7/28/2019 NI1936_03

1/36

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

2/36

THE NEW IHNTIERNATIONAL(Wit h w hich is m er ged Labor Act i on )

A B I - M O NTH LY O RGAN OF REVOLUTIONARY MARXISMOFFIC IAL TH EORE TICAL ORG AN OF TH E WORKE RS P ARTY OF THE U NITED STATE S

Publ ish ed b i-mon t hl y by t h e New In t er na t i on a l P ubl ish in gCompany ,Room 1010, 100 F if th Ave., New York, NSubscr ip tion r a t es : $1.50 per yea r ; $1.00 for seven mon ths. Ca na da a nd Abroa d: $1.75 per yea r. Ent ered a s SecoC la ss m at ter J a n ua ry 26, 1935, a t t he P ost Office a t N ew Yor k, N. Y., u nd er t he Act of Ma rch 3, 1879.VOLUME H I EditoNO. 3 (Whole No. 15) MAX SHACHTMAJ U NE 1936 JOHN INVETABLE OF CONTENTSIn Oppos it e D i rect ions-The C level andConven t iono f t he K a th leen h ii H ou]ih a ns N ew es t S a viorby ,I la w -iceSocia list sby J f . ,s.. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Ahcaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Th e E nd of Loca rnob:yWa lt er H zld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 On D ict a tor s a nd t he H eigh ts of OS IObyL . D . T~ ot skYWages and P r i ces in. t he Sov ie t Un ionby Er iclz WOZlen-

ber g . . . .; . . . . . . 1. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . ~~.. .. ..... 70 1]OOKs:Engel s L et t er : t o Kau tskyby L eon T ~otsky. . . . . . . . . . 73 Living Ma rxism-by G . N.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cr iminology and Societyby Ber nar d K. Wol fe. . . . . . . . 78 Hearstby Kayandash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The In t el lectu a ls and the Cr is isI Iby George NotJack83 Geneticsby A. B.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . .Rosmers Bookby L . T rotsky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,A P a g e of Amer ica n Imper ia lism-b y .7. G . Wr ig?zt . . . . . 86Inside Front Cover: Our Voices Must B e Hea rd Inside B a ck Cover: The P r

OURVOICESMUSTBEHEARTHE r ev ela t ion s of com ra d e An t on C il- a nd t he concent ra t ion ca mps of S ta lin t rea ch er ous d evice of in vit in g t heiga , former lea der of t he Communist a re pa cked t o bur st in g w it h t hes e st er l- Moscow for cl iscussions .P a rt y of Yug os la via w ho compelled t he Shor t lying revolut ionist s, most of t hem of t he t hey ha ve crossed t he front iers ofS oviet a ut hor it ies t o r elea se h im fr om presen t gener a t ion ,men and women who, S ov iet U n ion , t he G . P .U ., w h ich liaim pr is onmen t a nd a llow h is d epa rt ur e despi te the f ierce condi t ions of repression ,f rom theU n ion , g ive a t ru ly shock ing pic- com e n ot hin g m or e t ha n a fa ct ion arefuse t o a ccep t a s r evolut iona ry doct r ine lice inst rument in t he ha nds of t ht ur e of t he con dit ion s of r evolut ion ar y t h e r ea ct ion a r y t h eor ies a nd pr a ct is es of r ea ucr a cy , is s et in to mot ion w it h t hpolit ica l prisoners underth e presentS ta lin - t he r ulin g cliq ue. I n a d dit ion t o t he n ewr ~ ,g ime. Th ey a r e s upplemen ted b y t he sui t t h a t t h e r ebel s d is a ppea r i nt o ongener a t ion of Bol sh ev ik s whose number t h e S t a lin is t dungeon s or con cen t ra rt icles w rit ten on t he sam e s ubject by a l rea dy g rea t ly sur pa s ses t h e number of camps . Hunga ri a n r evolut ion a r y ocom ra d e A. Ta r ov, t he R us sia n B ols he- polit ica l prisoners of al l t h e l a bor pa r t ies n en ts of B ela Kun , B u lg a ri an oppovik-L en in is t w ho es ca ped fr om S oviet under Cza r isn lj t here a re hundredso f old of D imi t rof f, Yugos la v opponen t so fimpri sonmen t , and by add it iona l au then- B ols heviks of L en in s g en er at ion w h o k ic, P ol is h opponen t so f t h e S t a li nit ic i nf orma ti on t h a t h a s r ea ch ed u s f rom ha ve fa llen int o t he displea sure of t he P oint ee in t he P olish C ommunist Pot her s ou rces i n t he S oviet U n ion . S t a lin is t cou rt a n d made t o suf fer t h e un- have e it her rece ived th is t r ea tmenTh e pict ur e of s a va g e a n d t rea ch er ou s s pea ka b le con seq uen ces . I n mos t ca s es , a s du rin g t he per iod of t he K ir ov aper secu t ion wh ich the Bonapa r t is t cl ique th~ y a re t rea ted w orse tha n common sina t ion, ha ve simply been shotof S ta lin ca rr ies on a ga in st im pecca ble cr im in als. Th eir q ua rt er s a re un fit for framed-up charges.prolet a r ian revolu t ion is t s, fa r exceeds ha bit a tion ; t heir food a llow ances a re I f t h e l iv es of t h ou sa nd sof r ev oluany th ing tha t we have h it her t oknown the scan t and wret c~ l c ; cor r espondence ancls it ua t ion t o b e. L it er a lly t hou sa n ds a n d a ry milit ant s a re t o be sa ved, if t herea ding ma tt er a re usua lly forbidden her it a ge of B olshevism in the St en s of t hou sa n ds of member s of t he S o- t hem . Th e r&,g in lem a kes t hem pa y for U nion is t o be preser ved from phviet C ommunis t P a r t y a n d y ou th or ga n - t h ei r i ncor r upt ib le r ev olu t ion a r y s tea d -iza t ion are cont inuallyexpelled for Trot- f a st n es s a nd devot ion by t h e mos t v in di c- a nn ih il a ti on , t h e voi ces of t h e cl a sss ky ism or even for bein g sus pect ed of t i ve persecu t ion and tormen t imag inab le . s ciou s w or ker s of ev er y cou nt ry muholdi ng v iew s t h a t i nt er fer e w i th t h e bu- More tha n one B olshevik of Lenins r ais ed in a pr ot es t so ]oud a nd vig or ea ucr at s w or k of un dermin in g a ll t he tha t it w ill penet ra te t he w a lls ofschool ha s a lrea dy been tortured a ndconques t so f t he Russ ian revolut ion . Ex- h ou nd ed t o d ea t h b eca u se h e r efu sed t o K remlin burea ucra cy a nd compelpu ls ion f rom t he Sov iet pa r t y under such a ckn ow led ge t ha t a ll t he v ir tu es of n la n - rel inqu ish the v ict ims of i t s pol it i ca lcir cums ta n ces is a m a tt er of t he g ra ves t k in d a r e con cen tr a ted in t he pr is on of J . g ea n ce. P r ot es t i s n ot in ef fect iv e, a scon seq uen ce, for in mos t ca s es it m ea n s V. S ta lin . The la test t o die in S ta linist be seen from the ca se of Victor St ha t t he vict im of S t a lin is t v en gea n ce is p ri son i s Solnt zev . w h o w a s fin a lly r elea s ed a n d g ru dgdeprived of his mea ns of life. In a va st Russia n B olsheviks a re not t he on ly gr an ted permiss ion t o lea ve t he Sn umber of in st a nces , t he police r + . gin le v ict ims. Ci l iga repor t s numerouscases of U nion for a count ry of his ch oice.d oes n ot s top a t mer e expu ls ion but s en - r evolut ion a r y worker s a nd l ea der s i n t h e ouv voices be heard! I t is a crime ttencesthe heret ic to impr isonmentor exi le cap it a l is t coun t ri es whose f reedom is i rk- m a in s ilen t i n t he fa ce of t he s ys temt o on e of it s con cen tr a tion camps . som e t o t he burea ucra cy of t he C omin - ext er mina t ion of t he flow er of r eThe pr is on s, t h e r emot e pl a ces of ex il e t ern a nd who a re disposed of by the t ionary Marxism.

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

3/36

., ,, , ,.. . ,,. ,,,..,., ,. ..

THE NEW INTERNATIONALA BI-M ON T HLY O R GAN O F REV OLUTI ONARY MARX I SMVOLUME I II J U NE 1936 NUMBER 3 (Whole No. 1

I n Opposit e D irect ionsThe Cleveland Convent ionof the Socia l i stsand the Swing tot he R i gh t of

IDNVE LOPMENTS of t he gr ea test impor ta nce a re t a kin gpl a ce i n t h e two ma i n s ect ion s of t h e Amer ica n r a d ica l l a bormovemen t . R ef lect in g, ea ch i n it s own way , t h e s t ir r in g even t sweh ave lived t hrough in t his coun try a nd a br oa d for t he pa st fewy ea r s, bot h t he S ocia list a n d C ommunist pa r ties a r e a live w it hmovemen t . Nei th er of t h em ha s b een ab le t o s t a nd s t ock s t il l undert he im pa ct of t he gr ea t socia l even ts. F ir st a n ch or ed a t opposit eends, t he w in ds h ave driven t hem fr om t heir old m oor in gs a ndt ow a rd ea ch ot her . B ut beca use t he ships a re different ly con-s tr uct ed , d iff er en t ly manned and d iff er en t ly b a ll a st ed , t h ey h a ven ot on ly fa iled t o meet a n ywh er e i n m id st r eam ,bu t h a ve a ct ua llypa s sed ea ch ot h er b y a n d a r e con t in uin g t o s a il in oppos it e d ir ec-tions.Th is s ignul a r phenomenonhas been recorded in recen t t imes toon e d eg ree or a n ot h er in v ir t ua lly a l l impor t a nt cou nt r ies . I n t h eUn it ed S t a t es , h owever , f or a number of r ea s on s, t h e d evel opmen tis m or e ma rked t ha n in m ost ot her la nds. B riefly , befor e us is as it u a t ion where t h e t r a d it ion a l p a r t y of t h e Left is mov ing sw if tlyt o t he Right w hile t he pa rt y of r efor mism is m ovin g dist inct lyt o t he Left . At lea st in t his count ry , t he t wo pa rt ies h ave a ll butch anged pl a ces pol it ica l ly on a number of f und amen t a l pos it ion sin the prolet a r i anmovemen t . I t i s ha rd t o f in d an an a l og ou s evol u-t ion in t h e h is tor y of t h e mod er n wor kin g cla s s. I t ,s impor t a nce,t h er efor e, is per fect ly ob vi ou s and r equ ir es t h e cl os e a t t en t ion ofthe revolut ionary Marxis t .Wh a t t h e t w o pa r t ies w er e in t h e f ir st pos t-w a r d eca d e, is fa ir lyw ell kn own . Th e S ocia lis t P a r t y h a d d eclin ed t o a n in sig nifica n tfor ce. I n 191g it s d om in a tin g R igh t w in g d rove out of t he pa rt y

more than ha l f themembersh ip ,pa r t is ansof the Russ ian revolut i ona n d t h e Th ir d I nt er na t ion a l; i n 1921 t he la s t of t h e L eft w in g t h a th a d r em a in ed in t he S ocia list P a r ty depa rt ed fr om it . Th e pa rt ytha t had r i sen to a membersh ipof a lmos t 120,000during the Wor ldWa r w a s left w it h a ba r e 5,000 a d her en ts, a figu re a r ou nd w h icht he d ebilit a ted R igh t w in g or ga n iza t ion h over ed feebly for t hefollow in g per iod. F or t he n ext deca de t he S .P . w a s r uled by it sos sif ied con ser va t i ve lea d er sh ip, wh ich g a in ed for i t a mos t unen -via ble reput at ion a mon g t he cla ss con scious m ilit an ts in t hiscou nt ry . Th e S .P .t ha t w a s H illq uit , C a h a n, Onea l, B er ger , t h er ea ct ion a ry bu rea u cr a cy of t h e n eed le t r ad es u nion .%t h e h a t edJewish Forward , t h e v ir u len t a n t i-commun is t s, t h e embi tt er edenemiesof the Russ ian revolut ion .Th e Communis t P a r t y , h ow ev er much it s uffer ed fr om t h e a il-ments of chi ldhood and adolescence ,never thelessmade a pers is tent

eff or t t o imp la n t t h e i dea s of r evolu t ion a r yMa rxism in t h e s oi l oft h e Amer ica n l a bor movemen t . Not a d ill et a n t e fr iend of S ov ietRu ssi%b ut flesh of it s flesh , it in ca r na t ed t he r ebcxn spir it ofpr ogr e+ a ft er t he r ea ct ion of t he w a r y ea r s. Add t oget her a ll it ser r or s, a nd it n ever t h el es s rema in s t h e cen t r a liz in g f or ce t h a t a s -

t he S ta l i n i st ssemb ledand cl a r if ied the f orces of mil it ancy and prog rea s iv ismthe wor ld s mos t con ser va t i ve t r a de un ion movemen t . I t w a s pa ifully begin nin g t o m a ke a r oun ded con cept ion a n d pr a ct iser evol ut ion a r y Ma rx ism a pol it ica l for ce i n t h is coun tr yand whh a d ever d on e it befor e?I f t h e t er ses t g en er a l ba la n ce-s heet w er e d rawn up of t h e fir

