THE UNITED FRONT
Kautsky, Karl
By Karl Kautsky: THE UNITED FRONT A United Front of Dictatorial and Democratic Organizations Is a Misalliance--Risejof Privileged Classes in Russia Is Logical Fruit of Bolshevik Rule and...
...Soukup attended as the representative of the L.S.I, and he, together with a nupiber of other comrades, likewise represented the Czech Social Democratic Party...
...Fnedng...
...It was decided to hold next year's conference in Copenhagen...
...continuously, without iterruption, paraded its slave conomy as the emancipation of oiling humanity, but Social Democracy cannot flourish upon a lie, tot even when the lie may appear o it to be the truth...
...Some will ask, What does this have to do with the character of the dictatorship in Russia...
...The meeting was characterized by remarkable unity of action and policy...
...The fact that the Communists confine their proposal o a "united front" proves that hey do not intend to respect the cis hes of the movement as a whole, •ut reserve for themselves the iffht to return at any moment to eparate actum of their own, whenever it may please them to do so...
...This arrangement is to be followed even though one organization represents a small minority of the entire movement, while the other comprises the vast majority...
...The Workers Abroad Scandinavian Labor Solidarity Inspires Working Masses — Polish Socialists Cooperate With Czechs—A Notable Belgian Anniversary—Socialist Economic Conference to Assemble in April By John Powers Conference of Socialists of the Northern Countries PIE Northern countries of Europe, where Social Democracy is steadily growing in power and prestige, are pushing forward irresistibly their advance to Socialism...
...this and said so Fortuitous circumstances Opened for aim the road to dictatorship, whereupon he conceived the idea that be had the capacity, through the absolutist power he had seized, to defy, the laws of social evolution and to conjure up a Socialist state from the thin asciai and economic soil of the country through the instrumentality of a ruthless dictatorship...
...The final installment will appear in the next issue...
...Why only a 'united front...
...To be sure, both the Communist, -nd Socialist Internationals regard hems elves as working class organizations...
...Any such ituation would lead inevitably to 'he decline of Socialism and ultiI mate destruction...
...He remembers, of course, the time when the Bolsheviks were still Social Democrats and from whom we were divided since 1903 by organizational questions only, and, later, since 1917, also by problems of tactics and method...
...We had planned to conclude the series this week, but.space requires division of this third installment, into two parts...
...And /et there are profound differences between them It is not merely a ¦uestion of belonging to the same lass, but also of the organisations 'rom which the individual workers toko their slogans and directum...
...Of the eleven founders, two were presen *ttSf'S^* 4.u^Uee—Louis Bertrand, who has remained a consistent contribjtfor...
...This would only be posible, however, if both sides were substantially in agreement in their lima, interests and methods...
...But such situations can be only transitory as far as the Socialist partie* of individual state* are concerned...
...The only thing Lenin managed to attain was the destruction of the old exploiting classes, but he could not prevent the rite of new classes of exploiter* and ruler...
...This is not true, for example, of organizations whose workers are politically regimented and wear a uniform...
...One might hope that the united ront wouid prove at least the relude to complete unity in the nature...
...They share the same sufferings .nd face a common opposition...
...Neither fascism nor Communism have been able to develop any degree of strength in these countries, due largely to the constructive policies pursued by the Socialists, who have shown their ability to unite the toiling elements of city and country behind the movement for social reorganization •Jong Socialist lines...
...Many of these work side by side n the same plants and factories...
...The labor movement of the Northern countries is, further, unanimous in its determination to assure peace an<} liberty on the basis of a democratic international —cooperation in the international sphere...
...On the contrary, these interests may become quite contradictory...
...that it is actually already in process of dissolution...
...They have arisen of necessity from the conditions of the Bolshevst dictatorship, although they may be invisible at first glance because they had not been foreseen in Bolshevist ideology and phraseology...
...We could not imagine that some day there would arise a group of Socialists claiming to be Marxists who would actually bring such a pententiary or barrack economy into life, and that instead of being laughed out of court or condemned they would arouse the admiration and approval of some Socialists...
