the Communists cannot tolerate, for what they seek is to take the masses away from the Socialists, hot without the leaders, in order that Stalin may without hindrance dominate from Moscow the united party of Socialists end Communis...

...Judith Greeafeld TPHE' Socialists have been so aroused by the latest maneuvers of the Communists that the party's Central Committee found it necessary to call a special meeting...

...And, indeed, for the purpose of amalgamation with Stalin real Communists are to be preferred to the newly-baked variety, those who on one hand demand the dictatorship of the proletariat aad, on the other, proclaim themselves the defenders of democracy against fascism...

...In rejecting democracy they ge so far as to believe that a Socialist minority could achieve power by force in a democratic state...

...Before we embark upon a criticism of the new dictatorial tendency in our party [a tendency which is rapidly abating, however, Tr.J, it-is necessary, first, to make quite clear its purpose...

...As an example, it was pointed out that the Communists forbid their follower...

...The united front has also given rise to a Communist movement in the provinces, where there was bo such movement before...

...To master that power we would require the support of an overwhelming majority of the people...

...Moreover, the road of force requires greater sacrifices than the road of democracy...

...What does divide us is the political purpose we are to set ourselves in the struggle against fascism: is it to be the reestablishment of democracy or the substitution of a "Marxist" dictatorship for the Hitler dictatorship...

...Tr.] Modern dictatorship are such a new phenomenon, something never before seen in world history, that she methods of overcoming them must likewise be expected to assume quite new forms, never before discussed...

...France is the only country where the Socialists have entered into a "united front' with the Communists...

...Hence,, their hatred of democracy and their efforts to destroy" it wherever they can...

...Insofar as these organizations do not serve a purely propaganda purpose bet seek to prepare armed uprisings against the dictatorship, they become conspiracies...

...What the author says should be a lesson to our own party, in which elements who would place us in a similar position have, for the moment, unfortunately obtained a foothold...

...The struggle against fascism absolutely requires illegal, secret organizations...

...Whether we fight for it reformistically or in a revolutionary manner depends not upon our thinking processes, but assumes practical significance only as we view our tactics from the standpoint of a given situation in the state, society,and existing class relationships, which we cannot determine at will...

...Before and After Hitler Falls First, we must distinguish sharply between the tasks placed before us by the struggle against Hitlerism and those whkb, wiUj>re*ent themselves after Hitlerism is overcome...

...These efforts gain in intensity and violence in proportion as democracy has facilitated the rise of the proletariat...

...Le., the strengthening of fascism...

...The read of rem and violence requires even greater sacrifices from the proletariat then the road of democracy...

...Bold Pirn of Bottle Needed Only a bold plan of battle against the depression and courageous, unequivocal struggle for democracy can rally all those discontented with the present situation around the Socialists...

...While Zyromski demands "union with Stalin," Pivert, another leader of the Left, inclines more toward the Trotskyists...

...Today, the much larger and more influential Socialist Party, in holding out its hand to the Communists and "bee-girts for amalgamation, is ready to capitulate before them...

...Bach victory required also the weakening- of the support accorded to the existing regime by its army and bureaucracy...

...A working class which has not the power to defend democracy, natal such time as the relationship of class forces change, is certainly least capable to assert itself against the exploiters by force...

...For the latter regarded the proletariat as it was, whereas Marx looked beyond the immediate situation, drawing ''his conception* from the perspective of historical development, which could not be envisaged by observation of the immediate moment...

...This, in turn, required the overcoming of preMarxian modes of th hiking before the Marxian ideas could establish themselves in the labor movement, In 1888, with the establishment of the Second Internationa!, the Marxian conception became dominant...

...to attend "united front" meetings with the Socialists, in order that they may not listen to Socialist speakers, while subjecting the Socialist masses to the most intense Communist propaganda...

...Democracy and Socialism are inextricably combined The big exploiters arefriot unconscious of this fact...

...Our chances of success with this as our aim are much greater thaa if we set ourselves the purpose Sf establishing another mmority me> tatorship...

...Ott the other hand, do not the leaders of the CS.S.B-, frightened by Hitler, seek to conclude a military affiance with Franco in order to drag us into war...

...From this it follows that the Communists, by means of the united front, most gain domination over the majority of the workers and liquidate the influence of the Socialists upon the In this manner do the Communists seek, aa their first objective, not the liquidation of the fascists but of the Socialists...