decadeo f the coexi st ence of the Communi stP a r t y and the Soci a lP a rt y, it w ould sa y: t he la t t er a ct ed a s t he br ake on progr esst he la bor m ovem en t; t he former a ct ed a s a cceler a tor . Th e Crev iv ed t h e b es t t r a di tion s of Ma rx ism a s elu cid a t ed b y t h e expeen ces of t he post -w a r st ruggles in E ur ope, a bov e a ll in R ussTh e S .P . w a s r educed t o a min ia tur e edit ion of a ll t ha t w a s dcr epit , r eform is t , con ser va t i ve i n t h e r et r og ra d e Eu ropean s ocd emocr a cy , bu t w it h ou t t h e la t t er s pow er t o in flict t h e s ame iju ries on t h e w or kin g cla s s.The decay of the of fi ci a l communi st movemen t in the pos t -Lenper iod , w h ich is n ot u ncon nect ed w it h t h e r ev iv a l of t h e s ocia l

movemen t , f il ls the longer pa r t of the second pos t -wa r decade. Tconnect ion i s q u it e cl ea r ly d is cern ib le i n t h e Un it ed S t a t es . G i va g en er a lly cor rect policy a n d a d emocr a tic in t er na l r dg ime t hcou ld cor rect t h e p olicy if it w a s n ot cor rect , t h er e i s n o r ea s onbel iev e t h a t t h eCommun is t P a r t y i n t h is count r y wou ld not b y noh a ve becom e a t ru ly pow er fu l polit ica l for ce w it hou t a ser ios ocia l d emocr a t ic r iva l. I n t h e a b sen ce of bot h cor rect policy ar 6gim e (missin g in t he rest of t he w or ld a s w ell a s in t he U .St he S ocia list P a rt y not only found a ba sis for reviva l but it hbecom e on e of t he m ost im por ta nt ch a nn els t hr ou gh w h ich tLeftw a rd movemen t of t h e Amer ica n worker s i s f low i ng .Th e sim ple fa ct is: t hose elem en ts w h o, a w a ken in g t o r ad i

con sciou sn es s, a r e d raw n in t o t h e C ommunis t P a r t y, h a ve t hdevelopmenta rres ted and d iver ted into opportunist ic bypa ths . Tbr ut a lly r ig id in t er na l r&ime of t h e pa r ty m akes pr a ct ica lly ip os sib le a n y or gan iz ed r es is t a nce t o t h is d ev a st a t ion of pot enr ev olu tion a ry pow er . Out of t h e old S ocia lis t P a r t y, h ow ev er ,emer gin g a n ew a n d v ir ile mov emen t w h ich , u nh amper ed b y tbonds of a bureaucra t i ca l ly s t a t e-con t rol led r~ g ime, ha s respondt o a n en cou ra gin g e xt en t t o t he sign s a n d n eeds of t he t im e i n trevolutionar y movement.Wha t t r emendou sly impor t a n t even t s h a ve we not exper ienin t he la st few y ea r s! Th e most t er rific cr isis ca pit a lism h a sr ecorded i n it s conv@@e ca ~ e r; t h e obvi ou s t r iumph i n t h e SovUn ion , d es pit e t h e w a s tefu l a n d r ea ct ion a ry bu rea u cr a cy , of tsoci a li st p rincipl e of p lanned economy over the ana rcho-cap it tpr in cipl e of product ion f or t h e ma rket ; t h e s t upef yin g col la p set h e appa r en t ly power fu l S oci a li st a nd Commun is t pa r t ies i n Gmany and the subsequentcoll apse of the Austr ian socia l democraAl l t ogether , they have had oppos it e e ff ect s on the two b ig pa rm t his cou nt ry . To t he C ommunist P a rt y, en liefed t o t he n a ti

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

4/36

Page66 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL J une 19a l is t ic S ov iet bur eau cr a cy , t h ey h a ve mean t a ch ange of l in e i n t h ed ir ect ion of cla ssic K a u@ky an ism . TO t he S ocia list P a r ty , en .r ich ed by t he in flux of youn g a nd m ilit an t elem en ts, t hey h avem ea n t a ch a nge of lin e a w a y fr om K a ut sky an ism,a w a y fr om t hepr in ciples a n d pr a ct is es w h ich w r ou gh t s uch h a voc in t h e w or ldla b or mov emen t , a w a y fr om t h e policies t h a t d om in a t ed t h e S .P .when t he s elf -s t yl ed O ld Gua rd hel d sw a y . The pa r t ies a r e t r a vel -in g r oa ds t ha t lea d in opposit e dir ect ion s. B ot h of t hem a r e st illi n mot ion ; n ei th er o f t h emha s y et come t o r es t a t t h e f in a l pos it ionwh ich t h ei r movemen t l og ica l ly indi ca t es . Bu t t o Ma rx is t s a b le t or ea d sign post s a nd t o dr aw a rr ow s over a lin e of ma rch, t he ten-dencies r epr es en t ed by t h e two pa r t ies i s unmi st a k abl e.Ta ke a few of t he funda ment al quest ions of Ma rxism: t hest ruggle for pow er , imperia lis t w ar a nd civil w ar , bourgeoisdemocracy and Fasci sm .I n a l l t h es e ques t ion :, t h e S t a lin is t pa r t y h a s t a ken a pos it ion (i nt he post -Th ir d per iod per iod ) t ha t is in fin it ely closer t o t heposit ion of t he Old G ua r d a n d t he S econ d I nt er na t ion a lt ha n it ist o the presen t -d ay Soci a li st P a r t y . In every e ssen t i a l, t he old soci a ld emocr a t ic t h eor y a n d pr a ct is e of t h e les ser ev il is n ow officia ld ogma i n t h e S t a lin is t r a nks . To preven t F a s ci smsuppor t b ou r -g eois d emocr a cy ; s uppor t a ct iv ely or a t lea s t toler a t e Az a fia ,B en es , C a r den a s, B l um-D a la d ier a n dnot q uit e d ir ect ly bu t b yobvious indirectionRoosevelt . On t he crucia l quest ion of im-per ia list w a r, t he S ta lin ist s a re in t he sa me camp a s t he socia l-pa t r iot s of 1914. As the l a t t er def ended the democra t i c imperi a l-is t s a nd t h e sma ll n a t ion s a g a in st t h e rea ct ion a r y imper ia l is t s,t he former a n nou nce t heir in ten tion of defen din g t heir dem o-cr a tic fa t h er la n d a n d poor lit t le C zech os lov a kia (r ea d : poorlit tle B elgium or S er bia ) a ga in st t he F ascist im per ia list s.Wher e K a ut sk y r ev is ed Ma r x t o r ea d t h a t b et w een t h e ca pit a lis ta nd s ocia l is t s oci et ies l ies t h e pea cef ul t r a n sit ion a l per iod t a k in gt h e pol it i ca l form of a coa l it ion g overnmen t , t h e S t a lin is t s, for a l lt hei r purel y remini scen t i a land forma l ref erence s to the di ct a to r-s hi p of t h e prolet a r ia t , merely subs t i tu tea re-worded formula t ionof t he s am e con cept . Accor din g t o t he la t est r evela t ion (r ea d:pla gia r ism fr om K a ut sky ), bet w een t he r ule of t he bou rgeoisiea n d t h e r ule of t h e pr olet a r ia t , t h er e l ie: t h e pea cefu l, pa r liamen -t a ry con qu es t of pow er by som e ect opla sm ic supr a -cla ss for cekn ow n a s t he gover nm en t of t he P eoples F ron t. Aft er h a vin gcunn ing ly removed f rom power the bourgeoi si ew i thou t the l a t t er skn ow ledge, it t ur ns over t his pow er , ju st a s u nobt ru sively a n dpea cefu lly , t o t h e prolet a r ia t i ts el f, led , it g oes w i t hou t s a y in g, b yt h e C ommunis t P a r t y.That there exis ts a poisonous hos t i li tyinthis countrybetweent h e s ocia l d emocr a tic O ld Gu a rd a n d t h e S t a lin is ts , s h ou ld blin dnobod y t o t h eir pol it ica l k in sh ip. Du r in g t h e wa r , f or i ns t a n ce, t h eFrench and Germansoci a l democraci es we re massacr ing each otherin the t renches because they served the ru ling bureaucracy of thei rrespect ive capi ta l is t f a ther lands ; b ut polit ica lly t h er e w a s n o d if-f erence between them. The S t a l in is t smerel y serve the Bonapa r t i stbu rea ucr a cy of t he S oviet U n ion ; t he Old G ua r d a spir es t o ser vet h e cap it a l is t b ur eau cr a cy of a democr a t ic Amer ica . Bo t h bondand an t a g on ismbetwe en t he two a r e d et erm inedb y t h es e f a ct s.Tha t is why , of l a t e, t h e S t a lin is t sh a ve cea s ed t o l evel cr it icismsof flr in ci~ l e a g a in st t h e Old Gu a rd a n d h a ve con fin ed t h emselv esto purely episodic, conjunct iona l and tac t ica l recr imina t ionsaga ins tCahan-Waldman-Onea l .The l a t t er a re ag a inst the Sov ie t Un ion ;y et t h ei r r ecen t p ronouncemen t s (cf. J ohn Power s h ig hl y s ig ni fi -ca n t commen t s in t h e R ig ht w in g N ew Leader on Sta l in-Litvinovsf or ei gn -pol it ica l rea l ism w i t h r eg a rd t o t h e Lea gue of N a t ion s, democracy vs. Fa sci sm, et c.) ha ve show ed t hem to be muchclos er t o t h e S t a lin is t bu rea u cr a cy t h a n t h e Da i ly Worker would

ca r e t o a dm it . Th e on ly ot her cr it icism t ha t t he S ta lin ist sm aw it h a n y s pir it a g a in st t h e O ld Gu a rd is t h e la t t er s r efu sa l t o jot hem in a unit ed front . B ut t ha t is ha rdly a ma tt er of pr incip. . . a nd w hen it comes t o principles t he C .P . must st ra in evemuscle t o fin d t he lin e of dem a rca t ion . Ast ou ndin g a s t his mseem, i t i s the a l l -too-incontrover t ib le f ac t .The even t s t h a t pr oduced t h is b rea t h -t a k in g s iwng t o t h e R ig

of t he S ta lin ist ca mp, h ave h ad a con tra ry effect in t he r an kst he S ocia lis t P a rt y. Th ey h ave m oved a w a y fr om t he Old G uaand i ts pol ici es a nd towards the pol icies of revolut ionary MarxisTh e wor d t ow a r ds is in ten tion a lly it a licized t o in dica t e t wt hin gs: I ) t ha t it is a q uest ion of t he dir ect ion in w hich t he m ast ream of t he S .P . is m ovin g, even if jer kily ; a n d Z) t ha t t he S .is fa r fr om h a vin g a r riv ed a t t h e p os it ion s of r ev olu tion a ry M arism. B ut w ha t is import a nt a bout a pa rt y w hich is in a st at eflu x is n ot s o muchand s omet imes n ot pr im a rilyt h e officp rog rammat icpos it i on tha t i t occupies on paper a t a g iven momebu t t h e ma in lin e of t h e d ir ect ion in wh ich it is mov in g.The C1eve landconven t i on of the S .P ., two yea r s a f t er the De t rconven t ion a t wh ich t h e M ili t a nt g roup f ir st ou st ed t h e O ld Guafr om it s lon g t en ur e of office, m a rked t he secon d big m ilest oa lon g t he r oa d w h ich t he pa rt y h a s been t ra velin g. Wh at n eedt o be sa id a bout t he va cilla t ion s of t he Miiit a nt lea der sh ip,pol it i ca l t repida t ion , i t s penchant for compromise , i t s hesi tancy ,i ncons is t ency and amb igu it y on fundamen ta l ques t ions , ha s of tb een s t a t ed on t he p a ges of ou r r ev iew and , e ven t od a y, ea s il y b ear eit er a t ion . N ev er t heles s, w h a t is d ecis iv e is t h a t on e pla in , bh igh ly impor ta nt fa ct st an ds out a ft er C levela nd, a fa ct w hilos es n on e of it s objective va l idi ty and s igni ficance s imply becauthe Mil it an t s d id not s t r ive conscious ly and cons is t en t ly t o makea fa ct . We r efer t o t he fin a l, or ga n iza t ion a l s epa r a tion fr om tS ocia list P a rt y of t he Old G ua rd. Wh at ever m ay h ave been tdesir es of s om e of it s lea der s, t he S ocia list P a r ty is n ow splitt w o d is tin ct pa r ts : t h e pa r ty u nd er t h e lea d er sh ip of t h e Milit aa n d t he S ocia l D emocr a tic F eder a tion u nder t he lea der sh ipWa l dman , C ah an , Onea l , L ee and ot her p rema tu re nona g en a r iaThat many Right wingers , pol it i ca l ly ind is t inguishab lef rom Walm a n a n d C o., st ill r em a in in t he S ocia lis t P a r ty , h a rdly m od ift he s ign ifica n ce of t he split . I n t he fir st pla ce, t he depa r ted OGua rd r epr es en t s t he head and b a ckbone and hea r t of t h e Soci a lP a r t ys R ig ht w in g; in t h e s econ d pla ce, t h os ewho h a ve r ema inin the of fi ci a l pa r t y have g iven any th ing bu t an enthus ia s t i cindit ion of t h ei r d et erm in a t ion t o s t a y much l onger .N or ca n t h e s ig nifica n ce of t h e s plit be v it ia t ed by r efer en cet h e fa ct t h a t l ea d er s o f t h e S ocia lis t P a r t y plea d ed ,t o t h e v er y lminut e, w it h t he O1d G ua rd a nd urged it t o r ema in w it hin tpa r ty, in sist in g t ha t t her e w a s r oom for it a n d it s idea s in t he oor ga n iz a t ion . I f on e a s sumes t ha t t h e Old Gu a rd is ts a r e n ot cliqpolit icia n s or polit ica l ba n dit s w h o figh t m er ely for spoils ap la ce, but a r e men w i t h a clea r -cu t pol it i ca l pr og ram , t h en t he fat h a t t h ey t u rned a d ea f ea r even t o t h e mos t concil ia t or y proposa nd w er e a da ma nt on t he split , sh ould be proof en ough t ha t tpolitical tendencies r epr esen ted b y t hose w h o left a n d t hos e wrema ined , fa r f rom bei ng i den t ica l , ha ve such a gul f b etween t ha s to have made reconci li a t i on a prac t ica l imposs ib il it y . On ly t y ra n d old gossips ca n con clu de t ha t t he split w = ca used b t he coflict in g desir es for lea der sh ip of Norma n Th om as a nd L oWa l dman , or a n y ot h er such puer il e s uper fi ci a li ty . Nei th er cosciousnes s nor unconsciousness dete rmines being; tha t many flower s of t h e M il it a n t s a r e not con sciou s, or f ull y con sci ou s offa ct t ha t a grea t polit{cal d iv is ion cau sed t h e f in a l b reak w i t hO ld Gua rd, d oes not a l t er t h e s i t ua t i on f undamen t a ll y.I f fur t her indica tion of t he dist ance t he S ocia list P a rt y h

