The New Soviet Constitution Stalin's Latest Adventure in 'Democracy'
Abramowitsch, Raphael
The New Soviet Constitution Stalin's Latest Adventure in 'Democracy' Proposed Introduction of General Secret Franchise Will Not Alter Stranglehold of Communist Dictatorship—No Other Parties Will...
...In their social views and relationships they would be closer to one another than the parties in Europe and America, but they would represent different political tendencies...
...may be certain that the day when the Socialists as a party will have to make their choice is not far removed...
...Howard's question on this point...
...As organisations functioning JS a transition period, in a period a* and other revolutionary coma*-tees may be necessary and S> sizable...
...How should the Russian intellectuals be treated...
...No, we wont participate, because we want our country to go further—our faith is in Soviets based on the life of our brothers in Soviet Russia...
...i'" We do not think, however, that the attitude now assumed by the Communists is without its positive features...
...They will before verv long turt *»»*ri>a^ upon the misalliance with the Communists and cement then J5"J™««tk^tB^« whesaay be relied upon to de battle, honestly j ***** freeelejss and the Use interests of ranee, of Europe, and peace imong peoples...
...which is founded upon destruction of the liberty and independence of the toiling rrmTt of But, seme will ask, how about the general elections for which the Bolsheviks are now preparing ? How about the reforms, the new constitution of which Stalin spoke to his American interviewer...
...The intellectuals, who cannot perhaps be designated as a class in the proper sense of the term but do represent a distinct social element, likewise reveal varied intellectual, social and political tendencies, from pure reaction to Socialism, Communism and anarchism...
...the Ctommv nists have excluded themselves urn that combination of force ¦rhoee historic mission it is tc build the France of tomorrow anc thft Europe o? SocibIifid...
...V Blum has made it clear since the election that he considered the task of his government to be economic recovery and urgent social anc economic reform as the first prerequisite for the strengthening of the democratic regime in France and promotion af a democratic Socialist and labor movement...
...They are learning alse something which they have consist intly opposed in the past, namely the need of their taking responsib ility for the government of Franc nvcooperation with ali honert, denaocratic elements, who constitute b< «Sfe wt**i0my °f the French People...
...But the Communists have learned nothing and forgotten nothing...
...Even Bolshevist official theory admits that there are other classes, - in addition to the proletariat, in Russia...
...But the situation as it now presents itself will before very long demand, clarificaion...
...There can be only one party, the party of the working class...
...Mussolini once said: "Liberty...
...Non-Partisan Organizations" Nearly every word uttered by Stalin contains a contradiction...
...Stalin's answer to this delicate question was a tricky one...
...There is ample basis for (liferent political parties in Russia but the dictatorship will net permit them to exist...
...As we had occasion to observe •ecently, the battle in France is essentially a contest between Janes and Lenin, between the broad, emocratic,- humanitarian,- contractive, realistic and truly scientific conception of Western Social-sm and the barbarian, Asiatic, larrow and reactionary-utopian dea of Leninism...
...Composition of Classes But Stalin knows enough to know that there never was a time and there never was a country in which a given single class had only one party...
...A large part of the peasantry are now employed in agricultural collectives...
...The New Soviet Constitution As a matter of fact, the question should be not whether a people require political parties but whether they require liberty...
...By dint of experience bhe Socialists are now learning that the Communists are poor allies tn the battle for democracy and Socialism...
...Howevei far-reaching were the concessions the Socialists had felt necessary tc make to the united front illusion, they will now discover that all the...
...Of what use is the democratic party system for the people, for the working class...
...A betrayal by the So delists would mean their suicide...
...They ten near to ding to the policy which brought Hitler to power...
...You cannot see how any kind of a campaign could be conducted under such a condition...
...For this par-pose it requires the cooperation of the population...
...They are happy that the time of confusion is gone and that there is only one will...
...The question may be asked, however, is liberty really necessary...
...The German people do not want this...
...Do they want us to reintroduce in Germany the system of 47 different parties...