...The very term "united front" gives cause for doubt...
...Industrial and Agricultural Production in the Plan, J. Mecas, Minister of Social Welfare in Czechoslovakia...
...This is not true, however, of all organizations in which workers are active...
...SpemlBfc ia* behalf of the-Labor and Socialist International...
...Adler reminded those present of the special, duty now >e»?ng upon the Socialist press of the free...
...These Northern countries, while part of the Labor and Socialist International, where they play a role of greet importance, have developed also a kind of international of their own...
...together two opposing working class tendencies for joint action...
...The German Social Democratie Party in Czechoslovakia and the Polish Party in Poland (P.P.S.s bad also s?nt delegates...
...The fruit of the Bolshevist regime, as we have seen, has been the establishment of a new class rule...
...Before the rise of the Communist dictatorship in Russia, the bourgeois critics of - Socialism used to characterize our objective as a penitentiary or as a barrack economy...
...those of the entire free labor movement...
...Any proonged cooperation between the two ould be based upon a lie...
...Some Profound Differences To be sure, this would not be rue where both parties are agreed • n ' fundamentals...
...Its ultimate Communist objective is becoming more and more a matter of decoration, a mere memory or %llurement for Socialist idealists ¦ whom the dictator teek* to utilize for his own purposes...
...Unlike the Social Democracy, they are not organized democratically, but in military fashion...
...The various dictatorships are by no means of one character, and their foreign interests are not similar...
...What is proposed is not unity - of Social Democratic and Communist workers, under which both would pursue common aims through democratic methods, free discussion, and majority rule, respected by the minority...
...the ^fe^011003...
...International Conference on the "Labor Plan" ^.-Ir"<.^et?n-J0f^tht USS- «onounces that the Foyer Socialiste internationale and the Swiss, Committee for the Labor Plan will hold...
...And yet, these very same people learned to regard each other later as valuable comrades and friends when the causes of the conflicts had been removed and it had become possible again to work together for common aims through common methods...
...The militarized, highly concentrated economy of the Soviet state certainly differ* radically from the economy of private capitalism, but it is no less removed from the objective of the emancipation of the working class from all exploitation and enslavement...
...He drew attention to the efforts of certain nationalist elements which at first tried to draw the party into fascist channels and, when they wen unsuccessful, brought about a split But they were unlucky in thei attempt...
...Already there have developed some very deep conflicts between the respective dictatorial states...
...Military Communism What is true, with certain variations, of a military organization -is inevitably true also of 'the Communists...
...And is not the cessation of fratricidal struggle in the ranks of the working class an urgent necessity...
...This advance is continuing uncompromisingly along democratic lines...
...On the other hand, we must not permit the memory of old conflicts, no longer of any immediate significance, to interfere with any process of unification...
...The Communists of all countries are its disciplined praetorian guard...
...A united front with the Communists was rejected, but th party would, on the other hand,, be ready to agree to a -pact of non aggression...
...mentioned...
...Both consist in their ¦ verwhelming majority of workers...
...Under the united front proposal the opposing organizations are to continue to exist and the common actions they are to undertake are to be achieved through agreements between the two organizations...
...But a man is to be judged not by his own conception of himself as he seeks to impress it upon others, but first and foremost by his actions : "by their fruits ye shall know them...
...The Bolsheviks, to be sure, have destroyed the old classes, but new classes, new elements of aris tocracy have arisen under their regime...
...Erstwhile Communists who preached the doctrint of equality have become the par venus of a climbing party hierarchy, archbishops and cardinals o' the pope of the Bolshevist church The new generation, however, con sists, for the most part, of con scienceless careerists, whose Communism is limited by mere lij service and whose activities art devoted solely to the attainment of power and the privileges it im plies...
...Such a United front would be peeible only were the worker* in the Communist partie* organized in the 'ree, democratic manner of the Socialist parties...
...It is striving with all its might to .pr?serve and develop the democratic order...