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

5/36

J u n e 1g~ 6 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL P a get r a vel ed on t h e r oa d t o Ma rxi sm i s r equi red , t h e S t a li ni st s suppl yit in t heir cr it icism . Rea d B r ow der s la t es t book; or bet ter y et ,B i t t e lman spamphlet ,G oing Le~ t , which devotes i t sel f speci fica l lyt o crit icism of t he Milit ant s d ra ft progra m. I t is not w here t hepr ogr am is r ea lly w ea k t ha t B it telm a n a im s h is d ull s ha ft s, butw here it s st rong point s a re to be found. Wha t t he Old G ua rds a ys ir a scib ly , B i t telman , like a m ellow ed eld er st a tesm an w hofon dly ch id es t he impet uou s y ou th for follies w h ich h e h im self,t h a nk God ! h a s ou t gr own , s a ys condes cending ly : . . . s ect a r ia n ismi5 cr eepin g in to the Left w ing (p. 33) ; a ndunment iona blehor ror !the Amer ica n l a bor movemen t [r ea d : t h e S t a li nis t a p-poin tees ] is t oo v it a lly in ter es ted i n t he s ucces s of t he L eft w in gto let i t , under Trotskyite counter-revolu t ionary in fluence , ru in i t sprospects.Wh at a re t he pos it ion s t ha t w ou ld r uin t he pr ospect s of t heLef t w ing abou t wh ich B i t t elmanexpresses such touch ing pa t erna l

s olicit ud e? Th e M ilit a nt s r efu sa l t o a ccept t he S t a lin is t s ocia l-pa t riot ic pos it ion on w a r, t heir h ea lt hy r ecoil fr om t he t rea ch er -ou sly s ed uct ive P eoples F ron t , t ha t is , pos it ion s in w h ich a r eimpl ic i t t he d ivid in g lin es b et w een r efor tism a n d r evolu tion a ryMarxism.Therein ,however , a lso l ies the outs t andingdeficiency of the Leftw in g movemen t: w h a t is imjiicitn it ha s not yet been ma de ex-

phit; t h a s n ot y et d ra w n t he fu ll implica t ion s of it s t en den cy t o

t hei r log ica l , f ul ly r evolut iona ry conclus ions . The C level andven t ion ,w i th a l l i t s numerousshor t comings,wa s a long s t ep ind ir ect ion a nd, b y v ir t ue of t h e spl it b etween t he Lef t a n d t h e Rcon fr on t ed t h e r evolut ion a r y Ma rxi st s i n t h is count r y w i th asi tua t iona nd new problems.Th e r evolut ion ist s w h o st a nd un der t he ba nn er of t he F oIn t erna t iona lh aveno na r row sect a r i an int eres t sand a re gu ide

n on e. H ow ever exa ct in g t hey a re in t heir dem ands for cacla r it y in pr in ciple, t h ey a r e a t a ll t im e,s con sciou s of t he n eer oot in g t hes e pr in ciples in a n ever la r ger m a ss movemen t.Socia l is t P a r t y t od a y r epr esen t s t h e la r ges t con cen t ra t ion ofconscious mili t an t smoving in the direct ion of consis tent MarxI t s p romise i s g rea t , a nd so a re the respons ib il it i eswh ich our epu ts upon i ts shou lder s.Su ch r espon si bi li ti es of t h e Soci a li st P a r t y a l so impl y r es

s ib il it ies for t h e much sma l ler g roup of t h e Fou rt h I n ter na t iist :. Ther e is ever y r ea son t o believe t ha t t he Workers Pembra cing the van@ard for ces of pr incipled f igh t er s for Marxw ill n ot s ta n d a loof fr om t he movemen t u n fold in g b efor e it .a comra de-in -a rms, i t w i ll ma rch s id e by s id e w i th t h is movemseeking t o help it dra w t he full lesson s of it s st ruggle so t hm ay r ea ch it s log ica l goa l m or e t ruly , m or e smoot hly a nd mspeed ily t ha n in t he pa s t. M.

The End of Loca rnoA T THE WORLD econ om ic con fer en ce in Genoa in 1922, t h eS oviet U n ion a nd G erma ny w er e eq ua lly ou tla w s. N on e oft he v ict or ious Al li ed coun t ri es wa s prepa red t o make concess ionseit her t o B ols hev ismor t o d efea t ed Germa n y. E ven t hou gh it w a st h en mor e t h a n n a t ur a l, it r equi red t h e g rea t es t e ff or t s on t h e pa r tof t he R ed B a ron von Ma lt za hn , a t ta ch ed t o t he G erma n d ele-g a t ion , t o convince t h e pr in ci pa l d el eg a t es ,Wi rt h a nd R a t henau ,of t he need of a pa ct w it h the Russia ns. And it w as only a fterever y effor t t o a r riv e a t a n u nd er st a nd in gw it h E n gla n d, F ra n cea nd t h e U .S .A. h a d f a il ed , t h a t R a t h en au a nd IWir t h a ccept ed Ch i-ch er in s off er . The a g r eemen twh i ch t h er ea f ter bor e t h e n ame ofR a pa llo w a s la t er s ig ned in t ha t loca lit y, n eig hb or in g on Gen oa ,wh ich ser ved a s t h e q t ia r t er s of t h e Sov iet r epr esen t a t iv e. To t h ev ict or ious s t a t es , t he Rapa llo t r ea t y came a s a pa in fu l surpr ise, f orit w a s n ot believed t ha t t he G erma n bou rg eois ie w ou ld h a ve s omuch cou ra ge. Mos t h or r if ied of a l l, h owever , w a s , w i th ou t doubt ,t he G erm an socia l democra cy. I t s E bert , t hen president of t heReich ,,whose op in ion nobody had bothered t o inqui r ea bou t befores igni ng t h e t r ea t y , d ecla r ed : I a m through w it h Ra thena u a ndh is cl iqu e. And t h e pu si ll a nimou sR a t hen au,who s t il l a ppea r s t ob e a per son a lit y am id t he pover ty of polit ica l t a len t in pos t-w a rG ermany pa id w ith h is life for his signa ture to t he Ra pa llotreaty.Th e y ea r 1923open ed t he ey es of t he Wes ter n pow er s a n d t heU .S .A. t o t he d a ng er s of con t in uin g a policy of in tr a ns ig en ce to-w a rd s Germa n y. C ame t he Amer ica n loa n s, a n d came t he n eg ot i-a t ion s for a pos it iv e s et t lemen t of t he polit ica l a n d econ om ic r e-l a ti on s between Ge rmany a nd F r a nce, ea ger ly demanded by Eng-la n d, w h ich s et it self a g ain st t oo pr es umpt uou sa r ule of F ra n ceon t he con tin en t. Yet t he G erma n s ocia l dem ocr acy a ls o sou gh tw i th a l l i ts s tr en gt h f or a F r a nco-Ge rman a g r eemen t . The a l li a ncew it h t he S oviet U nion , w it h w hich cert ain current s in G er ma nforeign pol icy (B rockdord-Ran t zau , Ma l tz ahn) and cert a in ci rcles

in t he s ta ff of t he R eich sw eh r (H ammer st ein ) w er e flir tin g,an abomina t ion t o reformism. Too v igorous ly d id t he exi st enct he w or ker s s ta t e r em in d it of it s ow n t rea ch er y. Th e F raGerma n n eg ot ia t ion s w er e cr own ed in 1925 i n t he L oca r nocon clud ed bet w een B ria nd a nd S tr es em an n,l t he pa ct in wGermany once more recogn ized a s una ssa i la b let he West e rn ft ier es t a bl is hedby t h e Ve rs a il les Tr ea t y a nd r enounced a n y mt a r iz a t ion a nd f or t if ica t ion of t h e Rhinel a nd , a nd in wh ich F rpl edged i ts el f t o t h e g ra dua l cl ea r in g of t h e occupi ed r eg ion .t he y ea r a ft er t he fiv e Norw eg ia n sma ll-cou nt ry ph ilis tin esh id e beh ind t h e a nonymi ty of t h e Nobel Commit t ee , h a ndedP ea ce P r ize foun ded by t he d ecea sed Sw ed is h d yn am it e kint h e cr ea t or s of t h e Loca r no pa ct , t h e s ameS t r es emannwhoin g t he w or ld w a r d efen ded t he polit ica l d ema nd s of t he megma nia ca l L ud en dor f a n d wh o, a s la t e a s 1918, st ill d reamed ofa nnexa t ion of B elgium a nd t he B a lt ic province:, a nd t he sB r ia nd w ho, a s a m ember of t he F ren ch w a r ca bin et , came oufa vor of t he a nn exa t ion of t he left ba nk of t he R hin e.Qui te d if fer en t f rom t h e Nobel Commit t eew a s t h e ju dgmenthe Loca rno pa ct ma de by t he S oviet burea ucra cy w hichmeanwh il e sa ddled i ts elf upon t h e worker s s t a te. I t expl a in ed

pa ct a s d ir ect ed ex clus iv el y a t t h e Sov iet Un ion . And in t h e s tg le a g a in st t he L eft Oppos it ion , w h ich w a s a ppr oa ch in g it s ds iv e momen t , t h e S t a li ni st bur ea u cr a cy a ddu ced t h e Loca r noa s a w eigh ty a rg um en t for a n immin en t d a nger of in ter venw i th wh ich i t f ri gh t en ed t h e suppor t er s of t h e Oppos it ion a ndnon -pa rt y ma sses in t he S oviet U nion . I n rea ding in to t heca r no pa ct a n immed ia t e d a n ger of in ter ven tion , it er red n ot ha n did t he Nobel P rize dist ribut ors w h o sa w in it a hope fodur a bl eo rg a ni za t i on a nd s t a bi li za t ion of wor ld pea ce. E v er y1 E ngla nd, B elgium a nd I ta ly conf ine ourselvesto the Fraa lso s ign ed t he L oca rn o P a ct ; German quest ion .but for our purposes w e ma y

