The Struggle Against Ιmperialist War and the Tasks of the Communists , July - August 1928

The StruggleAgainstImperialist Warand theTasks ofthe Communists

Resolution of theVI World Congress of theCommunist InternationalJuly-August. 1928

.The StruggleAgainstImperialist Warand theTasks ofthe Communists

Resolution of theVI World Congress of theCommunist Inters?LionelJuly*August- r$28

The StruggleAgainst Imperialist War

and the

Tasks of the Communists

RESOLUTION OF THE VI WORLD CONGRESSOF THE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL

JULY-AUGUST, 1928

WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS

P. O. Box 148, STA. D NEW YORK CITYMarch, 1932

The Struggle Against Imperialist War andthe Tasks of the Communists

i. THE MENACE OF IMPERIALIST WAR

1. Ten years after the world war, the big imperialist powerssolemnly conclude a pact for outlawing war: they talk about dis

armament; they seek, with the support of the leaders of internationalSocial Democracy, to delude the workers and toiling masses into thebeb'ef that the rule of monopoly capitalism assures peace to theworld.

The VI. World Congress of the Communist Internationalcondemns all these maneuvers as vile deception of the workingmasses. It recalls to the minds of the international proletariat, of thetoilers and oppressed peoples of the world, the experiences of recentyears, the small wars of plunder continuously waged against thecolonial peoples, and the events of last year: intervention against theChinese revolution, the sharpening conflict between the powers fora new division of China, the mobilization of troops in Poland, theimmediate menace to the independence of Lithuaniaand in con-

< nection therewith, the constantly growing menace of war againstthe Soviet Union by an imperialist bloc under the leadership of GreatBritain; it recalls all these facts as illustrating the criminal war policyof the imperialists, which may suddenly burst into a terrible world

I conflagration.The VI. World Congress has already analyzed the political

and economic driving forces of the coming war.The changes in the world situation since the V. World Congress

are characterized by a tremendous intensification of all the contradictions of capitalism, by the great economic and political strength-

3

e n i n g

o f

t h e

S o v i e t U n i o n ,

b y

t h e r a p i d

g r o w t h

o f t h e

n a t i o n a l r e v o

l u t i o n a r y

m o v e m e n t s

i n

t h e

c o l o n i e s

a n d

s e m i - c o l o n i a l

c o u n t r i e s ,

a b o v e a l l i n

C h i n a

a n d

b y t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n

o f

t h e

c l a s s

s t r u g g l e

b e t w e e n

t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e

a n d t h e

p r o l e t a r i a t

i n

t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s .

T h e

a n t a g o n i s m s

b e t w e e n t h e

i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s

i n

t h e

s t r u g g l e

f o r m a r k e t s a r e m o r e a n d m o r e

s h a r p l y e x p r e s s e d . B u t s t i l l m o r e

s t r o n g l y

t h a n t h e

a n t a g o n i s m s

b e t w e e n

t h e

i m p e r i a l i s t

p o w e r s i s

g r o w i n g

t h e p r i n c i p a l

a n t a g o n i s m

t h a t i s

d i v i d i n g

t h e w o r l d i n t o

t w o

c a m p s :

o n

t h e

o n e h a n d t h e

w h o l e o f

t h e

c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d ,

a n d

o n

t h e o t h e r

h a n d

t h e U . S . S . R . , a r o u n d w h i c h t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l


a n d t h e o p p r e s s e d

p e o p l e s o f t h e c o l o n i e s a r e

g r o u p i n g .

T h e

f i g h t

f o r t h e

d e s t r u c t i o n

o f

t h e

S o v i e t

s y s t e m

a n d t h e

C h i n e s e r e v o l u t i o n ,

f o r u n r e s t r i c t e d d o m i n a t i o n o v e r C h i n a

a n d

f o r

t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e e n o r m o u s

r e s e r v o i r s

o f r a w

m a t e r i a l s

a n d t h e

m a r k e t s

i n

t h e s e

c o u n t r i e s ,

i s a m a t t e r o f e x t r e m e i m p o r t a n c e f o r

i n t e r n a t i o n a l

c a p i t a l a n d

t h e b a s i s f o r t h e

i m m i n e n t

d a n g e r o f a

n e w

i m p e r i a l i s t w a r

t h a t i s

t h r e a t e n i n g

a t t h e

p r e s e n t

t i m e .

2 . T h e

c o m i n g

i m p e r i a l i s t w o r l d

w a r

w i l l

n o t

o n l y

b e a m e

c h a n i z e d w a r w i t h a t r e m e n d o u s u s e

o f

m a t e r i a l , b u t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

i t w i l l b e a w a r t h a t w i l l s e i z e

u p o n

v a s t

m i l l i o n s , i n d e e d

u p o n

t h e

m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e w a r r i n g c o u n t r i e s .