...Some of them are non-political, purely technical organizations (agricultural organizations concerned purely with technical problems, singing societies, etc), which do not permit discussion of any political platforms except the Communist platform, and which are entirely under control of the government, i.e., organizations that do not tolerate any degree of free, independent political and social opinion...
...And differences on policies and tactics are, in turn, determined by differences of opinion as to the attitude to be adopted with respect to other classes...
...As long as the Socialists were not called upon to exercise governmental responsibility it was possible for the two wings to maintair "Unity under the stress of "necessity" and the illusions of the unitec front...
...We have seen a convincing example of this in Germany...
...All these differences of opinion, all these varied political tendencies find expression in political organizations...
...As a result of the Communist refusal to participate in the Cabinet, a certain coolness between them and the Socialists has already developed,** wires the Paris correspondent of the New York Times...
...How can the new proposed system alter the situation in Russia if only one party is to be permitted to participate in the elections...
...Has housing been improved ? These are the practical question), that will be issues in campaigns...
...From the very beginning of He Soviet regime, under Leah ¦ who...
...The only thing that is missing is the blind fanatical disregard of all consideration for intellectual liberty, which is task an outstanding characteristic of Communism...
...There is, first and foremost, the peasantry, the most numerous class...
...For this reason his assertions concerning the "necessity of liberty" are not sincere but dishonest...
...And it is self-evident that the moment Stalin permits the Russian people to organize freely and to express and propagate their opinions, there would arise in Russia a considerable number of different parties...
...Liberty ami Parties But, the reader will say, perhaps it is a blessing rather than a curse that there is only one party in Russia...
...The dangerous situation created by the Communists is aggravated by the internal condition of the Socialist Party...
...ward in elections would be approved previously by the gawjsy ment...
...Since classes have been abolished/in Russia, the only class remaining being the working class, it follows that there is no need in Russia for more than one party...
...The program for "organic unity" of the Socialist and Communist parties adopted by the Socialists several months before the election, under pressure of their left wing, is in many respects, i Communist document...
...It is clear, therefore, that there is no such rule providing that there can be only one party within each class...
...The pseudo-Tacobinism whereby French Com-Tiunism seeks to conceal its Tartar Socialism will not long mislead the French workers...
...What should be the foreign policy of the Soviet Government, and should the Soviet Government pursue a policy of friendship and cooperation with Socialists in other countries or continue its policy of enmity...
...To camouflage their treachery the Communists call their "Soviets" "People's Front Committees...
...That there is no liberty in Soviet Russia is a fact that can no longer be denied, a fact confirmed by Stalin himself when he evaded the issue as presented in Mr...
...It is in no way original, being simply the application in French politics of the method used so successfully for the same purpose by the Socialists, liberals and democrats in other countries...
...Why should there be many parties, quarrelling and fighting with each other...
...Vmong the peasants there are conservative elements, who seek cooperation with the large landowners, and there are democratic, orogressive and radical elements, vho are drawn strongly toward ;he side of the workers...
...Treachery is their chief characteristic...
...he asked...
...They hope the time will come when they can raise the slogan, "All power to the Soviets," overthrow the democratic government and establish their own dictatorship upor its ruins...
...Roughly speaking, the French Socialist Party is today divided into twe -main sections, the left wing and the moderates, headed by Blum...
...How should the relations of the classes now existing in Russia be determined...
...They eontendec that members of Parliament chosen for long periods, could aft be recalled when they proved themselves lacking in ability and performance, whereas a member of s Soviet could always be sabstitoM by another...
...The question was: is there liberty in Russia ? The second question had to do with the new Soviet constitution which Stalin is now preparing for the Russian people and the general elections to be held in Soviet Russia...
...Both the workers and peasants may create different parties designed for their solution...
...Well, the Communist Party will not be the 6hly party that will present lists of candidates, but there will also b< lists of candidates presented by other social, non-partisan organizations...
...He emphasizes that liberty is the aim of a Socialist or Communist society...
...We see, therefen, that liberty to participate in she tions is a rather valuable ant But Stalin intends to apply tUt liberty in elections to local oftta in towns and villages, bat not is the main, central government or in political matters...
...This is the question to which we will address ourselves in this article...