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

6/36

Page68 THE NEW INTERNATIONALropean power s t il l b led f rom the wounds inf li ct ed ,upon them by thew orld w ar, a nd none of t hem yet da red t o think of a new ca m-pa ign on a la rg e sca le. I t is a ls o likely t ha t t he S t a lin is t b ur ea u -cr a cy , u ns cr upu lou s i n it s choi ce of weapon s, d el ib er a t el y exa g -g er a ted t he d a ng er of in ter ven tion . I n t his m a nn er , a lt hou gh t hean t i -wa r p ropaganda and demons t ra t ionsof t he Comint e rn in theseyea r s l ul led t h e ma sses t o t h e real da nger of a coming w ar, it didhelp the S t a l in is t bureaucr a cy t o consol ida t e i t s pos it i on .Yet a r ea l fea r of in ter ven tion did exist . Not lea st of a ll un derit s pr es su re, t h e f ir st F iv e-Yea r P l a n came int o bei ng , a imed pr i-m a rily a t t he cr ea t ion of a mod er n h ea v y a n d a rmamen ts in du st ryfor t he S oviet U n ion . Th e pr even tion of in ter ven tion , h ow ev er ,beq ame t o a n in cr ea sin g ext en t t he on ly t a sk of t he C om in ter n,d eg ra ded by t he t heor y of socia lism in a sin gle coun tr y t o a m er ein st rumen t of S ov iet f or eig n policy H is epig on es lea r ned fr omL en in t ha t it is t he a rt of r ev olu tion a ry polit ics t o u tiliz e t h e a n -t a gon isms b et w een t he imper ia lis ts . B u t w h er ea s w it h L en in t hegoa l of pr omot in g t h e r evolut ion a lw a ys s t ood beh ind t h is u t il iz a -t ion of t he an t a gon isms,w i t h t h~ epigones , t h i s concept ion was re-pla ced by t he g oa l of m er ely pr even tin g a w a r a ga in st t he S ovietU n ion . On e of t he m ain g oa ls of S oviet policy con sis ted, t her e-f or e, i n t hw a rt in g, a t a n y pr ice, t h e F r a nco-Ge rman a g reemen t i nor der t her eb y t o s ecu re t he Wes ter n fr on tier of t he U n ion . An dt his is t he goa l t ow ards w hich t he policy of t he C omint ern w a sd ir ect ed , a b ov e a ll a ft er it s S ixt h Wor ld C on gr es s. Th e S t a lin is tb ur ea u cr a cy r ig ht ly con sid er ed r eformism t he ma in pr op of t heLoca r no pol icy , f or t h e w r et ch ed r emnan t sof t h e m iser a bl eP a r t yB oa r d of t he Ge rma n s ocia l d emocr a cy w a s s till s a yin g i n it s m a n-if es t o of Ma rch 7, 1935: The Ge rman soci a l d emocr a cy w a s , f romt h e v er y ou ts et , t h e pi ll a r of t h e i dea of t h e F r a nco-Ge rman a g r ee-m en t. I t w a s t he d rivin g for ce of t he for eign policy w hich led t ot h e s igni ng of Loca r no. Th is i s pr eci sel y t h e f a ct upon wh ich t h est ruggle of t he C om in ter n a ga in st t he s ocia l d em ocr acy a s t hem a in en emy w a s er ect ed ; i n it lies t he expla n a tion of t he t heor yof socia l-F as cism . Th e policy of t he G erma n C .P . fr om 1929 t o1933 a cq uir es mea n in g on ly w h en on e keeps clea r ly in m in d t hegoa l of ma in t a in in g t he F r a nco-Ge rman an t a gon ismset by Sov ietd iplom acy w hile n eglect in g t he g oa l of r evolut ion in G erma ny .F r om t he s ta n dpoint .of d ef ending t h e i nt er es t s of t h e pr ol et a r ia nrevolut ion , t he theory of soci a l-Fa sci sm , t he Red Trade Un ion Or-g an iza t ion policy , t he s tr ug gle a ga in st Ver sa illes , D a wes a ndYoungt the temporary a l l ianceswi th the Nat iona l-socia l is t s aga instt he soci a l democr a cy (Red ref erendum), t he p rogr am of na t iona la n d socia l eman cipa t i on , t h e r odomon t a des of L ieu t en a n t S ch er -in ger a bou t t he w a r of n a tion a l lib er a tion , et c., et c., a ppea r t o b et he out gr ow th of insa nit y. Th e policy of t he C .P .G . w a s a m al-iciou s ca r ica t ur e of t hos e id ea s of t he fir st pos t-w a r y ea r s w h ichLenin charac ter izeda s u lt ra-Lef t is t in fan t i lema ladies and whichled t o t he foun din g of t he C ommunist La bor P a rt y of G erm any .However , t h e C .L .P . G . cou ld not be den ied a cer t a in r ev olut ion a r y61an,even if it soon disa ppea red up t he chimney . Th e bur ea u-cr a t iz ed C .P . G . , on t h e ot h er h a nd, l a ck ed a n y r evolut ion a r y dunwha t soev er i ts l ea der s def ended u lt r a -r a di ca l ismnot ou t of con -v ict ion (L en in s work a g a in st t h e u lt r a -L ef tis t s h a d not r ema in edu nkn ow n t o a t lea st a n umber of t hem ), but a s obed ien t m a r ion -e tt e s of t he bureaucr a t i c cen t er in Moscow .Th e C .P . of F ra n ce fu nct ion ed i n t his per iod a s a n a u xilia r y of

t h e C .P . G . I t t oo comba t t ed t h e Ver sa i ll es Tr ea t y ; i t e ven a r r a ngedm eet in gs a ga in st t he Ver sa illes Tr ea t y w it h Th 51m an n a s t hespeaker . Na t ur a ll y, t h e s t ru gg le a g a in st Ver sa i ll es i n F r a nce h a sa mor e s ignif ica n t ly r e volut ion a r y ch a r a ct er t h a n i n Ge rmany a ndis pa rt of t he elem en ta ry d ut ies of F ren ch commun ism, f or it isa f ter a l l d ir ect ed a g a in st t h e bou rgeoi si e a t h ome. Bu t a l l s en seof

pr opor t ion w a s l os t i n t h e Comin t er n

,.J u n e

campaign, the ant i-Versas tr ug gle of t he C .P .F . h a d n o in depen den tch a ra ct er , it w a s ales s a t tempt t o coor din a te t he policy of t he C .P .F . w it h t ha t ofC .P .G ., m er e t hea t rics w h ich n obod y t ook s er iou sly , lea s t oft he an t i-Versa i ll es wa r r ior s d ha Cach in .Aft er t he C .P .G . h ad t hu s con tr ibut ed t o t he bes t of it s a bt ow a r ds l if ti ng H i tl er n a t ion a li sm int o t h e s a dd le, 2Soviet dm a cy d is cover ed t ha t it h a d s pecu la t ed fa ls ely . R ein for ced

ma n n a tion a lismt ur ned t o a fa r les ser ext en t a g a in st F ra n cea g a in st t he S ov iet U n ion . Th e for eig n polit ica l g oa l of t he TR eich con sis ts in bein g t a ken ba ck in to t he. g ra ces of t he GP ow er s a s a pion eer fig ht er a g ain st B ols hev ism. Yet , F ra n cega rds t he mil it a r y reb ir t h of German imperi a li smwith d is t ru steven t houg h it h as n o gr ea t object ion s t o a campa ig n a ga in sU .S .S .R . a s s uch , a G erma n -Rus sia n w a r n ever th eles s t hr eaF r a nces dom in a t ion ov er t h e L it t le En t en t e. Sov iet f or eignicy consequen t l ymade a tu rn abou t of 180degrees and thenceput s it s h opes in F ra n ce. Th e mos t impor ta n t fa ct or h in der iSov ie t Russ ian-French a l li a nce-t he Comin t ernhad long agocom e a m er e t ra din g commod it y in t he h an ds of t he B on apaS oviet burea ucr acy. To t he ext ent t ha t t he negot ia t ionsF r a nce for a n a l li a nce pr og res sed , t h e now inoppor t une s t rua g a in st Ver sa i ll es decl in ed ; S t a li n a nd h is f or ei gn -pol it ica lholder, Radek , d iscovered in the sta tus quo of Ver sa illes a n dL ea gu e of N at ion s er ect ed on it a r efu ge of pea ce. An d inelus ion , t h e C .P . F. h oi st ed t h e t r icolor a nd s a n g t h e MarseillaWha t t remen dou s h is tor ica l ir on y is con ta in ed in t he fa ctt he S ov iet U n ion a n d t he C om in ter n s ou gh t t o ou t-h ow l F rim per ia lism a t t he t ime w hen H it ler t ra mpled upon t he a

S oviet pa ct ca lled t he Loca rno pa ct . S evera l scribes ofC om in ter n ev en s hed t ou ch in g t ea r s ov er t he d es tr oy ed w orpea ce of B r ia n d a n d S t res ema nn . At t he f ollow in g in ter na tcon fer en ces , L it v in ov a ppea r ed s id e by s id e w i th Ti tu les cu a sva ss al of F ra nce. Molot ov a ga in a ssu red t he cor respon denLe Tew~ps,t he orga n of t he Com i ti d a F or ges, t ha t t he SUn ion wou ld f ul fi ll i ts con t ra ct ua l ob li ga t i on s t ow a r ds F r a nct h e ev en t of w a r ; i ndeed , one ca nnot a v oi d t h e impr es si on t h apol it ici a ns of t h e Sov iet Un ion a r e d ri vi ng F r a nce t o a bel li goffen siv e a g a in st G erma n y. When Tr ot sky , in 1931, excort he in sa n e policy of t he C .P .G . a nd r evea led t he in evit a bilithe decis ive conf lict betweenFa scism and the prolet a r ia t , he samon g ot her t hin gs , of t he fa ct t ha tw er e m at ter s t o r ea chpoin t of open civil w a r in G erma ny a nd t he out com e w a s uta init w ould be t he duty of t he Red Army to st a nd by forG erma n r evolu tion is ts . Th er eu pon t he jou rn a lis tic cr ew ofC omint er n ra ised a t err ific cry: Trot sky is provoking a w ain ter ven tion a nd G od kn ow s w ha t else. To be sure, comTr ot sky a s ked for t oo much ; t he B on a pa r tiz ed R ed Army w alon ger u sa b le i n t he s tr ug gle for t he in ter es ts o f t he Germa nlet a ria t ; but t o d efen d t he st at us qu o of Versa i ll es , t he comn is t ma r sh a lls h a ve no r eser va t ion s wh a t soev er . Let us nomis .unders t ood . We Bo lshev ik-Len in is t s have never d ispu t er ight of t h e Sov iet s t a te t o con clude a n a l li a ncew i t h one ca pist a te a ga in st t he t hr ea t of a not her . Our t hes es, w hich a ppmor e t ha n 2 y ea r s a g o, fu lly a ckn ow led ge t his r ig ht a n d comTr ot sky h a s expr es sed t he s ame id ea s in n umer ou s a r ticlesbrochures. Wha t w e gua rd a ga in st w it h a ll our st rengt h,2 D im it roffs pr ecur sor in t he i st ic a nd t h is i diocv i s s t ilgenera l S ecret ar ia tof the corn- rent t o&y, w he~ t he wint ern P ia tnit sky, w ent so fa ra 5 t . = pIa in t ie ~ ctory of t ie Comint ern is a lrea dy craNa zis by t he fa ct t ha t t he C.P . on it s belly before the mG . w a s n ot s ufficien tly na t ion a l- of Ver sa illes .

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

7/36

J u ne xg36 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ~ev er , i s t h a t i n t h esenegot ia t ion s t h e i nt er es t s of t h e i nt er n a t ion a lpr olet a r ia t a r e unscr upu lou sl y t r a ded of f. NOW,wha t shou ld besa id abou t t he b ig-mou thed boa s t ing recent l y con t a ined in Pravdaw hich a ssur es us a t ever y st ep t ha t t he S oviet U n ion is in a posi-t ion t o d efen d it self fr om a ny a tt a ck fr om t he E a st or t he IWe.N,by it self a n d w it hou t a n y a s sis ta n ce f rom w it hou t? ~Wh a t s hou ldbe sa id when the foreign-pol it i ca l col la bor a t or of ZHunzan i t& ,heorga n of t he C .P .F ., ba bbles t he sa me w a y? In l Humani t i$ ofMa rch IO, t h i s a dept of S t a li n l et s l oose w i th t h e f ol low ing :Ha s t h e ques t ion been a sked , a g a in st whom i s t h is t h rea t [H it -ler s m ar ch in to t he Rh in ela n d] a im ed fir st of a ll? I t is w it houtd oubt a im ed a t t he U . S .S .R., but a ft er a ll ever ybod y kn ow s t ha tt he U .S .S .R . is ca pa ble of d efen din g it self w it hou t a n y a s sis ta n cef rom wi thou t .U p t o n ow , t he for eig n policy of t he S oviet U n ion a n d t he policyof civi l pea ce of t he French , Czechos lovak ianand Ruman ianCom-mun is t P a r t ies wh ich t h ey h a v e r ea l iz ed even bef or e t h e ou t br ea k