...Jauniaux, in behalf of the Workers' Sick Benefi Funds^JaiUleul, for the Cooperative Movement...
...These forces are represented in a joint committee, which meets annually...
...Bauer calls this in his article "the objective of a classless society...
...and which accept- the republican constitution of the Czechoslovak State...
...Thus the International may find it politic to support Stalin against Hitler in event of war...
...The program will Include the following: The Nationalization of Credit, Andre Philip, professor at the University of Lyon...
...A large number of the ole Bolsheviks, however, have sue cumbed to the dictator and havr degenerated from the level of rev ; olutionists to the low estate oi servile courtiers...
...Then, too, the revolutionists had failed to not that in abolishing the differentia tions of classes they had failed t create a system of universal freedom, equality and fraternity, bu had merely facilitated the rise oi a new eia** society...
...Requisition and retention o these privileges is their only aim Not the abolition of all classe-' but the substitution of new classe for the old ha* been the ou tee m of the Bolshevist revolution o. 1917, as it was of the Frenci Revolution of 1789...
...to the paper, and Eduard Anseele, now 79 years old Des gita bis a^ge he remains in the forefront of the movement...
...The workers are fully aware that their power and the achievement of their aim depend upon their unity...
...By Karl Kautsky: THE UNITED FRONT A United Front of Dictatorial and Democratic Organizations Is a Misalliance--Risejof Privileged Classes in Russia Is Logical Fruit of Bolshevik Rule and Ideology This is the third of a morie* of articles by Karl Kautsky on Bolshevism, Socialism and the united front...
...New Classes for Old Long before the Bolshevist com d'etat Marxists knew that then was no basis in Russia for a Com munist or Socialist order...
...Its organizations are governed by democracy, as are...
...Mertens, fo...
...Comrade Badur gave the political report, which also-representee the -report bn the activity of the party during the past two years...
...The attitude of a military organization toward the Social Democracy depends not upon whether such organization is composed of workers but upon the stand taken with respect to our party by its high command...
...This being the situation, the International of the free workers may find it desirable to,support, in the event of an open clash, one dictatorship against another as the lesser of two evils, because the victory of the other may entail greater dangers for the labor movement...
...Comrades desiring to attend the conference should address themselves to Robert Boisnier, secretary, [Foyer Socialiste Internationale, 88 tue da Lausanne, Geneva...
...It is united in its endeavor to bring about, on a democratic basis and by democratic means, a reorganization of society which would abolish poverty and lack of liberty, and assure all its members of economic security and a legitimate share in the riches" of civilization...
...Democracy and the Role of the Workers' Organizations in the Plan, Max Buset, member of the Belgian Parliament, iirector of the Bureau for Social Studies of the Belgian Labor Party...
...This is especially true because faithlessness and treachery __- - are part of the substane* of dictatorship, that only he become* a dictator who doom not hesitate to destroy his erstwhile comrade* whenever they become obstacles in the way of hi* determination .to achieve absolute power...
...Fundamentally, the united front would signify, therefore, not the cooperation of worker* acting freely within the labor movement, but the cooperation of the democratic Socialist and labor organizations of the world, of the Labor and Socialist International, with the strongest dictatorship of the world...
...W^Jpaper- was founded in 1885 at a meeting held in a back room of a little Brussels hotel...
...In addition, 18 guest.' ware present...
...IN the same issue of the Kampf in which appears Bauer's criticism of S ou valine's book, there is published also an article by Bauer on the united front...
...But a general, n t ?rna tional, enduring cooperation if these two factor* if out of the uestion...
...the present editor-in-chief, Arthur Wauters...
...Now, as in the past, it stands for cooperation with th other Socialist parties in Czechoslovakia, whilst at the same tim< defending the legitimate demands ?f the Polish minority, and of tht Polish workers in particular...
...These new classes bear specific characteristics, corresponding to the character of the Russian people and the peculiar historical situation which arose from the collapse of the old system in the World War...