T h e b o u n d a r y

b e t w e e n

b a t t l e - f r o n t

a n d r e a r w i l l t e n d

m o r e

a n d

m o r e t o b e c o m e

o b l i t e r a t e d .

T h e

C o n g r e s s p o i n t s t o

t h e t r e m e n d o u s i n c r e a s e

i n

a r m a m e n t s ,

t o

t h e

g r e a t

i m p r o v e m e n t s

i n

t h e f i e l d o f w a r t e c h n i q u e ,

a n d t o

t h e

m e a s u r e s f o r t h e

m i l i t a r i z a t i o n o f

t h e m a s s e s a n d o f i n d u s t r y

t a k e n

i n

a l l

c a p i t a l i s t

c o u n t r i e s ;

t h e m i l i t a r i z a t i o n

i n

F a s c i s t

I t a l y ;

t h e

m i l i t a r y r e f o r m i n

F r a n c e ; t h e

r e a c t i o n a r y

a r m y

l a w s

i n

C z e c h o

s l o v a k i a ;

t h e

g r o w i n g m i l i t a r y

p r e p a r a t i o n s i n

P o l a n d

a n d

R o u m a n i a

u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e G e n e r a l

S t a f f s

o f

t h e

b i g


p o w e r s ;

t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s i n G e r m a n y f o r

t h e

r e - b u i l d i n g

o f t h e o l d

m i l i t a r i s m i n

n e w f o r m s ; t h e m a s s m i l i t a r i z a t i o n

i n

A m e r i c a ; t h e

m i l i t a r y

p r e p a r a t i o n s

i n

G r e a t

B r i t a i n ,

i n

t h e D o m i n i o n s a n d p a r

t i c u l a r l y i n

I n d i a , e t c .

T h e n a v a l

r i v a l r y b e t w e e n

A m e r i c a a n d

E n g l a n d

o p e n s u p a n e w w o r l d

a r m a m e n t r a c e .

A

m o s t

s i g n i f i c a n t

n e w f a c t o r

i n

t h e

p r e s e n t

m a s s

m i l i t a r i z a t i o n

i s i n t e n s i f i e d m i l i t a r i

z a t i o n o f

t h e

y o u t h

a n d t h a t t h i s

m i l i t a r i z a t i o n

a c t u a l l y , a n d i n s o m e

4

places even officially, extends to women (France, Poland, Bulgaria,etc.).

3. Side by side with the armaments and war preparations ofthe imperialists against foreign rivals, there proceeds an intensificationof reaction at home. Without a quiet hinterland it is impossiblefor the imperialists to wage war. The bourgeoisie is taking measuresto prevent the workers from putting up any kind of organized resistance to their war policy.

This covering of the rear by the bourgeoisie is served by suchmeasures as the Trade Union Laws in Great Britain and Norway,the arbitration system in Germany, the Mond plan for collaborationin the chemical enterprises, the industrial peace campaigns, thenon-political trade unions (Spencerism in Great Britain), the company unions in America, the creation of Fascist State unions inItaly and the law militarizing the trade unions in case of war inFrance. These are measures to assure the military suppression ofevery working class movement immediately war is declared.

On the other hand, the unofficial armies of the type of theStahlhelm in Germany, the Schutzkorps in Finland, theStrelzy in Poland, and the Heimwehr in Austria pursue theaim of strike-breaking and forcible suppression of the workersnotonly in time of war, but also in the period of war preparations. Inthis nfust be included also the military or semi-military womensorganizations established in a number of countries. The big imperialist powers support Fascism in South Eastern Europe and inPoland and Roumania as an important instrument in the preparationfor and conduct of the imperialist war especially against the U.S.S.R.

The persecution and measures of suppression against the Communist Parties are being systematically intensified and the CominternSections in all imperialist countries are immediately confronted withthe danger of being driven underground, into complete illegality.

4. In this situation of increased armaments and extensive preparations for imperialist wars, the bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeois pacifists seek, by means of hypocritical speeches, to deceive thetoiling masses as to the real facts of the situation, and under thecloak of pacifism, and peace policy, systematically strive to turnthem in favor of the struggle against the Soviet Union. The battle-

5

c r y

o f

t h e

c o m i n g

w a r

a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t

U n i o n w i l l b e : T h e w a r

f o r p e a c e !

D o w n w i t h B o l s h e v i s m ,

t h e

d e s t r o y e r

o f c i v i l i z a t i o n !

T h e

s p e e c h e s o f t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e a n d

t h e i r S o c i a l

D e m o c r a t i c

a n d

p e t t y

b o u r g e o i s

p a c i f i s t

a c c o m p l i c e s , a b o u t

d i s a r m a m e n t s e c u r i t y ,

a r b i t r a t i o n c o u r t s ,

o u t l a w r y

o f w a r

a s

a n i n s t r u m e n t

o f

n a t i o n a l

p o l i c y , e t c . , a r e e x a m p l e s

o f t h e w o r s t

h y p o c r i s y .