of w a r , h a s beenexpl a in edon t h e g round s t h a t a l l t h is i s occu rr in gfor t he s ake of pr eser vin g t he U .S .S .R. E ven t hough t his cou ldin n o ca s e b e con sid er ed a ju .r t i j icat ionof t he policy of civil pea ce,i t w a s n ev er t hel es s a h a lf -w a y pl a us ib le expl a na t i on . Bu t n ow welea rn t ha t it is not a t a ll a q uest ion of t he U .S .S .R.; it is ca pa blea s Pravda a nd l Humani t i sa y, a nd t hey ought t o know -ofdefending it self w it hout a ny a id from a broa d. Then it is not aq uest ion of t he U .S .S .R.; w ha t is it a q uest ion of? Molot ov a s-sur es F r a nce of m il it a r y suppor t b y t h e Red Army , a nd t h e F r en ch communis t s spea k of F r a nces ju st ca u se (C a ch in i n l Human-i t6, Mar ch 9). I s it , t hen , s imply a n d clea r ly a q ues tion of F ren chimper ia l ism? The defense of t h ieving-oppress iveFrench f in ancecap it a l , i t s b lood-suck ing domina t ion of Nor th Af ri ca , I ndones ia ,S y ria , it s i nd ir ect ly expl oi ta t iv e r ul e of C z echos lov a ki a a nd Ru-ma ni~is a ll t his a t a sk of t he w orld prolet a ria t? In point offa ct , M . P&-i a ccomplis hes ev en t his cy nicism. I n t he a r ticle ofh is w h ich w e h a ve ju st q uot ed , h e con tin ues :Mu ch mor e d ir ect ly a r e t he peoples of C en tr a l E u rope a n d t heDanube a f fect ed by t h e H it ler t h rea t , p eopl es who a r e t h e con fed -er a tes [a s soci6s ; M . P er i m ig ht bet t er h a ve w r it t en : v as sa ls ]of F ra nce, upon t he colla bor at ion w it h w hos e st a tes F ra nce h asfounded it s policy. These a re t he peoples w ho w ill offer thes lig ht es t r es is ta n ce t o t he a d ven tu re of t he Na zis . The ques t ionmus t t her efor e b e a n sw er ed : I ) w h et her F ra n ce w ill permit t hes epow ers t o be cut off; 2) w het her Fra nce w ill permit the w ar t obe la unched in t he E ast a nd S out hea st of E urope, a w ar w hichw ill t hrea ten t h e w hole of E urope a few h ours la ter . This pla nt hr ea t en s n ot on ly t he s ecur it y of in divid ua ls. I t t hr ea t en s t h esecu r it y of a l l, B r i t ish secu r it y not except ed .L et us n ot e in pa ss in g t ha t t he F ren ch S ta lin ist sm a ke it t heir

busin ess t o w orry not on ly a bout t he securit y of t heir ow n im-per ia lism, but of B rit ish a s w ell. I n a ny ca se, t he P 6.r i a rt iclew hich w e h ave q uot ed present s a clea r-cut pict ure of h ow t hecommuno-imper ia l ismo f t he Th ird In t erna t iona l , even before theoutbrea k of t he new w ar, puts in t he sha de a nyth ing tha t t hesoci a l-imper ia l ismof t he Second In t erna t iona lh ad t o of fe r du ringt he Wor ld Wa r.I t is n ot a s ton is hin g t ha t t he s ta n dpoin t of F ren ch imper ia lismf inds numeroussuppor t er sa l so in the camp of t he Germanemigr a -

t ion. Lea st a st onishin g of a ll is t he soca lled P a rt y B oa rd of t heG erma n socia l democra cy. When t he bloody t error set in inG erma ny in Ma rch 1933 a nd t he for eign pa pers of t he S econdI nt er na t ion a lw rot e a b ou t it , t he Hon or a ble Wels w it hd rew , fort h is r ea son a nd u ~on H it ler s or der , f rom t h e Bu r ea u of t h e SecondI nt er na t ion al. Tw ice, on Ma rch 24 a nd on Ma y 17, 1933, a t t hetwo l a st s es si on s of t h e Rei ch st a g t h a t H it ler permit t ed t h e soci a l

P a gedemocracy to par t icipa te in , these honorable personages expretheir conf idencein Hit ler s fore ign pol icy . And only becauseHis impl y r ef used t o permi t t h em t o be f or h im , t h e Honor a bl e ,Wa nd t he H on or able H ilfer din g n ow com e for wa rd in fa vor ofint er est s of t he F ren ch bour geoisie, just a s t hey w ere forGermanbourgeoi sie fr om 1914to 1933. Tha t t he C .P .G . emigra re likew is e for F ra nce, is foun ded in t he logic of t hin gs. J u st he C .P .F . w a s y est er da y a n a uxilia ry of t he policy of t he C .Pt he modest r em na nt s of t he C .P .G . a re t oda y a n a uxilia ry ofC .P .F. Th e pioneer fight ers a ga inst Versa illes, D aw esYoun g a s t he h en chmen of Ver sa illest ha t is a r ud e, but bymea n s u nd es er ved fa t e for t he P i ecks , U lbr ich ts a n d com raAs t o t he emigra ted liber als d la B ernha rd a nd S chw ar zsct hin gs a re even s im pler . Wit h t hem it is a q ues tion of: Whb rea d I ea th is s on g I s in g. As for t he polit ica l d illet a nt esw r it er s Heinr ich Mann , L ion Feu ch tw anger , et c., who h a v e bd er ed in to t his compa n y, on e ca n on ly w is h t ha t t hey u nd er st he m emen to left t hem by t he suicid e of K ur t Tuch ols ky . L er ecor d i n pa s si ng t h a t i n a dd it ionhow shou ld it b e ot h erw ist he Neue F ront (orga n of t he S .A. P .) a lso m akes it s bow s t oci vil pea ce i n F r a nce (Ma rch 15, 1936).For tuna t e ly , t he civi l pea ce i s by no meansunan imous . The

of t he Four th In t erna t iona li s a l r eadybeg inn ing t o sprou t poweshoots. H it ler s m ar ch in to t he R hin ela n d w a s it s fir st g ent es t. The F r en ch jou rn a ls f ight in g under t h e ba nner of t h e FoInternat ional ,Rt%olution a nd La Commune, and the organ iz abeh in d t h em (Jeuti esse SociaJ iste Rbvolu tiomaair e, Groupechiv ik-Lenini ste, Payt i Commun i.~te- Iaternat i onal is te) ,w hichhope w i ll s oon mer ge i nt o a uni ted or ga n iz a t ion , con t inued tr esolut e s t ruggle aga in st F rench imper ia l ism , for t he l iber a t iot he F ren ch pr olet a ria t a nd t he colon ia l peoples oppr essedF ren ch imper ia lism. Only w it h t hem do w e feel ou rs elv es a lbut not w i t h t he miserab lehenchmenof t he Comit t des Forges,B lums and J ouhauxes, t he Cach in s and Thorezes .sI t ca n ea s il y be ima g in ed t h a t t h e soci a l-imper ia l is t s a nd c

muno-imper ia l is t sw i ll ca l umn ia t e u s, suppor t er s of t h e FoI n ter n a ti on a l, a s a g en t s of H it ler . L Human i t6 h as s en t up mth a none t r ia l b a ll on i n t h is s en se. To l ie a nd ca l umn ia t ea pol ioppon en t ou t of exis ten ce h a s lon g b een a b el ov ed w ea pon of3A group of ra dica l F ren chpa cifist s a lso t ook a posit iona g a in st t heir ow n imper ia lism.The jou rn a l L e B ar r age pub-lis hed a ma nifes to w h ich b or e,among ot h er s, t h e s igna t u re oft he con fu sion is t a n d F ren ch S .A. P .ist , Ma rcea u P ivert , buta l so t h ose of such not a b lew r i t-ers a s Ma deleine P a z a ndMa rcel Ma rt inet . Th is ma ni-f es to s a ys , among ot h er t h in gs :I t is n ecess ar y t ha t a n a ir pa ctprevents a ny possibilit y of as ud den a tt a ck fr om t he a ir un -t i l general disarmamentpreventst he possibilit y of a ny w ar. I ti s cor rect f or a r 4, gimeof equ a l-it y w it h r ega rd t o t he colon iesa nd a n equ a l d is t ri bu t ionof r awma ter ia ls t o be rea lized. . . . I tis a lso correct for t he st a tuteof t lie Lea gue of Na tions t o bes epa ra t ed fr om t he Ver sa illesTreaty, et c., et c., in t he sa mest yle. Alt houg h t his la n gua ge(on t he F ren ch s id e) seem s t ob e mor e w or th y of r es pect t ha n

t he ch a uvin ism of l Humawe cannot , nevertheless,emsize sha rply enou h t he afh a t s epa r a tes u s r om pa ciof t his st r ipe. Revolutiot rust a s lit tle i n a n a ir pa ctt ween imperia list robberst hey d id i n t he r ecen tly b rLoca rno pa ct . Nor dolook for wa r d t o t he pr evenof im per ia list w a rs by g end is a rm amen t,b ut r a th er b yinternat ional victory ofa rmed pr olet a ria t over t heper ia l is t r obber s . They demn o r epa rt it ion of t he colobut t he direct a nd immeabol it i on of a l l colon i a l opps ion . Germanys economiccult ies do not lie in it s la cr a w ma ter ia ls b ut in it s ca pist m a na gem en t, a nd ou rcer n is n ot w it h t he r eor gat ion of the Lea gue of Nabut w it h the crea t ion ofunit ed Soci a li st Sov iet R elics of Europe a nd the wwor ld !

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

8/36

P a ge 70 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL J u ne 1rea ct iona ry and oppress ive pa rt i es . And t he C omint ern of t heper iod of d eclin e h a s d on e a l l t ha t w a s h uma nly pos sib le a g a in stt h e Bol sh ev ik -Len in is t si n t h is r espect . Th is does not pr ev en t u sfr om r a is in g ou r voices , for w e kn ow fr om h is tor ica l exper ien cet ha t t he pow er of lie a nd ca lumn y i s a lim it ed p ow er , a nd t ha t t heknow l edge of t r ut h w i ll pr ev a il .I n it s t im e w e sh ar ply cr it icized a n d comba t ted t he policy ofn a tion a l a n d s ocia l em a ncipa t ion of t he C .P .G . We poin ted ou tt ha t t he m ain en em y of t he G erma n pr olet a ria t is n ot t he vict ors t a teso f Versa i l lesbut the German f inancecapi t a l is t s , the Rhenish-Wes t ph a li a n b ig i ndus tr ia l is t s, t he E a s t E l bi a n J unker s. B a ck inI g31, comrade Trot sky wa rned : H i t le rs v ict or y means wa r aga in stthe U .S .S .R. The C .P .G . t hrew a ll these w arnings t o t he w inda nd helped H it ler t o pow er by it s policy, ca pitula ting t o himcr aven ly and w i t hou t s t rugg le . An d t od a y t he for eig n a ppa r a tu sof t he G .P .G . on ly st ands in t he w a y of t he st ruggle t o overt urnGerma n F a scism. Don t t hes e g en tlemen r ea lly u nd er st a nd t ha tt hei r mise rab lecap it u la t ion t o French imperi a li smmus t br ing theGerma n people t o t he poin t of r a lly in g a r ou nd H it ler , ju st a s t hewret ched hypocr isy of Eng li sh imper ia l ismin the I t a lo-E th iop iana f fa i r f ir s t made Mussol in i s ra id popula r among the I t a l ian people?

Don t w e n eed wh a t E n gla n d n eed s? t he embit t er ed I t a lia n a sh imself. D ont w e need w ha t Fra nce needs? a sks t he a verG erma n. F ra nce built t he Ma gin ot lin e a nd t hey w a nt t o pr evus from s ta t ion in g t roops in t he R hin ela n d? On ly t ha t cur rca n h ope t o w in t he blin ded m ass es of a ll cou nt ries t ha t t a kes t a nd a g a in st t h e cl a ims of al l t h e imper ia l is t st o w a r a nd opps ion . You w ill on ly bur n y our fin ger s w it h t he cry of Agen tsH it ler , Mes sr s. Communo-imper ia l is t s I n t h e la s t w a r , R osa n d Mon a tt e i n F ra n ce w er e ca lumn ia t ed a s a g en ts of t he Hohzol ler n s, K a r l L iebknech t a s a n a gen t of t h e C za r a nd Len in , a ga s a n a gen t of t h e Hohen zol lems . Th is d id not pr ev en t t h e ma sin t he cou rs e of t he w a r, fr om beg in nin g t o r ecog niz e ever ywt heir t rue fr ien ds. An d if y ou com e t o us t od ay w it h t he ca lumt ha t w e a r e w or kin g in H it ler s s er vice, w e r eply : We a r e n eiG e rm a ny n or F ra n ce, n eit her E n gla n d n or t he U . S .A., w e a r einternat ional proletar ia t . F or it s hist orica l int erest s, onlysuppor t er so f t h e Fou rt h I n ter n a ti on a la r e f ight in g t od a y . Th aw hy t he fut ure belongs t o it a nd t o it a lone.

Wa l ter HELDPARIS,Apr i l 13, 1936.