...Should the hard-boiled Communist dictatorship, supporting itself upon the G.P.U., be continued, or would it be better to introduce a new system of intellectual and political liberty...
...Others 3ontinue to work their own individual land holdings (there are still more than 26,000,000 peasants of this type...
...Stalin admits now that the Soviet system does not promote hoses and efficient administration sai thst he mast resort to the "bow geoia" institution of the general (secret) franchise to obtain »¦ proven*, enta...
...Wherever (as in Soviet Russia) society consists, of a mixture of various classes, it is inevitable that there should be an urge to political differentiations and a variety of opinions...
...A betrayal of the People's Front by the Communists is only nat oral...
...And we do not think that the Socialist Party will permit itself to be devoured...
...They contended asp that members of a Parliament were chosen by' districts wHe mixed populations and that few of the voters could possibly know tat candidates personally, whereas-* member of a Soviet was chosen by vorkers in his own plant or fse-:ory, thus making it possible f«" them to chose the best man...
...There is no room in France for the Russian "experiment...
...We have hundreds of such organizations...
...In this he has the support of the overwhelming majority of the French trade unions...
...Should the Communist International be maintained or disbanded ? There can be many answers to all these and many other important political, social, economic and international problems...
...Those illusionists who believed that the Communists could be utilized as an instrument for the defense of democracy may perceive aow how unfounded was their faith...
...What lent it peculiar interest in France was the adherence of the Communists, who discovered, on orders from Moscow, that it would be to the advantage of the Stalin dictatorship in the Kremlin, joined to France in a military alliance, to help promote a victory for the democratic parties in the eletcion...
...Stripped of its banal rhetoric...
...Many people have asked me for bread, but none ever asked me for liberty!'* Contrary to Mussolini, Stalin does recognize the necessity of liberty...
...combined are only 35 per cent of the population, that the middle class and peasantry represent an exceptionally vigorous social and economic force, which, backed in the event of necessity by heavy industry anc finance, and supported by the army, would be in a position to make abort shift of any minority seeking to enforce its dictatorship upor France...
...Blum has given his decision in the declaration of policy tc he pursued by his government...
...By Raphael Abramowitsch Member Executive Bureau, Labor and Socialist International IN our article in this paper last week we discussed at length the first of two cardinal questions which Stalin evaded in his recent famous interview with Roy Howard, the American journalist...
...Both types of these "social" ganizations are in reality go...
...Stalin's statement is a confession of the bankruptcy of the soviet system...
...What is a party?'' asked Stalin...
...But having recognized liberty as an ideal, on paper, Stalin permits no step to be taken to make liberty possible or to approach a bit closer to its realisation...
...e» tended as to the relative men tit '.he Soviet and democratic.*-) -twas Lenin maintained (as etc Stale \nd all other Bolsheviks) that the Soviet system was the most pt»--evolutionary upheaval, Soviets feet form of democracy, that the Soviets were superior to tat parliamentary system...
...Howard was quit* rMft when he suggested to Stake Sat the proposed new Soviet "ceamc-racy" would alter nothing...
...I have recently heard three radio broadcasts by Hitler—from Karlsruhe, Frankfurt and Hamburg...
...What do our opponents want...
...Sooner or later the deadly dualisn Was bound to make itself felt and to demand a decision one way o* the otheT...
...concessions were in vain, that the Communists will not be satisfied until they devour the Socialist Party...
...Thorez' statement is a repudiation by the Communists of their recently discovered readiness to help preserve "the remnants of bourgeois democracy," and a bold declaration that their aim remains the establishment of a Communist dictatorship, the dictatorship of a single party directed from Moscow...
...1 And this means the right to organize political parties...
...You are worried that only one party will participate in the elections...
...4 Communists Cling to Old Policy-How stupid and reactionary any such policy applied to France ja may be gleaned from the fact that France is an overwhelmingly middle class and peasant country, that the Socialists and Communist...
...Does not all this constitute a big step forward to democracy...
...in the urban niddle classes (artisans, small traders, white collar employees, »tc...
...On the contrary, his own personal iron dictatorship becomes more rigid as the years go by...