T h e L e a g u e

o f

N a t i o n s ,

f o u n d e d

n i n e y e a r s

a g o

a s

a n

i m p e

r i a l i s t

a l l i a n c e

i n

d e f e n s e o f

t h e

r o b b e r

p e a c e

o f V e r s a i l l e s , a n d

f o r

t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r l d , i s

i t s e l f

m o r e

a n d m o r e

b e c o m i n g

a d i r e c t i n s t r u m e n t

f o r

t h e p r e p a r a

t i o n a n d

c a r r y i n g t h r o u g h

o f w a r

a g a i n s t

t h e

S o v i e t U n i o n .

T h e

a l l i a n c e s a n d

p a c t s

c r e a t e d u n d e r t h e

p r o t e c t o r a t e

o f t h e

L e a g u e

o f

N a t i o n s

a r e

d i r e c t

m e a n s

f o r

c a m o u f l a g i n g

w a r

p r e p a r a t i o n s ,

a n d

a r e

t h e m s e l v e s i n s t r u m e n t s f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s

o f

w a r ,

e s p e c i a l l y

w a r

a g a i n s t

t h e


5 .

T h e

i m p e r i a l i s t s a r e

o n l y

a b l e t o

c a r r y

o n

t h e i r w a r

p o l i c y

t h a n k s t o t h e a c t i v e c o l l a b o r a t i o n

o f

i n t e r n a t i o n a l S o c i a l

D e m o c r a c y .

T h e

r e f o r m i s t s w e r e e x p o s e d a s s o c i a l

p a t r i o t s

a n d

c h a u v i n i s t s a l r e a d y

b y t h e w o r l d

w a r

o f 1 9 1 4

1 9 1 8 . S i n c e

t h e n ,

t h e

p o l i c y

o f S o c i a l

D e m o c r a c y

h a s r i p e n e d i n t o o p e n

s o c f S T I i p e r i a l i s m .

I n

a l l

d e c i s i v e

q u e s t i o n s ,

t h e

l e a d e r s o f S o c i a l D e m o c r a c y

a n d

o f

t h e A m s t e r d a m

t r a d e u n i o n s h a v e n o t

o n l y

b e c o m e

t h e d e f e n d e r s ,

b u t

t h e a c t i v e

c h a m p i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m .

T h e y

h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e i r

g r e a t e s t

a c t i v i t y i n

s u p p o r t

o f

t h e


p r e p a r a t i o n s a g a i n s t

t i l e

S o v i e t

U n i o n .

T h e

c o u r s e a d o p t e d

b y

t h e

r e f o r m i s t l e a d e r s

t o w a r d s d e e p

e n i n g

t h e s p l i t i n t h e c a m p o f t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t

b y

a s h a r p e n e d

o f f e n s i v e a g a i n s t t h e C o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d

b y

t h e i r a c t i v e s p l i t

t i n g

t a c t i c s

i n

t h e

t r a d e

u n i o n s a n d p r o l e t a r i a n m a s s

o r g a n i z a t i o n s

( G e r m a n y ,

G r e a t

B r i t a i n ) , s e r v e s , l i k e t h e i r

d e f e a t i s t

s t r a t e g y i n

b i g

e c o n o m i c

s t r u g g l e s ,

t o

s t r e n g t h e n

t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e , t o w e a k e n t h e

b a t t l e - p o s i t i o n s f o r t h e p r o l e t a r i a t ,

a n d ,

i n t h i s

w a y , t o

p r e p a r e

t h e

c o n d i t i o n s

i n

w h i c h t h e


m a y

e m b a r k o n a n e w


w a r . T h e p r o l e t a r i a t m u s t

c l o s e l y s t u d y

t h e

m e t h o d s b y

w h i c h

S o c i a l D e m o c r a c y

i s p r e p a r i n g i d e o l o g i c a l l y

f o r t h e w a r

a g a i n s t

t h e


S o m e o f t h e s e m e t h o d s a r e :

( a )

d i s s e m i n a t i o n

o f

l i e s

a b o u t R e d

i m p e r i a l i s m a n d R e d m i l i t a r i s m ,

a b o u t

t h e

i d e n t i t y

o f

F a s c i s m

a n d

B o l s h e v i s m ,

e t c . ; ( b )

t h e c l a i m t h a t t h e

6

dictatorship of the proletariat is the cause of war, or one of thecauses of war; (c) the hypocritical attitude that We are for thesupport of the Soviets, but against the Communists and the Comintern; (d) propagation of defeatism towards the Soviet Governmentunder a Left mask. The war danger during the last year hasprovided several examples of these methods; especially in the workof the German Social Democrats. These examples were no lessclearly expressed by the allies of Social Democracy, the Trotskyists,e. g. in their phrases about Thermidor, kulakization, etc.