Wages a nd P ricesin the Soviet U nioI . The L ea~ f r om t he One Thou sa nd a nd On e Types of R ubl e

t o t he U n it (St an dar d) Ru bl e.s I NC E THE incept ion of t he G rea t P la n, from 1927-1928,t h e s t a te o rg a ns of t h e Sov iet Un i on no l on ge r publ ishedp riceiwdices . The cu rr en cy b roke down . The pu rch a si ngpower of t h er ub le on t he open s ta t e a n d k olkh oz ma rket , a n d in t he open s t a te s tor es , r es t a ur a n ts , h ot el s, et c. (i .e., t h ose a cces si bl e t o a l lci t iz ens w i t hou t speci a l permit s ) wa s approx ima t e ly equiva len t t ot he pu rch a sin g pow er of t w o pr e-w a r kopecks [ea . on e cen t U .S .a t pa r ].I n a d dit ion , h ow ev er , t her e w a s a va s t amou nt of pr ivileg ed r ub les , t h e s amep aper t oken s, t h e pu rch a si ng power of wh ich r a nt h e g amu t of a t h ou sa ndf ol d v a ri a ti on s i n t h e cl os ed en t er pr is esd epen din g u pon t he in du st ry , in st it ut ion or bu rea u i n wh ich t hepa r t icu la r Sov iet ci ti zen worked , d epending upon t h e pos t wh ichhe occupied on the pol it i ca l , a dmin is t r a t ive, t echn ica l and , t here-for e, a ls o s ocia l la d der . I f a F rench pa per recent ly ca lled t heGe rma il R eich sba n k p res id en t S ch a ch t t he Fa t her of t he F or tyTy pes of Ma rk, t hen S ta lin in recent y ea rs could ha ve beenpr a is ed (or d amn ed ) a s t he F a th er of t he 1001Types of R ub le .Th is r esul t ed in such soci a l pr ice pervers ions t h a t t he bes t -pa idla y er s, es pecia lly in t he pa r ty a n d s ta t e a ppa r a tu s, a s w ell a s t hehighest-paid engineers, d irectors , a rchi tect s , a r t i s t s, e t c. , receivedin their closed st ores bet ter goods in grea ter va riet y a nd a tch ea per pr ices . S im il a r s oci a l pr ice per ver si on s pr ev a il ed i n t h e clos ed r es ta ur a nt s: i n t he fa ct or y ca n teen , t h e w or ker ea r nin g120 to 200rublesa mon th rece ived for 80 kopecksa pl a t eof wa t e r yca bba ge s oup, a por tion of buckw hea t gr uel a nd a s lice of bla ckbr ea d of poor q ua lit y (r ye flour m ixed w it h soy bea n flour ) ; t hech ief en gi neer w it h h is z ,000 t o 10,000 r u bles a mon th pa id on er ouble a nd 20 kopecks for a m en u of t hr ee cour ses, w her ea s t heK rem lin people did n ot pa y even a s much a s 60 kopecks a d ayin t he K rem lin rest aura nt for a m en u of five courses plus freed ri nks . These peopl e r eceiv ed mon t hl y t ick et s for n oon and eve-nin g m ea ls (t he la tt er of t hree courses) for t he t ot al sum of 28rubles.F in a ll y, t h er e w a s t h e Tor gs in r ub le (Tor gs in mean s t r a de w it h

for eign t our is ts), w hich , h ow ever , w e d o n ot n eed t o con siin a smuch a s i t occupied a lmos t n o pl a ce i n t h ebudget of t h e b rw or kin g ma ss es of t he S ov iet U n ion . The pu rch a si ng powert he pa per ruble in t he h an ds of a foreigner w ho could buy inI ns na b s tor es (I ns na b mea n s pr ov is ion s for for eig ner s), w a spr oxim a tely eq uiva len t t o t he pu rch a sin g pow er of t he r ublt he h an ds of a m in or st a te a nd pa rt y fun ct ion ar y.With the a bolit ion of t he ca rd system a nd t he crea tion os t anda rd (un it ) domes t ic ruble, w i t h t he l iqu ida t iono f t he TorgS t or es , t he per iod of t he 1001 t ypes of r ub le comes t o a clos elea st in d om est ic cir cu la t iona nd t he un it r uble, m on ey inr ea l s en se of t he t erm, is a g a in r es tor ed t o it s old u se (or a bu s

2. The Iool Types of R ubl e an d t he F ai r y T al es ofthe 1001Nights.I t is sa id , a nd n ot w it hout jus tifica t ion t ha t st at ist ics lie.

m any m ore lies ca n be produced w hen depra ved fa nt asy isi n t he lea s t b ou nd w it hin cer ta in lim it s of s ta t is tica l r ud imThe period during w hich t here w a s n o price in dex, t he pew hen t here a s a n unt old n um ber of prices for one a nd t he sa rt icle, in short , t he period of t he 1001 t ypes of ruble, w asboom per iod of t he t eller s of fa iry t ales, w ho t old of t he licon dit ion s of t he Rus sia n t oilin g ma ss es . B eca use of t he 1t ypes of r ub le, ea ch r epor ter , w h o pu blis hed fa ir y t a les fr om1001 N ig ht s a bou t t he S oviet U n ion in t he for eig n pr ess, coa s sume t he a ir of b ein g ob ject ive . H e eit her t ook t he r ea l vof h is ow n privileged ruble for t he S oviet ruble a s suchdepending upon t h e poli ti ca l a ims he pu rsued , h e s impl y t ookone type of ruble a nd juggled it a s if it w ere a unit ruble.t his lit tle ga me t he ba ll w as ba tt ed ba ck a nd fort h bet weensoca l led F r iends of t h e Sov iet Un ion a nd it s Enem ies . The f orfig ur ed out a fa bulou sly h ig h st a nd ar d of livin g for t he R usw or ker , a nd t he la t ter a n im pos sibly l ow on e. Th e E nem y ofSov iet Un ion who in h is I nt ou ris t h ot el sp a id 20 rub les for a nda y m ea l a n d 35 r ubles on t he open st a te or kolkh oz m ar ket fkilo of but ter , sou gh t t o pr ove t ha t t he R us sia n w or ker w it ha vera ge w a ge of 140 r ubles a t t ha t t im e, could n ot even a fs ev en r ea l n oon da y mea l s a mon t h, l et a l on e f u lf il l h is ot h er n e

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

9/36

J u ne 1g36 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL P aThe Sov iet Fr iend r ecount ed , on t h e ot h er h a nd, t h e wel l-wornfa iry t ale of t he S oviet pa ra dise. H e a bst ra ct ed a w ay from t he1001 t ypes of r uble, if n ot w hen it ca me t o w a ges, t hen w hen itw a s a m a tt er of pr ices , a n d id en tified S oviet pr ices w it h t he com-mod it y pr ices of h is ow n ca pit a lis t cou nt ry , t her eb y pla cin g t heS oviet r ub le on t he g old s ta n da r d. F or t hes e s tor y t eller s, a n d t hema s ses who bel ie ved t hem , t h e a v er a gew a ge of 140 rubl es a mon t hw a s a ppr oxim at ely eq uiva len t t o t he pur ch asin g pow er of 290G erma n m ar ks , 2,800 C zech oslova kia n kr on en , or 155 Dut chguilders . Thus, the notorious MiinzenbergA.I.Z, i n 1933, t h e yea rof gr ea t est cr isis , publis hed ph ot ogr aph s d epict in g t he life off ema le s er va n t swho , i n a ddi ti on t o get t in g f ree l odgi ng a nd food ,ea rn ed 40 rubles a mon th or 85 ma rks. The A.Z.Z. na tura l lyfor got t o men t ion t h a t a t t ha t t im e i n t he open s ta t e s tor es (n eces -s it i es cou ld not be purcha sed in closed coopera t i vesby servan t s ) apa i r of shoes cos t 150 rubl es , a s impl e s il k d res s 300 rub les , a pa i rof s tockings 17rubles ,e t c.Th e cu rr en cy r eform, t he l iq uid a tion of t he Tor gs in r ub le a n dt h e cr ea t ion of a uni t domes ti cr ub lew i l l pu t a s t op t o a l l t h is ch ea pcl ap-t r ap. A s t anda rd izedcu r rency means s t anda rdpr ices. Wagesa n d pr ices w ill a g a in become t he mea s ur in g r od for t he s ta n da r dof livi ng of t he Rus sia n t oilin g ma ss es . Th e S ov iet r epor ter , t hepolit icia n a n d t he econ om is t w ill on ce mor e b e for ced b y t he cu r-r en cy r eform t o u se r ea l fig ur es a n d, w h et her h e likes it or n ot , t om a ke t he lea p fr om t he fa ir y t a le of t he 1001N ig ht s t o t he d oma inof s ta t is tics . E ZicRhodusj h i c sa l tal Here a re the pr ices,herea re t he r ea l w a ges of t he R us sia n w or ker !

3. Pr i ces an d t he Pu r ch asi n g Pozwer of t he Rubl e.I n t h e f ol low ing a n a ly s is of t h e s ta n da r dof l iv in g of t h e Rus si a n

worker s we sha l l u se on ly t h e of ficia l Sov iet f igur es on pr ices a ndw a ges in t he S oviet U nion . We sha ll compa re t hese prices a ndwa ges w i th t h e pr ices a nd wa ges i n C zechos lov a ki a .I n t he follow in g t a ble, w e lis t in t he first column t he pr ices inr ub les f or v a ri ou s food st uf fs per k ilo, wh ich wer e pa i d on J a nu a ryI , 1935by workers for def in it e ly set amoun t s in t he closed s t ores .We oug ht t o n ot e in cid en ta lly t ha t in t he cour se of t he la st t hr eeyea r s t hesep r ices had r isen abou t s ix fold.The f igur es i n t h e second column show t h e pr ices per k il o of t h erespect ive commodit ies w hich h ad t o be pa id on t he sa me da y,J a n ua r y I , 1935 for supplies in a ny desir ed q ua nt it y on t he opens ta t e m a rket . Th e fig ur es in t he t hir d column r epr es en t t h e n ewpr ices a ft er Oct ober r , 1935. I n t he la s t column we lis t t he pr icesper k il o f or t h e s amecommod it ies i n C z echos lov a ki a (i n k ronen ;t he C zech K rone is w ort h a bout 4.15 cent s U . S . a t present ex-change).

J a l z .I , 1935 Oct . I , 1935 InFoodstuffs per In In F ree t r a de Czechos lo-kilo closed open only vakiastores stores (in r ub les ) (in kr on en )(in rubles) R ye br ea d .54 1.10Wh it e b rea d .68 1.20R ye flou r 1.70 2.30White flour 2.10 2.55Buckwheat .42 2.30Far ina I.OO 5.10Rice, G ra de B 2.00 7.00Mea t, G ra de A 2.70 17.00Mea t, G ra de C 1.60 15.00Sausage 4.60 20.00G ra n. suga r 2.00 6.50

.95

6.00Cube suga r 2.20 7.50 4.90 6.30But ter 6.00 34.00 15.00 20.00

1.101.802.202.204.605.507.605.0012.004.50

.2.402.602.603.202.603.602.204.007.005.00

Wh at d oes t he a bove st a tist ica l compa ris on s how ? F rom t hef ir st t h ree columnso f f igur es we ca n see t h a t t h e l a st y ea r u sh er ed

i n a con sid er a ble impr ovemen t on ly in t his r es pect : t ha t t heea u cr a tic ca r d s ys tem h a s b een liq uid a ted a n d food s upplieonce more ava i la b le in any des ir ed quan t it y a l t hough the pr icemuch h igher t h an the p ri ces for p reviously cheaper , r a t ionedplies. Th e Ru ss ia n w or ker d oes n ot s ay a s d oes t he C ommcorrespondent, We a re living more chea ply, but , Webuy a l l g ood s i n t h e expen si ve s t or es a t h igher pr ices , e ven t ht h esep rices a r e l ower t h a n t h e ol d open ma rket pr ices . Therw e mus t ea r n mor e, w e mus t exceed t he la b or n orm, w or k mw e w a nt t o get enough t o ea t. Th is w a s a ls o t he mos t impd ri vi ng for ce of t h e soca l led S t a kh a novmovemen t .To a s cer ta in t he bu yin g pow er of t he S oviet r ub le on ly t htwo columns of f igur es a r e of i nt er es t t o u s: t h e pr esen t pr ice

a s er ies of t he mos t impor ta n t food s upplies in t he S oviet U(i n r ub les ) a nd t h e pr ices of t h e s ame f ood suppli es i n C zecv a ki a (i n k ronen ).The jm r chasi ~ tgpower of I r u bl e when buyi ng:B rea d Is equa l t o 2.50 KronenFlour ,, 1.45 B uckwhea t 1.20 Rice ,, .50 ~ ~Sugar ,, 1.30 But ter ,> 1.33 Meat ,9 1.40-1.80 As is w el l kn own , t he mos t impor ta n t R us sia n food ev eni s bread. O f t he above-l is t ed necess it i esbuckwhea t i s of ext r

g rea t impor ta n ce in t he bud get of t he R us sia n w or ker or peR ice, on t he ot her h a nd , is a lu xu ry food .Accor din g t o t his t a bu la t ion t he a ver a ge pu rch a sin g powa rub le for food st u ff s is e qu a l t o t h e pu rch a sin gpower of 1.6kronen (i .e ., 6-7-8 cent s U . S .).Th e s it ua t ion is much wor se w h en it comes t o mos t of t hemodi t ies for mass consumpt ion-clothes, shoes , household ar

et c. S h oes of s uch q ua lit y a s w ou ld cos t 50-60 k ron en in C zslova kia a re sold in Russia for 80-160 rubles. A pa ir of ud rawer s cos ts 17 rub les t h er e, t h e s ame qu a li ty a r t icle i n C zs lov a kia is pu rch a sa ble for Z5 kr on en . I n g en er a l, pr ices fodus t ri a l pr oduct s i n Rus sia , a s compa r ed w i th pr e-w a r pr icet w ice a s h ig h a s t he pr ices for a g ricu lt ur a l p roduct s, s o t ha tla t ion t o in du st ria l pr oduct s t he pu rch a sin g pow er of t he Srub le is a ppr ox ima t el y equ iv a len t t o t h e pu rch a s in g power o.90 kronen.I na smuch a s t he r en t pa id by t he R us sia n w or ker is on e hon e s ixt h of t ha t pa id b y t he C zech w or ker (d epen din g on whh e lives in a n ew or a n old bu ild in g), w e s ha ll com e most ct o t he r ea l s it ua t ion i f w e s et t he a v er a ge pu rch a sin g p ow er oSov iet r ub le a s e qu a l t o t h e pu rch a si ng power of 1.80 Czechvakian kronen,

4. T he Wages of t he Ru ssi an Wor ker .Th e a ver age w a ge of t he R us sia n w or ker a ccor din g t o t hficia l S oviet fig ur es is 170 r ub les . Th is cor res pon ds t o t hech a si ng power of 306 k ronen (170x 1. 80). Thus t h e a v er a geof t he Rus sia n w or ker is s till a b ou t 50~ 0 b elow t he a v er a geof t he C zech w or ker , w hich is 600 kr on en per m on th . A mow a g e of 170 r ubles , h ow ever , is s till 32% bel ow t he a v er a geof a fa ct ory w orker in Cza rist Russia . The averageWagfa ct or y w or ker in 1913 (C za r is t s ta t is tics a r e con fin ed s olet h is ca t egor y) w a s 22 gol d r ub les , i .e., 443. 52k r onen . At 306n en , w h ich a r e eq uiva len t t o 15 g old r ubles , t he pr es en t a vRussia n w a ge is a bout 6890 of t he a vera ge w a ge of t he Ruf a ct or y worker under C za r ism. The shor t er working d a y (t hviet worker works 7 hours a da y, 6 da ys a week; t he Cw orker w orked 12 hours a da y a nd more, ~ da ys a w eek)t r emendou spol it ica l , s oci a l a n d cu lt u ra l impor t a nce but pl apa r t i n compu tin g t he s ta n da r d o f liv in g.