...What should be the policy affecting relations with the peasants, both those in the collectives-and as regards individual peasant owners...
...Socialists and Communist...
...No political system has yet been invented under which the citizen may enjoy intellectual and political liberty without having at the same time the liberty of political organization...
...there are reactionary (now termed fascist) tendencies, as well is Socialist and' left tendencies...
...And if liberty be necessary, for important purposes, how does the Soviet Government intend to introduce liberty in Russia...
...Are the schools satisfactory...
...How should the government be conducted...
...Stalin's explanation reveals that the government is interested it having general elections to improve administration...
...By throwing off the pseudo-democratic mask they donned for the purposes of their partici nation in the People's Front, which are the purposes of the Kremlin and standing forth again in their true character they will help dispe" the bewilderment and confusion which manifested itself in the Socialist ranks before the election as a result of the united front...
...But why have any elections at all if only Communists are to bt permitted to participate* The answer is that bluff is not Stann't only purpose...
...How should the task of building Socialism in Russia be pursued...
...Ha...
...The New Soviet Constitution Stalin's Latest Adventure in 'Democracy' Proposed Introduction of General Secret Franchise Will Not Alter Stranglehold of Communist Dictatorship—No Other Parties Will Be Permitted—Issues to Be Limited to Technical Problems of Local Administration—Politics Excluded...
...The difference between political parties and tendencies is frequently determined not only by the social interests they represent but also by the tactics and policies these parties employ in their endeavor to attain their objectives...
...It makes it im-ossioie for ether parties to exist ising force and violence to make not absentee of classes in Soviet Russia which permits only one party to exist but the terror of the Bolshevist dictatorship...
...These parties would not be similar in aim and substance to parties in capitalist countries...
...And if so, for what purpose...
...It is not difficult to perceive how ridiculous is Stalin's argumentation...
...or the "Cooperatives," waiSi are entirely government-centralist, organizations for the .-dist-.sutoea of food supplies among the population...
...te This situation, combined with the pseudo-democratic professions af the.Communists and the purely opportunist, nationalist, and "reformist" attitude which they took in the campaign, served to obscure tie deadly dualism whieu developed in France as a result of the united frent of Socialists and Communists- The electoral victory of the People's Front has brought out this dualism in bold relief, as clearly demonstrated by the refusal of the Communists to join the People's Front government to be formed under Leon Blum, Socialist leader...
...Bat if ft* (Continued ea Page Six) The Workers Abroad Refusal by French Communists to Participate in People's Front Government Presages the End of the United Front With Socialists — Reveals Hollow-ness of'Conversion' to Democracy, By John Power* ll/RITING recently on the parliamentary election in France we said " that the election, which was a victory for the People's Front, might well prove the beginning of the end of the united front between Socialists and Communists...
...They prefer to play their own game, to play the role •jf whip over the government while devoting their main energies to lea SSSSJ local "Soviets...
...We, Mensheviks...
...The theory that political liberty ("47 parties") is a bad thing, a kind of chaos, and that one will (a Fiihrer and a party exercising a monopoly of political power) is a blessing for the people belongs to both fascism and Communism...
...Within the capitalist class there are reactionary, conservative and liberal elements...
...The Communists do not want to ioin the Socialist-liberal coalition government, the combination which they found it expedient to support fat the election...
...By their attitude in the present ifncult and serious situation, by heir betrayal of the People's Tront, by making themselves the -keys of the Kremlin and par suing aims foreign to French -4s and reaHH...
...The "Oesoviachim," iv example, an organization devoted to propaganda for the development of Soviet military aviation 5 chemical warfare or the Mopr" the Red Aid organization, whoa* task it is to help Oammunats persecuted in some capitalist coot tries...
...Candidate Lists As a practical man, the American journalist sensed at once the weakness of the new Soviet "democracy...
...Under the direction of the sole party of the working class we will some day succeed in creating a new society," declared Maurice Thorez, Communist leader, in reply to the suggestion that the Communists join the new government...
...Any candidates they may put far...
...By which, of course, Stalin meant the ruling Communist Party...
...There can be no enduring united front between parties having such diametrically opposed points of view...