The so-called Left leaders of Social Democracy were characterized by the VIII. Plenum as the most dangerous enemies in thelabor movement. This characterization has been completely confirmed by their treacherous policy during the past year and by theirbehavior at the Brussels Congress of the II. International. It isprecisely they who, under Left phrases, seek to save both thebourgeoisie and Right reformist leaders in critical situations, by describing the Soviet regime and the Communist world movement asenemies of the proletarian united front, as enemies of worldpeace, as allies of reaction, in order thereby to mislead and confuse the workers and to assist the bourgeoisie in carrying out itswar policy.

6. Events of recent years have shown that the main front inthe policy of all imperialist powers is directed more and more openlyagainst the Soviet Union and the Chinese revolution. But in viewof the sharpening antagonisms between the imperialist powers themselves, a clash between the imperialist groups of powers in the struggle for world supremacy is possible even before this war breaks out.

Just as the world war of 19141918 led directly to the victorious proletarian revolution in the former Tsarist Empire, to thedevelopment of the liberation movement in the colonies and to uprisings and revolutionary mass movements among the Europeanproletariat, so that a new war will rouse a mighty revolutionarymovement that will embrace the industrial workers of America, thebroad masses of peasants in agrarian countries and the millions ofoppressed peoples of the colonies. However, the crisis of capitalismthe sharpest expression of which is warmay give rise to broadrevolutionary mass movements, even before the open conflict breaksout. In such a movement, as in the daily struggles, the Communists

7

m u s t s t r i v e t o

r a l l y ,

o r g a n i z e

a n d

l e a d t h e m a s s e s ,

w i t h t h e

a i m

o f

f i g h t i n g , b y m e a n s o f

r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n , f o r t h e

c o n q u e s t

o f

p o w e r , f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w

o f t h e


a n d t h e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t

o f a

p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p .

E v e n

i f

t h e

C o m m u n i s t s

i n

t h e

E u r o p e a n

c o u n t r i e s

d o

n o t

s u c

c e e d

i n

s h a r p e n i n g

t h e

d a i l y s t r u g g l e

f o r t h e

m o s t

u r g e n t

d e m a n d s

o f t h e

w o r k e r s t o

t h e

p o i n t o f a n o p e n

s t r u g g l e

f o r

p o w e r ,

f o r t h e

o v e r t h r o w

o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e

a n d

o n l y

t h r o u g h

t h e

o v e r

t h r o w o f t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e i n

t h e

m o s t i m p o r t a n t

c o u n t r i e s

c a n

i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s

b e p r e v e n t e d

n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e c o n s t a n t c o m b i n i n g

o f

t h i s s t r u g g l e

w i t h

t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m w i l l

c o n s i d e r a b l y

a u g m e n t

t h e

a c t i v i t y

o f

t h e

w o r k e r s , a n d w i l l

m a k e

i t

c o n s i d e r a b l y

m o r e

d i f f i c u l t f o r

t h e


t o

p r e p a r e

f o r o r e m b a r k o n w a r .

I t

i s c l e a r t h a t a

p o s t p o n e m e n t

o f t h e


w a r

m e a s u r e s

b y

t h e

m a s s a c t i o n s o f t h e


w i l l

c r e a t e c o n d i t i o n s

t h a t

w i l l

c o n

s i d e r a b l y

f a c i l i t a t e

t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n

o f

t h i s

w a r

i n t o c i v i l

w a r

a n d

t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s .

I n

a n y

c a s e , t h e g r o w i n g

l e f t w a r d

d e v e l o p m e n t

a m o n g

t h e

p r o l e t a r i a t a n d

t h e

t o i l i n g

m a s s e s

g e n e r a l l y

a n d t h e

p o w e r f u l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e

n a t i o n a l r e v o l u t i o n

a r y

m o v e m e n t

i n

t h e c o l o n i a l a n d s e m i - c o l o n i a l

c o u n t r i e s ,

p r o v i d e s

a

b r o a d f o u n d a t i o n

f o r t h e

g r o w i n g

i n f l u e n c e

o f t h e

C o m i n t e r n

a n d

f o r t h e i n t e n s i f i e d

s t r u g g l e

o f t h e

C o m m u n i s t s a g a i n s t

t h e

w h o l e

p o l i c y

o f t h e w o r l d


a

p o l i c y w h i c h

l e a d s

t o i n c r e a s e d

e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n

a s

w e l l

a s

t o t h e

g r e a t e s t s h a r p e n i n g

o f

w a r

c o n f l i c t s .

I I . A T T I T U D E O F T H E P R O L E T A R I A T

T O W A R D S

W A R

7 .

W a r i s i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m c a p i t a l i s m .