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

10/36

P a ge 72 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL J uneTo be sur e, Russia n w a ges h ave r isen , a s com pa red w it h t he

y ea r s of cr is is , 1932-1933. I n 1934 t h e t h en a v er a ge w a g e of 149r ub les w a s eq uiv a len t t o t h e pu rch a sin g p ow er of t h e mea g er s umof I I pr e-w a r r ubles . I n 1932-1933t he r ea l w a ge of t he R ussia nw or ker h ad fa llen a s low a s or even low er t ha n t he a ver age w a g edur in g t h e hung er y ea r of 1921, du ri ng wh ich a ccordin g t o off icia lS ov iet s t a t is t ics t h e a ver a g ewa g e wa s equ a l t o 6. 95 pre-wa r rubl esor 31. 6%o f t h e pr e-w a r w a g e..Whoever mechan i ca l ly compare s the presen t l iv ing s t anda rd oft he Russia n w or ker w it h t he st anda rd of livin g dur in g t he yea r

1921 and d educes t h er ef rom a t r emendou s and s t ea d y ris e of r ea lin come is commit t in g a g rea t s t a t is t ica l a nd jm li t ica l b lund er . Hefor get s t h e fa ct t h a t bet w een 1921 a n d 1930 l ies t h e per iod of t h eL en in is t N ew E con om ic P olicy (t h e N .E .P .) a n d t ha t in 1924 t h epr e-w a r lev el of t h e a v er a gew a g e of 22 g old r ubles , w a s a t t a in ed .I n t he follow in g y ea r s, w a ges r ose st ea dily a n d fin a lly , in 1926,r ea ch ed t h e s um of 75 r ubles (n om in a l v a lu e), a n amount eq uiv a -len t t o 35 pr e-w a r r ubles ; t h a t is , t h ey w er e 60% ab ov e t h e a v er -a ge w a ge of 1913.I n or der t o sh ow t he dy nam ics of t he a ver a ge w a g e sca le w e r e-produce the f ol low ing s t a t i st i ca l t ab le : I n P e rcen t a ges

I n Rubles (G o1d) (1913 a s st an&r d)!!.i 1913 22,00 100...~ :1 1918 8.99 40.9. . 1919 8.7I 39.6;:$ ; 1920 7.I2 32.4, 1921 6.95 31.61922( rst ha lf) 8.22 37.41924 22.00 100.,. 1926-27 35.00 160.c. 1932-33 6.50 29.J a n . I , 1936 15.00 68.On t he sa me da y, on J a nua ry I , 1936, a S ta kha novist ea rned1,5000-2,000rubles or 136-182pre-wa r rubles, thus earning 560%

-830% of t h e a v er a ge w a g e of t h e fa ct or y w or ker s in 1913.To summa rize br iefly : t he pr esen t a ver a ge w a ge of a R uss ia nw orker is 32% below t he pre-w ar w a ge of a Russia n fa ct oryw or ker ; t h e a v er a ge w a g e of a S t a kh a nov is tis 6-8 t imes a b ov e t h e

a ver a ge w a ge of 1913 a n d 9 t o 12 t im es gr ea t er t ha n t he a ver a gew a ge of t he R us sia n w or kin g cla ss a s a w h ole. Accor din g t o offi-ci a l Sov ie t f igu re s over 12,000,000Russ ian workers rece ive a wageof 170 r u bles or les s. Amon g t h em t h er e a r e ext r emely low w a g esof 60-80 r ubles , es pecia lly for w omen d oin g u ns killed w or k. I nadd it i on , there a re over ha l f a mi ll ion inva l id s and pens ionerswho,a ccordin g t o t h e s t a t is t ics of t h e Commis sa r ia t sof L abor , r ecei veles s t h a n 40 r ub les , t h a t is , les s t h a n 72 k ron en a mon t h. We h a veleft ou t of ou r a n aly sis t he st a nda r d o f livin g of t he specia l r e-s er ve a rmy wh ich t h e Rus si a n s t a t e h a s cr ea t ed .At t h e b eg in nin g of t h e Rus sia n in du st r ia l r ev olu tion (t he r e-a liza t ion of S t alin s gr ea t P la n ) t he r a tio bet w een t he low est

a n d t he h igh est w a ges w a s 1 t o 6; t he r a tio bet w een t he d ole t o t heu nemploy edwh ich in t h e Mos cow z on e, for example, w a s 15 t o z orubles a mont h, a nd t he ma ximum w age w as I t o 10. The pa rt ym a ximum , i.e., t h e h ig hes t w a g e wh ich a pa r t y member cou ld r e-cei ve, r eg a r dles s of h is pos it ion i n t h e s t a t e appa r a t u s, i n i ndus t ry ,in t h e pa r ty or in t h e t r a de u nion s, amount ed t o 175 r ubles a t t h a tt im e. I n 1932 t he pa r t y m a ximum wa s a b olis hed . Tod a y, t h e r a t iob etwe en t hem in imumand the maximumwage i n t h e worki ng cla s sbet w een 60 r ubles a n d 1,800 r ubles is I t o 30; bet w een t he m ostpoor ly pa i d worker s (6o rubl es ) a nd t h e mos t h ig hl y pa i d g over -nmentof ficia l s, engineers, e tc. (8 ,000 to 20,000rubles per month)it is I t o 300 a nd grea ter .

5. Wh o i s th s B etz+ci ar y?A g lan ce a t t h e a bove d if fer en t ia t i on i n p res en t -d a y Rus sia

ciet y sh ow s w h o h a s becom e t he ben eficia r y b y t he n ew S tas ys t em . I n 1921Len in s a id t h e f ol low i ng abou t d r aw ing bou rspecial is ts into industrial construction:The bes t org an izer s and the mos t ou t s t anding speci a li st s cama de use of by t he st a te eit her in a bourgeois w ay a s hit(i.e., a t h ig h sa la r ies) or in a n ew pr olet a ria n w a y (i.e., by a

t em of p la nn ing and con t r ol fr om bel ow wh ich embr a ces t h e ecou nt ry a n d w h ich in evit a bly a n d by it self w ill s ubor din a td raw in t h e s pecia lis ts ). We now fin d ou rs elv es compelled ts or t t o t h e old bou rg eois met h od a n d a r e for ced t o a s sen t t o eor din a rily h igh s ala r ies in r et ur n for t he ser vices of t heoutstanding bourgeois special is ts .Th e S oviet gover nm en t h a s n ow given u p u tiliz in g i$ smen , pa r ty officia ls , en gin eer s a n d R ed officer s, i.e., a l l t h epor ter s a n d b en eficia r ies of t h e r 6,g ime, i n a pr olet a r ia n wand u t il izes them inste adto use Len ins expres sionin thebourgeois wa y , tha t i s, in ca pit a lis t fa s hion . Th e Rus sia nlet a r ia t h a s b een d epr iv ed of t h e cr ea t i ve r ig ht of p a rt icip a t idecis ions (control from below Lenin). I n I g32, t heu nion s w er e pr a ct ica lly liq uid a t ed b y t h eir mer ger w it h t h eple s Commissar ia tsof L a bor . Aft er t he a bolit ion of t he la st rof d emocr a t ic cen t r a lism the pa r t y h a s b een tu rned i nt o an apt us wh ich mer ely execu tes blin dly , d umbly a n d uncr it ica llcommands of t h e h ig hes t b od ies . The Sov iet s h a ve b een r encomplet el y impot en t . Mol ot ov r ecen t ly compla i ned of t h e eaucra t ic degenera t ion of t he Soviet s a nd posed a s t heirt a sk t h e ca r e of t h e c ult ur a l n eed s o f t h ema s ses , a n d t h ew or dt h is h ig hes t s t a t esmanof t h e Sov iet Un i on d epict mos t cl ea r lcomplete pol it i ca l d is fr anch isemen t of the Sov iet s ,I n mod er n S ov iet s ociet y a n ew cla s s is cr ys ta lliz in g ev ers ha rply : t h e cla s s of t h e b enef icia r i es of t h e New Cou rs e. B e tit a nd t h e p rolet a r ia tfor s ever a l mon th s nows t and s, a s t hcia l su ppor t of t he r ulin g st ra t um , a n ew la bor a r ist ocr a cy inf a ctor ie s, the S t akhanov is t s .Wh it h er i s S ov iet s oci et y head in g? The s t ru gg le of t h e wor

a g a in st t h e S t a khanov movemen t ma rks t h e s t a ges t h r ough wt he R uss ia n la bor m ovem en t w ill pa ss. Wh en t he officia lun ion pape r, Trud , i n i ts November 12, 1935 i ss ue, compl a it h e bit t er s tr ug gle of t h e Rus sia n w or ker a g a in st t h e S t a khist s a nd st at es t ha t one is reminded a t every st ep of t hes t ruggle , i t i s unconscious ly expres sing a g rea t soci a l and polt ru th . Wit h g rea t s peed t h e Rus sia n w or kin g cla s s is a g a inin g t hr ough a ll t hose st a ges for w hich t he West er n E ur oworki ng cl a ss r eq u ir ed d eca d es of b it t er exper ien ce and s t rin t he ninet ent h cent ury . I f a t t he beginnin g of t he indup la n , especi a ll y i n 1931-1932, t h e Rus si a n worker s sma shema ch in es , d es tr oy ed pa r ts in h ug e q ua n t it ies , cu t t h e b elt st h rew s ton es a n d s a nd in t o t h e ma ch in es u nt il t h e S ov iet g ovmen t i nt r oduced t he d ea t h pen a lt y for d amagi ng mach iner y ;d a y t h e met h od of in div id ua l t e rr or is b ein g u sed a g a in st t h ekhanov is t s, t h e new l a bor a r is t ocr a cy , t h e la b or l ieu t en an t sifa ct or ies t hen , a ccor din g t o r epor ts from va rious pa rt s ofS oviet U nion t her e a re a lso sign s of t he first begin nin gs ofbui ld in g of a n i nd ependen tMa rx ia n la b or movemen t i n t h e SU n ion . F rom t he u topia of m a ch in e-sma sh in g, f rom in divt er r or a g a in st t h e S t a khanov is t s, t he Rus si a n worker , who hafor got t en t h e m ig ht y exper ien ces of t h e R ev olu t ion of 1905especi a ll y of 1917, a nd who ha s pa s sed t h r ough d ecad es of Mia n s ch oolin g, w ill q uick ly fin d t h e w a y t o s cien ce, t o t h e fot ion of a n illeg a l s ocia lis t la b or pa r ty .PRAGUE,Apr i l 1936. E rich WOLLENBE

,

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

11/36

I g36... .,,,.,...,,,,,, ) . . .. . , , . . . . . . . . . .. . - . x . . - . .I ,, .. . .. - . .... .~- r:..;.(

THE NEW INTERNATIONALEngels Let t ers t o Kau t sky.Page

HE YEAR 1935m a rks t he for tiet h a nn iver sa ry of t he d ea t hof Fr iedrich E ngels, one of t he a uthors of the C ommunist