...Howard asked Stalin: "Bat how can this new system change the situation in Russia when, as before, only one party will be permitted to participate in the elections...
...Having entered upon the "oad of government responsibility, the road which they should have taken long ago, the French Socialists, with Jaures as their guide, will continue their efforts to bring to their side the majority of the French people for the realization of the all-important immediate :asks confronting them, as a prelude to the attainment of the larger objective: the building of a Socialist France...
...Speaking of the proposed new Soviet constitution, Mr...
...But the fact is that it is impossible to separate the question of political parties from the question of liberty in general...
...said Hitler...
...or jtaauei such Soviets and we were the so* to organize them...
...According to the theory of the Bolshevists themselves these are different classes...
...To what "social, non-partisan" organizations did he refer...
...It will be up to the left wing to decide whether jit wants to go with the Communists in th^ir demand for "organic .unity" based upon the dictatorship of the proleariat, or whether it ¦prill support Blum and his group in their efforts to solidify the working class, middle class and peasantry in a truly effective united front against fascism...
...Communist organizations, termed officially "social" and "non-paroaut.-and organized for certain political purposes...
...It is false to assert that all dasscs have been abolished in Russia...
...The proposed "h* forms" have a practical purpose a* well...
...ernment affiliates and, politicaljj, auxiliaries of the Communist Party...
...This program is incompatible with the aims of the Communists as now proclaimed by Thorez...
...Stalin utters a deliberate falsehood when he says that there is no basis in Russia for different political parties...
...A party is only the expression of a class...
...We did not expect that events would so soon begin to prove the validity of this statement...
...All his arguments were based on the assertion that Russia could not have more than one party...
...replied Stalin...
...If it be true that each class must 'lave its own party, there should oe in Soviet Russia no less than h ree parties: a party of the work-ng class, a party representing the ¦ollectivized peasants, and a party if individual peasant proprietors, 'or, as Bolshevist theory main-ains, these three classes represent lifferent social interests and aims...
...But even within the working class itself there are always very serious differences of opinion as to tactics, as to methods and policies to be pursued with .respect to other classes which would be most likely to promote the realization of the ultimate purposes and ideals of the working class—Socialism...
...The People's Front, a coalition of parties formed for the defense of democracy and promotion of economic recovery as the first essential to ths staving off of fascism, is a natural and necessary instrument...
...They are only a mask to conceal ae despotic character of Bolshe-ism...
...And we are confident thai the choice will be Social Democracy...
...Under the influence of the united front and with the assistance of the party's left wing 'a section of the party has moved far in the direction of Communist ideology...
...The Choice Confronting the Socialists From the very beginning it was preposterous to .expect that the Socialists could win and hold the cooperation of the middle classes anc peasantry on the moderate "People's Front" electoral program and a' the same ti.ne engage in a united front with the Communists or entei into '"'organic unity" with them on the basis of a program calling foi the dictatorship of the proletariat...
...Stalin himself gave the explanation: Stalin's Explanation , "We have not a few organis* ;ions which function poorly," hi said...
...How should the Russian working class itself be organized, led and treated...
...Sock is Stalin's logic...
...A democratic government is more likely to support Soviet Russia in the event of an attack by Hitler, while at the same time it offers the Communists* all the instruments of propaganda and organization necessary for the promotion of "Soviets" and the establishment of a Communist dictatorship...
...Others are purely political...
...While ready to cooperate with th< Socialists on an honest democratic platform, the middle classes anc peasantry, able, shrewd and vital, will not long permit any group t< lead them by the nose into the dictatorship of the proletariat...
...Of course, it is to the interests of the Communists and of the dictators in the Kremlin to have a democratic government in France for the time being...
...In each instance he uttered the same "wisdom," arousing ringing laughter from his audience...
...This is what they call defending democracy...
...It is an undeniable fact that in almost every class there are several parties or party tendencies...
...A country in which only one party is permitted to exist, 'to the exclusion of all others, is ruled by a despotism and it can have no political or intellectual freedom...
...There are occasions whti local authorities fail to satisfy the needs of workers in village and city...
Vol. 19 • May 1936 • No. 21