T h e

s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t

w a r ,

a b o v e a l l , c a l l s

f o r

a c l e a r

i n s i g h t

i n t o i t s n a t u r e , c a u s e s , e t c . A s

a g a i n s t

t h e r e a c t i o n a r y

e x c u s e

t h a t

w a r

i s

a n a t u r a l

p h e n o m e n o n ,

a n d

t h e

n o l e s s r e a c t i o n a r y

u t o p i a n s c h e m e s

f o r

i t s a b o l i t i o n

b y

m e a n s

o f

p h r a s e s

o r

p a c t s ,

t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y


a d v a n c e s t h e

r a t i o n a l

t h e o r y

o f

M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a s t h e o n l y

s c i e n t i f i c b a s i s f o r a

r e a l

s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t

w a r .

T h e c a u s e

o f w a r a s a n h i s t o r i c p h e n o m e n o n

i s n o t t h e

e v i l

n a t u r e o f

m a n k i n d ,

n o t

t h e

b a d p o l i c i e s

o f

g o v e r n m e n t s ,

b u t

t h e

8

division of society into classes, into exploiters and exploited. Capitalism is the cause of the wars in modern history. These wars are notexceptional phenomena; they do not contradict the principles of capitalism, of private ownership in the means of production, of competition and exploitation, but are rather their direct consequence.

Imperialism, the monopolist stage of capitalism, sharpens allthe contradictions of capitalism to such an extent that peace becomes but a breathing spell for new wars. The surface of theearth and its economic wealth (with the exception of that part thatis ruled by the proletarian dictatorship) is almost completely monopolized by a few big powers. The uneven economic and politicaldevelopment of the various countries, however, again and againcreates the necessity for a new division of the world. In the lastanalysis, this cannot take place except through wars waged by thedecisive imperialist countries against one another. At the same time,however, the exploitation of the hundreds of millions of proletariansand colonial slaves can be maintained only by bloody wars of oppression.

War is inseparable from capitalism. From this it follows thatthe abolition of war is possible only through the abolition of capitalism, i. e. through the overthrow of the bourgeois class of exploiters, through the proletarian dictatorship, the building of Socialism,and the elimination of classes. All other theories and proposals,however realistic they may claim to be, are nothing but a deception calculated to perpetuate exploitation and war.

For this reason, Leninism combats all pacifist theories concerning the abolition of war and points out to the masses of the workersand to all the exploited people the only way leading to this goal: theoverthrow of capitalism.

8. But the overthrow of capitalism is impossible without force,without armed uprising and proletarian wars against the bourgeoisie.In the present epoch of imperialist wars and world revolution, asLenin has stated, proletarian civil wars against the bourgeoisie, warsof the proletarian dictatorship against bourgeois states and againstworld capitalism, and national revolutionary wars of the oppressedpeoples against imperialism, are inevitable and revolutionary. Therefore, the revolutionary proletariat, precisely because it is fighting for

9

S o c i a l i s m

a n d

f o r

t h e

a b o l i t i o n o f

w a r ,

c a n n o t b e a g a i n s t

e v e r y

w a r .

E v e r y w a r

i s b u t

a

c o n t i n u a t i o n

o f

t h e

p o l i t i c s

o f c e r t a i n c l a s s e s

b y

o t h e r m e a n s . T h e p r o l e t a r i a t

t h e r e f o r e , m u s t

c a r e f u l l y

s t u d y

t h e

h i s t o r i c a l

a n d p o l i t i c a l

c l a s s

m e a n i n g

o f e a c h g i v e n w a r a n d

g i v e

s p e c i a l

s t u d y

t o

t h e r o l e o f t h e

r u l i n g c l a s s e s i n

a l l t h e

c o u n t r i e s

p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n

t h e w a r

f r o m t h e v i e w p o i n t

o f

t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o

l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n .

I n

t h e

p r e s e n t

e p o c h

t h e

f o l l o w i n g t h r e e

t y p e s

o f w a r s

a r e

p o s s i b l e :

f i r s t , w a r s

b e t w e e n


s t a t e s ;

s e c o n d ,

w a r s

o f

i m

p e r i a l i s t

c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n

a g a i n s t

t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

r e v o l u t i o n , o r

a g a i n s t c o u n t r i e s

i n

w h i c h

S o c i a l i s m i s

b e i n g

b u i l t ;

t h i r d ,

n a t i o n a l

r e v o l u t i o n a r y

w a r s ,

e s p e c i a l l y

o f c o l o n i a l

c o u n t r i e s a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l

i s m , w h i c h a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h

w a r s

o f i m p e r i a l i s t

s u p p r e s s i o n .

I n

t h e

f i r s t c a s e , o f w h i c h t h e w o r l d w a r

o f

1 9 1 4

1 9 1 8

i s

a

c l a s s i c a l e x a m p l e , b o t h s i d e s w a g e

a

r e a c t i o n a r y i m p e r i a l i s t w a r .