...countries to give supportato the Socialist organs of the countries living under fascist °P,?!B^^n^ °tber speakers also' stressed this point...
...He stressed the paper's international outlook and the urgent need of emphasizing m increasing measure the international character of the battle for Socialism-and peace...
...Those who realize all these facts oill perceive that there is, indeed, ery little in common between the iew ruling aristocracy in Soviet iussia and the-free UtKor ^movement, very little, indeed, of that ¦ommonalty of interests essential "or a successful united front beween Socialist* and Communist...
...Congress of Polish Socialists in Czechoslovakia The information bulletin of the Labor and Socialist International reports the following on the recent congress of Polish Socialists in Czechoslovakia: - 'The twelfth congress of the Polish Socialist Labor Party took place hi Trinec, ^December 7 and 8. There were 92 delegates, representing 8 districa and 48 local organizations...
...Such cooperation has already been established in Scandinavian countries, with most salutary results for the, interests of both classes and the maintenance 'and strenghtening of democracy...
...But they are there, nevertheless...
...Ia the Social Democracy these slogans and directions are given democratically...
...Both subjects are interrelated...
...The conference declared that ( it was the task of labor organizations in all countries to bring pressure bomb- their governments for support of all positive efforts in behalf of peace and called upon organized labor throughout the world to sns?slsaa its organizations in support of the League of Nations, and to see to it that any action taken by the League against disturbers of the peace is enforced...
...g» MR w the jubilee celebration the Belgian Labor Party held recruidng-meetings all over the country...
...The congress carried a resolution combining the main lines o? the political report which we hav...
...As such, they are invited and received in most friendly manner, guided about with rreat politeness and asked to express their appreciation of the rood food served ia the penitentiary...
...Because the prerequisites for a Socialist order were non-existent in Russia, notably a numerous, highly developed vork ing class, the consequence of the "experiment'' has been the emergence of another class state...
...All dictatorships that have arisen since then are abnormalities and have brought with them a mass of additional abnormalities...
...Represented also at the meeting or conference, for the first time, were the Labor Party of Norway and the Norwegian trade unions...
...They dislike any theoretical conflict which impedes unity of action...
...Others, who have escaped being corrupted by the system, have retired in disgust to finish their lives in sulk} silence...
...Because the Communists do not weatt unity...
...m international conference, April 7 to 19, to be presided over by Comrade Andre Oltramare, pro"essor at the University of Geneva, tad Hans Oprecht, member of the National Council...
...The party is determined to enter into nego tia tions only with such parties as are solidly in favor of de mo crac...
...They differ far too widely i method and character...
...A united front concluded by our comrades in a given country will always be limited by the fact that it rests not upon common interests and ideas but springs from a special situation, which may change overnight...
...Such a meeting took place last month at Helsinki, Finland...
...The conference of the workers of tiie Northern countries calls upon the supporters of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to enter the Eats, with 'confidence and energy, for complete democracy, for freedom and peace...
...They reject anything that threatens unity...
...I, too, recall many splits and conflicts of tendencies in which the followers of the respective camps developed a passionate hatred for each other...
...Attending the meeting were the three Socialist premiers of Scandinavia—Hansson of Sweden, Kjaajing of Denmark, and Nygaardsvold of Norway...
...They are striking ever ieeper root and are becoming in aver increasing measure the determining factor in the action and aspirations of Bolshevism...
...Plans were discussed for the electoral campaigns to be conducted this year in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and it waa emphasized that the workers of these countries would bend ail their energies toward strengthening the influence of the Social Democratic parties in all the Northern countries, comprising one of the most important sectors in the world struggle for Socialism and peace, "The labor movement of the Northern countries stands four-square for democracy," the conference let it be known...
...younger comrades...
...Others who spoke were Vaudervelde, in behalf of the Belgian Labor Party...
...As we have already indicated, a ituation may arise now and then ¦•hen a particular Socialist Party nd the Soviet dictatorship may nd themselves confronted with he same opponent In any such ituation temporary joint action >iay be in place...
...We, ia turn, repudiated this emphatically...