Ma nifes to. Th e ot her a u th or w a s K a rl Ma r x. Th is a n niver sa r y i sn ot a ble, amon g ot her t hin gs , for t he fa ct t ha t K a rl K a ut sky , h a v -i ng pa s sed h is ei gh t y-f ir st y ea r , h a s f in a ll y publ ished h is cor res -pon den ce w it h E n gels .1 To be s ur e, K a ut sky s ow n let t er s h a vebeen pr eser ved on ly in r ar e in st a nces, but a lm ost a ll of E ng els let ters ha ve come dow n t o us. The n ew let ters of course do n otr evea l a new Engel s. H i s enormous in t erna t iona l cor respondence ,a s much of it a s w a s pr eser ved , h a s been publis hed a lm os t in it sen t ir et y ; h is l if e h a s been sub ject ed t o ampl e s t udy. Never t hel es st his la t est book is a ver y va lua ble g ift t o t hos e w h o a re ser ious lyin ter es ted in t he polit ica l h is tor y of t he fin a l d eca d es of t he la s tcen t ur y, t h e cou rs e of dev el opmen t o f Ma rx ia n i dea s , t h e des t in yf t he w or kin g cla s s mov emen t a n d , fin a lly , i n t he per son a lit y ofEngels.Du ri ng Ma rxs l if et ime, Engel s, a s h e h imsel f pu t it , pl a yed sec-on d fid dle. B u t w it h h is co-w or ker s la st illn es s, a n d es pecia lly

r t he l a t t er s dea t h , Engel s became the d ir ect and uncha l lengedlea der of t he or ch est ra of w or ld socia lism for a per iod of t w elvey ea r s. B y t ha t t im eEn gels h a d lon g r id h im self of h is commer cia lt ies ; h e w a s en tir ely in depen den ts o fa r a s mon ey w a s con cer ned ,a n d h e w a s a b le t o d ev ot e h is en tir e t im e t o ed it in g a n d pu blis hin gt he lit era ry lega cy of Ma rx, to pursue his ow n scient ific re-s ea r ch es , a n d t o eng a ge i n a n enormou s cor r esponden ce w i th t h eL eft w in ger s of t he w or kin g cla w movemen t i n a l l cou nt ries . H iscor res pon den ce w it h K a ut sky d a tes t o t he clos in g per iod of E n -gels l ife (IS81-18g5).Enge ls per son a li ty , u ni que in it s pu rposef uln es s a nd luci di ty ,h a s been sub ject ed t o d iv er se i nt er pr et a t ion s in t h e en su in g yea r ssuch i s t h e l og ic of t h e s t ru gg le. Su ffi ce t o r eca l l t h a t dur in g t h ela st w a r, E ber t, S ch eid em an n a nd ot her s por tr ay ed E ng els a s aGerman pa t riot , wh i le t he pub li ci st so f t he En t en t ep ictu red h im asa P a n -Germa n is t. On t his , a s w ell a s ot her poin ts t he let t er s h elpt o s t rip away t endenciousencrust a t ions f rom Engel s per sona l it y .B ut t heir gis t d oes n ot lie h er e. Th e let ter s a re r em ar ka ble pr i-m ar ily beca us e t hey a re ch ar act er ist ic of t he m a n. On e ca n s ayw i th ou t fea r of exa gger a t ion t h a t ev er y n ew humandocumen t p er -t a in in g t o E n gels r ev ea ls h im t o h a ve b een fin er , n obl er a n d mor ef a scin a t in g t h a n we h a d pr ev iou sl y known .Th e s econ d pa r ty t o t he cor res pon den ce h a s a ls o a cla im t o ou r

int erest . I n t he ea rly E ight ies, K aut sky ca me t o t he fore in t her61eo f t h e of ficia l t h eor et ici a n of t h en Ge rman soci a l d emocr a cy ,w h ich i n it s ow n t ur n, b ecame t he lea d in g p a rt y in t he S econ d I n-t er na t ion al. As w a s t he c~ e w it h E ngels d ur in g Ma rxs lifet im e,s o Kaut sky , t oo, pl a yed a t bes t s econd f iddle wh il e Engel s 1i veda nd h e did h is pla y in g a t a g rea t r em ove fr om t he fir st violin ist .Aft er E ng els dea t h, t he a ut hor it y of t he d is ciple g rew r apid ly ,r ea ch in g it s z en it h d ur in g t he epoch of t he fir st R us sia n R evolu -t ion (1905). . . . I n h is commen t a r y t o t he cor respondence ,Kau t -s ky d es cr ib es h is a g it a t ion on h is fir st vis it t o t he h omes of Ma rxa n d En gels . A qua r ter of a cen tu ry la t er ,m a n y y ou ng Mar xis tsin pa rt icula r t he w rit er of t his a rt icl= x per ien ced t he ver y s am ea g it a t ion a s t h ey cl imbed t h e s t a irw a y of t h e modes t , t i dy hou se i nF r id en au, i n t h e subur bs of B e rl in , wher e Kaut sky l iv ed f or manyy ea r s. H e w a s t hen con sid er ed t he ou ts ta n din g a n d u nch a llen gedlea d er in t he I nt er na t ion a l, a t a n y r a te, u pon ques tion s of t heor y.H e w a s r efer red t o by oppon en ts a s t he P ope of Ma rxism .B ut K aut sky did not long m aint a in h is h igh a ut horit y. G rea t

even ts d ur in g t he la s t q ua r ter of t he cen tu ry d ea lt h im cr us hb low s . Du rin g a nd a f ter t h e w a r Kaut sky per son if ied i rr it a b ledeci si ven es s. Wha t h a d h it h er t o been su spect ed on ly by a f ew wn ow fully con fir med , n am ely , t ha t h is Ma rxism w a s es sen ta ca dem ic a nd con t empla t i ve i n ch a ra ct er . When Kaut sky w rE ng els fr om Vien na , d ur in g a s tr ike, in Apr il 188g, t h at . . .t hough ts a re m or e on t he st reet s t ha n a t t his w rit in g. t a ble242), these words seem ut terly unexpecteda nd a lmost fa lse comeven f rom t he pen of a young Kaut sky . Th r oughou t h is whol e lt h e w r it in g t a b le r ema in ed h is f iel d of oper a t ion . He l ooked us tr eet even ts a s h in dr a nces . H is is a cla im t o a popu la r izer o fdoct r in e, a n in t er pr et er of t h e pa s t, a d efender of t h e met hod .Yt his h e w a s, but n ever a m a n of a ct ion , n ever a r evolu tion is ta n h eir t o t he spir it of Ma rx a nd E ngels.Th e cor res pon den ce la y s b a re complet ely n ot on ly t he r a dd iffer en ce bet w een t he t w o per son a lit ies bu t a ls o s omet hin gt er ly u nexpect ed , for t he pr es en t g en er a tion a t a n y r a te-t het a gon ism t h a t exi st ed between Engel s a nd Kaut sky , wh ich f inl ed t o a b rea k in t h ei r per son a l r e la t ion s.The Genera l Engel s ins igh t int o mil it a r y ma t t er s , ba sed not on ly upon h ist en si ve speci a l know l edge but a l so upon h is g ener a l ca pa cit ya s yn th es iz ed a ppr a is a l o f con dit ion s a n d for ces , en a bled h impubli sh in the London Pal l-Mal l Gazette, dur ing the Franco-Prs ia n Wa r , r ema rka b lem il it a r y a r t icl es , a s cr ib ed by f ame t o onet h e h ighe st m il it a r y a u t hor it iesof t h e t ime (t h e Mes sr s. Au thi ti es , d oubt les s, sur veyed t h emsel ves i n t h e m ir ror not w i thcon sider a ble a st on ishmen t). I n h is in tim at e cir cle E ng els wdubbed w it h t he pla y fu l n ickn ameof t he G en er a l. Th is n ams ign ed t o a n umber of h is let ter s t o K a ut sky .E ngels w as not a n ora tor , or it ma y be tha t he never ha docca s ion t o b ecome on e. Tow a r ds or a tor s h e d is pla y ed ev eshadeo f d is r espect , holding , not w i t hou t founda t ion , t l ia t t heyclin e t o t ur n id ea s in to b a na lit ies . B u t K a ut sky r eca lls E n gelsa r em a rka ble con ver sa t ion a lis t, en dow ed w it h a n in exh a usmemor y , r ema rka b le w it , a n d pr eci si on of expr es si on . Un forn at ely , K a ut sky h im self is a m ediocr e os ber ver , a nd n o a rt ista ll: in h is ow n let ter s E ng els st a nds ou t in fin it ely m or e cleat h a n in t h e commen t a ri es a nd r ecol lect ion s of K au tsky .Engel s r el a ti on s w i th peopl e we re f or ei gn t o a l l s en t imen t aor illu sion s a n d permea t ed t h rou gh a n d t hr ou gh w it h a pen eti ng s impl icit y a nd, t h er efor e, pr of ound ly human . I n h is compa r ound t h e ev en in g t a b le, wher e r epr esen t a t iv esof v a ri ou s cot ries a nd con tin en ts g at her ed , a ll con tra st dis appea red a s ifma gi c between t h e pol ished r a di ca l duches s Sch a ck a nd t h e noa l l pol ished Russ ian Nih il is t , Vera Za su li ch . The r ich per sonaof t he h os t m a nifes ted it self in t his h a ppy ca pa cit y t o lift h imand other s above every th ing seconda ry and super fi ci a l,w i t hou tpa r tin g in t he lea s t eit her fr om h is view s or ev en h is h a bit s.One wou ld seek in v a in i n t h is r ev olut ion is t f or bohem ia n t rs o pr ev a len t among t h e r a di ca l i nt el lect u a ls . Engel s w a s i nt o

a n t of s loppin es s a n d n eg lig en ce b ot h i n sma ll a n d b ig t hin gs .loved preci sion of t hough t , preci sion in a ccoun t ing , exa c ti t udeexpr es sion a n d in pr in t. When a Germa n pu blis her a t t empt ea lt er h is s pellin g, E n gel s d ema nd ed b ack s ever a l g a ll ey s forvis ion . H e w rot e, I w ould n o s oon er a llow a ny bod y t o foist ,spelling on me tha n I w ould a w ife (p. 147). This ira te a ndt he s ame t ime jocos e s en ten ce a lmos t b rin gs E n gels b ack t oaga in !

7/28/2019 NI1936_03

12/36

P a ge 74 THE NEW INTERNATIONAL J u ne 1In a ddit ion t o his na t ive t ongue, over w hich his ma st ery w a s

t h a t of a v ir t uoso, Engel s w r ot e f reel y i n Engl ish, F r en ch , I t a li a n;h e r ea d Span ish a nd a lmos t a l l S la v ic a nd Sca nd in a vi a n la n gua ges .His knowledge of philosophy , economics , h istory , physics , ph ilolo-g y, a n d m il it a r y s ci en ce wou ld h a ve suf ficed f or a good ly doz en ofor din a ry a n d ext ra or din a ry pr ofes sor s. B u t ev en a pa r t fr om a llt h is h e pos ses sed h is ma in t r ea sur e: w inged t h ough t .I n J u n e 1884, w h en B er ns tein a n d K a ut sky , a ffect in g E n gels own l ikes and d is likes, compla ined t o h im of t he incipien t p ressureof a l l s or t s of er ud it e ph il is t in e, si n t h e pa r t y, Engel s s a id i n r e.ply , th e ma in t h in g is t o con ced e n ot hin g a n d, in a d dit ion , t o r e-m a in a bs olut ely ca lm (p.119). Wh ile t he G en er a l h im self d idnot a lw a ys r et a in a bsolut e c a lm i n t h e l it er a l s enseof t h e t ermon t h e con t ra r y, h e w a s won t on occa s ion t o boi l ov er ma gn it icen t -lyhe w a s a lw a y s a b le t o r is e q uick ly a b ov e t empor a ry m is ha ps ,a n d r es t or e t h e neces sa r y b a la n ce between h is t h ough t s a nd emo-t ion s. Th e elemen t a ls id e of h is per son a lit y w a s opt im ism com-bined w it h h umor t ow ar ds himself a nd t hose close t o him , a ndir on y t ow a rd s h is en em ies . I n h is opt im ism t h er ew a s n ot a mod -icum of smu gn es s-t he t erm it self r eb ou nd s f rom h is im a ge. Th esub soil s pr in gs of h is joy of liv in g h a d t heir s ou rce in a h a ppy a n dh a rmon iou s t emper amen t ,but t h e la t t er w a s permea t ed t h rougha n d t hr ou gh w it h t he kn ow led ge t ha t br ou gh t w it h it t he g rea t es tof joy s: t he joy of cr ea t ive per cept ion .Engel s opt imism ext ended equa l ly t o pol it i ca l ques t ions and t oper son a l a f fa ir s. Aft er e a ch a nd a n y def ea t h e wou ld immed ia t el yca st a bou t for t hos e con dit ion s w hich w er e pr epa rin g a n ew up-swin g, a n d a ft er ever y b low lif e d ea lt h im h e w a s a b le t o pu ll h im -self t oget her a nd look t o t he fut ur e. S uch h e r em ain ed t o h is dy -in g da y. Th er e w er e t im es w hen h e h ad t o r em ain o n h is ba ck forweek s i n or der t o get ov er t h e ef fect s of a r upt ur eh e suf fer ed f roma fa ll dur in g on e of t he gent rys r iding t o foxes. At t imes hisa ged eyes r ef used t o f un ct ion under a r t if ici a l l ig ht wh ich one ca n -n ot d o w it hout even d ur in g d ay tim e in t he L on don fogs . B ut E n-gel s n ev er r efer s t o h is a i lmen t s ex cept i n pa s si ng , i n or der t o ex-pl a in some del a y, a n d on ly i n or der t o pr om ise immed ia t el yt h er e-u