I n

t h e s e c o n d c a s e , e .

g . ,

t h e

w a r s

o f i n t e r v e n t i o n

a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t

U n i o n ( 1 9 1 8

1 9 2 1 ) , o n l y

t h e

i m p e r i a l i s t s

w a g e r e a c t i o n a r y

w a r ;

t h e p r o l e t a r i a n d i c t a t o r s h i p ,

i n s u c h

a

c a s e ,

w a g e s

a


w a r f o r S o c i a l i s m

i n

t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d

p r o l e t a r i a t .

I n

t h e t h i r d

c a s e ,

e . g . t h e w a r o f i m p e r i a l i s m a g a i n s t

t h e

C h i n e s e

r e v o

l u t i o n ,

a g a i n i t i s o n l y

t h e i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s t h a t

w a g e

a r e a c t i o n

a r y

r o b b e r w a r . T h e w a r

o f

a n o p p r e s s e d n a t i o n

a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l

i s m ,

h o w e v e r , i s n o t o n l y j u s t , b u t

r e v o l u t i o n a r y ;

i t i s ,

i n p r e s e n t

t i m e s ,

a

p a r t o f t h e

p r o l e t a r i a n

w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n .

T h i s M a r x i a n

a n a l y s i s

o f

w a r s

s e r v e s a s

t h e

b a s i s u p o n

w h i c h

t h e


d e t e r m i n e s

i t s

p o s i t i o n ,

i n

p r i n c i p l e

a n d

i n

t a c t i c s ,

t o w a r d s t h e s e

v a r i o u s

t y p e s

o f w a r s . T h e p r o l e t a r i a t

f i g h t s a g a i n s t

t h e w a r s

b e t w e e n


s t a t e s

w i t h a

p r o g r a m m e

o f d e f e a t i s m

a n d t h e

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e

w a r i n t o a

c i v i l

w a r

a g a i n s t

t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e .

T h e

s a m e p o s i t i o n ,

i n

p r i n c i p l e , i s t a k e n

b y

t h e p r o l e

t a r i a t i n


c o u n t r i e s

i n

t h e e v e n t o f a w a r o f

o p p r e s s o n

w a g e d b y

t h e

i m p e r i a l i s t s a g a i n s t n a t i o n a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y

m o v e m e n t s ,

a b o v e

a l l

a g a i n s t

t h e

c o l o n i a l

p e o p l e s

a n d i n

t h e e v e n t o f

i m p e r i a l i s m

w a g i n g

a n

o p e n

c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y

w a r a g a i n s t

t h e l a n d

o f t h e


d i c t a t o r s h i p . T h e p r o l e t a r i a t

h o w e v e r ,

s u p p o r t s

a n d c o n

d u c t s

n a t i o n a l


w a r s a n d s o c i a l i s t w a r s a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l

i s m ,

a n d

o r g a n i z e s f o r t h e

d e f e n s e o f n a t i o n a l

r e v o l u t i o n s a n d o f

t h e

c o u n t r i e s

o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n '

d i c t a t o r s h i p .

1 0

9. As long as the proletariat has not yet established its dictatorship, it must determine its tactics in regard to wars waged by its country in accordance with the results of a thorough examination of theconcrete aspect of the war at each separate stage. National warsmay be turned into imperialist wars, and vice versa.

Mere formal tokens, e. g. offensive or defensive war, cannotserve as a substitute for a concrete test of the character of a givenwar. In an imperialist war like that of 1914 this criterion is generally senseless, and serves only to deceive the masses. However, inwars waged by imperialists against revolutionary powers, it is necessary to view this criterion not in the strategical, but rather in thehistorico-political sense. The question primarily, is not, who is theaggressor, who is waging an unjust war, but, who represents reaction,the counter-revolution and exploitation; who is on the imperialistside, and against the national proletarian revolution? An exampleof the wrong application of the argument of the offensive war wasfurnished by the French Socialists in 1925 when they supported theFrench war against the insurgents of Morocco, because the latterwas supposed to have started first. A similar attitude was takenby the labor imperialists in England in regard to intervention inChina in 1927 (protection of British life and property).

10. The attitude in principle to a given war determines alsothe attitude to the question of war. The proletariat has no countryuntil it has captured political power and has taken the means of production from the exploiters. The expression national defense isnothing but a catchword, and mostly a petty-bourgeois catchwordto justify war. In wars staged by the proletariat itself, or by aproletarian State against imperialism, the proletariat defends itssocialist country. In national-revolutionary wars against imperialism,the proletariat defends its country against imperialism. But in imperialist wars the proletariat absolutely rejects national defense asbeing defense of exploitation and treachery to the cause of Socialism.

A. THE PROLETARIAT FIGHTS AGAINST IMPERIALIST WARS

1. The Fight Against Imperialist War Before Its Outbreak.11. The fight the Communists wage against imperialist war

differs essentially from the fight against war waged by pacifists of11

v a r i o u s s h a d e s .

T h e

C o m m u n i s t s

d o )

n o t

r e g a r d

t h e s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t

s u c h

a w a r

a s b e i n g

s e p a r a t e

f r o m

t h e

c l a s s

s t r u g g l e .