...In their press they continue to wage merciless war on those Socialists "who assert that there is no difference between the Socialists and the Communists...

...Before embarking on their "experiment," they had believed, in common with all Marxists, that in view of the backwardness and weakness of the Russian proletariat , the immed iate goal of the Russian Revolution could not extend beyond the objectives of a democratic' bourgeois revolution, which, while unable to give the workers Socialism, would bring about the establishment of democracy—the political framework within which the straggle for Socialism could be continued...

...Fascism Strengthened Some members of the Central Committee frankly asked the question: "Have we not by the policy of the united front obtained resalts diametrically opposed to what we had expected...

...But this juxtaposition of democratic methods and others is no less erroneous than that of reformists and revolutionists...

...Do they want us to go to war under the flag of a national front and the banners' of the patriotic fascist youth...

...Judith Greenjeld, Paris The following article by a prominent Socialist in Paris reveals with tragic clarity this effect* of the "united front" upon the French Socialist Party...

...And, finally, they assert that we cannot hope to attain an electoral majority even in countries where the proletariat represents the greatest numbers as long as our opponents retain control over the economic and intellectual instruments of power...

...And in order to dispel all doubts the authors of the resolution emphasised that between the French Socialists and Communists "there are no such ideological differences that can interfere with their amalgamation into one party...

...Te be sure, many workers have not infrequently achieved victory oa the barricades or in general strikes, but only when they fought for objectives which Were dear not only to the proletariat but to the great mass of the people as a waeift, roused to enthusiaaan and spport...

...By Karl Koatsky III .MARXISM frankly admitted that the road to Socialism was longer than pre-Marxism Socialists had pictured it...

...This idea found many followers also outside of Bussia, among Communists...

...Democracy is the sherteat...

...To this we reply: To be sue, the power at the disposal of oar opponents, the economic dependence of the workers, the influence of the press and the stealing of elections can be brought into play by eat opponents even under democracy...

...But once in power the revolutionists in question conceived, themselves capable of establishing Socialism at one foil swoop in a I country of illiterate peasants and backward workers, by the methods of a ruthless dictatorship...

...The kiss of Judas...

...The forcible overthrow of a government possessing not only the power of the state but also the support of a majority of the people is unthinkable...

...In similar vein were the utterances of Paul Faure, secretary of the French Socialist Party, before the Central Committee .while Riviere, another prominent member of the cemmittee, declared that "the recruiting of new members by the Socialist Party has become more difficult because the demagogic propaganda of the Communists has a greater influence upon the masses than the speeches of Socialists...

...These, in turn, 13k wars and civil wars, require that the leaders be vested with dictatorial powers...

...It is self-evident that we cannot fight with the weapons of democracy where such weapons are not available...

...We must distinguish clearly between them...

...But this despotism was set up by revolutionists with a Socialist program...

...The war ended with the collapse of the great military monarchies...

...sorest and least costly road to Socialism, just aa it is the best instrument for the development of the semi ical and social prerequisite for Socialism...

...Our aim is Socialist and revolutionary...

...In a situation in which force Is pitted against force, the power at the disposal of the ruling classes comes much more into play thai under democracy...

...In 1920, at the Tours congre**, the French Socialist Party split on the question of dictatorship, and the Communist Party was born...

...Yet, this alone did not suffice to assure victory hi the contest of arms...

...insurrection or the general strike, because, in their opinion, such methods will lead to Socialism more quickly than the | casting of ballots, and that in the ! final analysis our opponents in the democratic states will yield only te insurrection and the general strike...

...It killed off many educated Social Democrats, leaving a large portion of the working class youth withoaSyan opportunity for Socialist a d u c a t i o n and enlightenment through older and more experienced com lories It roused the passions of the rest of the working class mass as who heretofore had remained backward and indifferent, without any of the knowledge of economies which Marxists had placed at the disposal of the more intelligent elements of the working class in decades of Hard effort and education...

...Others believed that Blanquiam waa genuine Marxism for Russia but not for the highly developed countries...

...Who Holds the Power...

...In support of this "uqMed front" i the Communists are waging an intense propaganda, to the great horror of the Socialist Youth- organization, which refuses to reconcile itself to such a cynical policy...

...Par Penvacratrc Ohiectfvet Such objectives were always democratic objectives...

...In the villages, peasants suffering from the economic crisis, are already being propagandized by the "Fascist Peasant Front" organization...