...Many regions and states have been living under abnormal conditions since the World War...
...They can never lead to any permanent, enduring united front between the Socialist and Communist Internationals...
...For the soviet regime this would be quite cceptable, for falsehood is its outtanding characteristic The Soviet egime has...
...Adler, the secretary, thanked Le Peuple for its historic contribution to the struggle for the emancipation of labor...
...Other resolutions adopted by the conference included one for further shortening of working hours and the promotion of cooperation ]ul mms* I workers and peasants...
...I am fully aware of all this, and yet I have no enthusiasm for the efforts now being made for the establishment of a "united front...
...The bloody terror of the regime is hailed by such Socialists as the realization of our Socialist ideal, because, forsooth, there is no place for capitalists in the barrack of Soviet economy, they being permitted to enter it only occasionilly, as visitors...
...In Brussels there was a grea eslehfWjjaje^EBd artistic festival...
...Such workers follow a military discipline...
...Since 1932 there has bash a close collaboration between the Socialist parties and trade union centers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden...
...and Paz, who repre•«*f jKfKB* Populaire and the representatives of the Socialist press abroad, present at the jubilee...
...They do not chose their own leaders and slogans, but receive them from their high command—in the last instance, from Moscow...
...Communism has become for the present rulers of Russia what panSlavism was for the czars, with the exception that the Communists of today are much more obedient to the dictators in Moscow than the pan-Slavists were to the czars...
...Fiftieth Anniversary of "Le Peuple" A "Sth-rihg celebration of the fiftieth' anniversary of the founding Of L? Peuple ("The People''), chief organ of the Belgian Labor Party took pihee recently in Brussels and all important centers of Belgium The occasion, -was marked by the publication of a special large issut of the pdper -telling the story of its rise from modest beginnings t half «jen?ury ago to its present position as one of the outstanding organs-of .international labor and Socialism...
...Why not "unity" with the Communists...
...Otto Bauer's Views Otto Bauer believes, however, in a general and enduring commonalty of interests and objectives of the two Internationals...
...Vaino Tanner, Sodalis: member of the Finnish Parliament, presided, with K. H. Wiikaa secretary...
...The Party Executivi was re-elected with little change, except for the inclusion of a fev...
...The objective of both sides remained apparently the same...
...A situation may arise in which the majority, for the sake if peace, would bow to the minorty, at least to the extent of being -estrained from acting in any particular direction...
...If so, why not complete unity...
...But 'his is by no moans the case as" •egards Social Democrats and Communists...
...The representatives of the Czech Socia Democratic Party present promised their support for the justifiablt desires and demands of the Polish workers...
...T*»» conference stressed also the necessity of continued close cooperation between the Northern countries and their participation in world politics...
...Caesa: de Z???sS?* Jonu'Volders, the early editors of the paper, have founc worthy* successors in Joseph Wauters and Louis de Brouckere, and ir...
...Resolutions of soudariry Were voted and ordered transmitted to the Vienna ArbeiterAeuitna, Neuer Verwart* and /Nuovo Avanti...
...To be concluded...
...They receive their slogans from above and they must obey them without question...
...In a momentous speech Arthur Wauiers'-?eJemnly affirmed the determination of Le Peuple to continue its batye...
...On the surfaee it appears that the question of the united front involves an effort to brins...
...Destroying Old Bolsheviks The old Bolsheviks who took their Communism seriously and who have ventured to oppose the new aristocratic institutions have either been rendered helpless by the beneficiaries of the systemsjp have been jailed, exiled and, % extreme cases, executed...
...Lenir, himself realizes...
...or complete democracy and Socialism...
...The attitude of the Northern countries on the question of the League of Nations was affirmed, with the conference pledging the Socialists and trade unionists of these countries to continue their work for the creation of an effective international legal order for the defense of 'peace and the liberty of all peoples...
...So few supporters from the ranks of the Socialist worker.' joined the newly-founded party (P.P.S.D...
Vol. 19 • January 1936 • No. 3