O n

t h e

c o n t r a r y ,

t h e y r e g a r d

i t a s

p a r t

o f t h e

g e n e r a l


s t r u g

g l e f o r

t h e

o v e r t h r o w o f

t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e y k n o w t h a t

i m p e r i a l

i s t w a r s a r e i n e v i t a b l e

a s l o n g

a s

t h e


r e m a i n

i n

p o w e r .

T h i s p o s t u l a t e i s s o m e t i m e s

i n t e r p r e t e d

t o m e a n t h a t i t

i s u s e l e s s

t o

c a r r y o n

a

s p e c i f i c

s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s t

w a r .

I n d e e d ,

t h e

S o c i a l D e m o c r a t s d e l i b e r a t e l y c h a r g e

t h e C o m m u n i s t s

w i t h e n c o u r

a g i n g

i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s

i n

o r d e r

t o a c c e l e r a t e t h e a d v e n t o f R e v o l u

t i o n . W h i l e t h e f i r s t - m e n t i o n e d a t t i t u d e

i s

a

m i s t a k e n

o n e ,

t h e

s e c o n d i s a

s i l l y c a l u m n y .

A l t h o u g h

c o n v i n c e d

t h a t

w a r i s i n e v i t a b l e u n d e r t h e r u l e o f t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e ,

t h e C o m m u n i s t s ,

i n

t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e m a s s e s o f

t h e

w o r k e r s

a n d o f a l l t h e

t o i l e r s

w h o b e a r t h e b r u n t o f t h e s a c r i f i c e

e n t a i l e d

b y

w a r ,

w a g e

a p e r s i s t e n t f i g h t

a g a i n s t

i m p e r i a l i s t w a r a n d

s t r i v e t o

p r e v e n t

i m p e r i a l i s t w a r b y

p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n .

T h e y

s t r i v e

t o

r a l l y

t h e

m a s s e s a r o u n d

t h e i r s t a n d a r d

i n

t h i s

s t r u g g l e ,

a n d

i f

u n a b l e t o

p r e v e n t

t h e o u t b r e a k o f

w a r ,

t h e y

s t r i v e t o t r a n s f o r m

i t

i n t o c i v i l

w a r

f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w

o f t h e


1 2 .

T h e

f i r s t d u t y o f C o m m u n i s t s

i n

t h e

f i g h t a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l

i s t w a r i s

t o t e a r d o w n

t h e

s c r e e n b y

w h i c h t h e


c o n c e a l

t h e i r

p r e p a r a t i o n s

f o r w a r a n d

t h e

r e a l

s t a t e

o f

a f f a i r s

f r o m

t h e

m a s s e s

o f

t h e w o r k e r s .

T h i s d u t y

i m p l i e s

a b o v e a l l a d e t e r m i n e d

p o l i t i c a l

a n d

i d e o l o g i c a l

f i g h t

a g a i n s t

p a c i f i s m . I n

t h i s

f i g h t

t h e C o m

m u n i s t s m u s t

t a k e

c a r e f u l n o t e o f t h e v a r i o u s s h a d e s

o f p a c i f i s m .

T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t

o f

t h e s e

s h a d e s

a r e :

( a )

O f f i c i a l

p a c i f i s m , b e h i n d

w h i c h

t h e c a p i t a l i s t

g o v e r n m e n t s

m a s k t h e i r

m a n e u v e r s a g a i n s t

e a c h o t h e r a n d a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t

U n i o n ( L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s ,

L o c a r n o , D i s a r m a m e n t

C o n f e r e n c e s ,

o u t l a w r y

o f

w a r ,

e t c . )

( b )

T h e p a c i f i s m o f t h e S e c o n d

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

( H i l f e r d i n g ,

P a u l

B o n c o u r ,

M a c D o n a l d ) ,

w h i c h i s b u t a

b r a n c h

o f o f f i c i a l

g o v

e r n m e n t p a c i f i s m ,

e x c e p t

t h a t i t i s e m b e l l i s h e d w i t h

S o c i a l i s t i c

a n d

e v e n

M a r x i a n

p h r a s e s .

( c ) R a d i c a l

o r


p a c i f i s m ,

a d v o c a t e d

b y

c e r t a i n

L e f t S o c i a l i s t s w h o

a d m i t t h e

d a n g e r o f

w a r ,

b u t

s t r i v e

t o c o m b a t

t h i s d a n g e r

f r e q u e n t l y

b y

m e a n i n g l e s s p h r a s e s

a g a i n s t w a r . T h e s e

1 2

pacifists frequently lay excessive stress upon the destructiveness ofmodern weapons of war in order, either to prove that protractedwars are impossible, or else, to demonstrate that it is impossibleto transform imperialist war into civil war.

(d) Semi-religious pacifism, which has its basis in the churchmovement.