...Asa, as we have already pointed out, any attempt to assert ourselves successfully by force requires net only a majority but an overwhelming majority...

...Because neither are conducting • realistic straggle against the depression, because they have failed to put forward a consistent plan for economic recovery and political reforms, such as have been put forward in the de Man plan of the Socialists in Belgium...

...By this action they capitulated to the Communists, who bow feel themselves masters of the situation...

...The experience fn France has amply confirmed the soundness of this position...

...What Lenin was unable to accomplish Hitler did: he moved some Social Democrats -to despair of democracy and to regard the Russian method of dictatorship as the road to Socialism...

...This is what determines whether we-resort to democratic or""revolutionary'* methods of action...

...In an article entitled "The Tribulations of Our Socialist Youth," he Populaire, chief Socialist organ, asks the following questions: "Is it not true that the Communists seek to establish a national front wish the fascists in order to destroy the well established and active organization of the Socialist Youth, of which they are envious...

...The ensuing general anarchy ended in the establishment of a new depotism...

...In some plants employers hare already introduced the practice of demanding from job applicants evidence of membership in a fascist organiaztion...

...It is not surprising, therefore, that at the meeting of the Central Committee warnings were raised that the "united front," if continued, will be tantamount to the suicide of the Socialist Party...

...In the universities the fascist youth is becoming active...

...In the months since the united front has' been in effect, fascist cells have made their appearance for the first time in plants and factories...

...Naturally, all this serves to encourage the Communists, especially since within the Socialist Party itself there has arisen an extreme left wing, whose elements differ little from the Communists...

...Some of us are pictured as insisting upon democratic methods and others upon revolutionary methods...

...According to Canrelli...

...By Dr...

...One may easily admit that democratic methods are not applicable in the struggle against Hitler, in fact impossible, and yet make the aim of our fight the restoration of democracy...

...There are comrades who believe that even under a democratic order we should utilize the methods of "revolution...

...another \ member of the Central Committee, "there is great confusion among many Socialists, for they fail to see the difference between the Communists and Socialists...

...It is much easier to prevail upon a person to vote Socialist than it it, to move him to give up his job or his life...

...to obtain the support of a saejsettj of the people in a democracy wi| find it even more impossible te obtain such a majority by the aae of armed force or the general strike...

...I At the aforementioned meeting of the Central Committee, Pivert demanded, quite in the spirit of Trotskyism,' the creation of an armed workers militia "and a break with the social-pacifist conceptions of legality," i.e., abandonment of political action and embracing of armed insurrection...

...To Restore Democracy On this point there is no difference of opinion in our party...

...Thus has the party of Jan res expressed its desire to become the party of Stalin...

...This slat, like victory over fascism, cannot be attained by means of a united front with the Socialist Party, bat only through fighting it...

...In putting forward this demand, the Left elements referred to the defeat of the "reformists" in Germany, forgetting to note, however, that the insurrectionist policies of the Communists and their entire policy had suffered similar defeat in Germany...

...At that time the conceptions of democrats and revolutionists were identical...

...Under the conditions that prevailed in the countries of Continental Europe faring the last century, conditions that were characterized by the absence 6*f that measure of democracy essential to the freedom of movement required by the masses, it was the democrats who were the revolutionists, , for they were the ones who fought for democracy with revolutionary methods, because none other were available...

...the latter have joined the Socialist Party, where they function as a separate group and are conducting an energetic propaganda...

...namely, a united front with the notorious Jeunesse Patriate and Solidarite...

...The Shortest and Surest Road Force is...

...Where democracy has been lost, it is oar first aad most important task te regain it...

...This is certainly to be deplored, but must not'keep us from utilizing any effective measures again*, fascism, even though they require the application of the dictatorial, undemocratic principle...

...Francaiae, which embrace meat of the young element, of French fascism...

...Communists Seek Fascist Aid In addition, the Communists try in every way possible to sow discord between the Socialists and trade unions, who have rejected any united front with the Communists, by cunning and dangerous maneuvers, and, finally, the Communists seek to carry confusion and disorganization into the ranks of the Socialist youth...

...In England, Scandinavia,' Switzerland, Belgium, Holland,, Czechoslovakia, etc., the Socialists will have nothing to do with the "united front," not only because the Communists represent a negligible quantity, but because they are convinced that to make a common front with elements representing the ideas and policies of Communism would only facilitate disorganization within the Socialist ranks and play into the hands of fascism...