In the struggle against pacifism, however, the Communists mustdraw a distinction between the anti-war sentiments of large massesof the toilers, who are ready to fight against war, but do not asyet understand that the revolutionary way is the only proper way ofcombating war, and therefore, become a prey to pacifist swindlers,and the swindlers themselves, the pacifists of various shades. Themasses must be patiently enlightened as to their error and urged tojoin the revolutionary united front in the struggle against war. Butthe pacifist swindlers must be relentlessly exp>osed and combated.

(e) A special role is played by so-called co-operative pacifism.This type of pacifism is to be observed chiefly in the InternationalCooperative Alliance and International Womens Cooperative Guildin London. To these must be added Left bourgeois organizations likethe Womens International League for Peace and Freedom.

13. The closer and more imminent the danger of war becomes,the more dangerous becomes so-called radical pacifism. This typeof pacifism is to be observed today chiefly among the Left-wingSocial Democrats in Germany, the I.L.P. in England, and the Social-Democrats in the smaller countries like Holland, Norway, etc. Thecatchwords and phrases advocated by these pacifists like No morewar, Boycott War, General strike against the declaration ofwar, Military strike, etc., are taken up in the utterances of thereformist leaders for the purpjose of deceiving the masses (e. g. thephrases about the general strike uttered by the Amsterdam International). In his instructions to the Russian Trade Union Delegation to the Hague Peace Conference in December, 1922, Leninproperly laid special stress upx>n this typ>e of pacifism. His warning holds good to this day, particularly when we bear in mind thateven in the ranks of the Communist Parties there are many memberswho, unconsciously p>erha{>s, betray inclinations in this direction.

13

I t

i s

t h e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r y :

( a ) T o

c o m b a t a l l h i g h - s o u n d i n g

p h r a s e s

l i k e

w e

s h a l l

n e v e r

p e r m i t

a n o t h e r w a r ,

n o m o r e

w a r ,

e t c .

T h e

C o m m u n i s t s

m u s t

n o t b e

c o n t e n t m e r e l y t o

c o r r e c t

t h e s e s l o g a n s t h e o r e t i c a l l y ,

b u t

m u s t w a g e a n a c t i v e

f i g h t a g a i n s t t h i s k i n d o f p r o p a g a n d a

b y

u n

m a s k i n g

t h o s e w h o

c o n d u c t

i t ,

a n d

d e n o u n c e t h i s p h r a s e

m o n g e r i n g

a s

a s c r e e n

t o c o n c e a l t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s

b e i n g

m a d e

f o r

w a r .

T h e

s a m e

t h i n g a p p l i e s i n

m a n y

c a s e s

t o d a y

o f

t h e

s l o g a n : W a r

a g a i n s t

w a r t h a t

i s a d v a n c e d

b y

t h e

S o c i a l

D e m o c r a t s a s

a h y p o c r i t i c a l

m e a n s o f

r a i s i n g

u n f o u n d e d e x p e c t a t i o n s

a m o n g

t h e m a s s e s .

( b ) T o c o m b a t t h e

p r o p o s a l s

a d v a n c e d

b y

t h e r a d i c a l

p a c i

f i s t s

f o r

p r e v e n t i n g

w a r .

C o m m u n i s t s

c a n n o t c o n t e n t

t h e m s e l v e s

m e r e l y

w i t h

e x p o s i n g t h e s e p e o p l e

a

p h r a s e m o n g e r s ,

w h o

w o u l d

d o

n o t h i n g t o

c a r r y

t h e i r r a d i c a l p r o p o s a l s i n t o e f f e c t

( g e n e r a l

s t r i k e ,

m i l i t a r y

s t r i k e ) ,

b u t t h e y m u s t a l s o p o i n t o u t t o t h e m a s s e s t h a t ,

a s

f r a m e d

b y t h e s e p a c i f i s t s , t h e s e s l o g a n s

a r e

w r o n g

a n d

c h i l d i s h . T h e y

m u s t

e x p l a i n t o t h e

m a s s e s t h e r e a l

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

u n d e r w h i c h

w a r

b r e a k s o u t ,

t h e

i m p o s s i b i l i t y

o f

l i m i t i n g

t h e

s t r u g g l e

t o c e r t a i n f i x e d

m e t h o d s a n d t h e n e e d

f o r

b r i n g i n g

i n t o

a c t i o n

a l l f o r m s o f t h e

c l a s s s t r u g g l e .

( c )

E n e r g e t i c a l l y t o c o m b a t a n d o p e n l y c r i t i c i z e a l l f r i v o l o u s

n e s s i n

t h e

r a n k s

o f

t h e

C o m m u n i s t

P a r t i e s

c o n c e r n i n g

t h e

q u e s t i o n

o f

c o m b a t i n g

w a r .

T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y

n e c e s s a r y

a t

t h e p r e s e n t

t i m e ,

i n

v i e w o f t h e

m i s t a k e s c o n t a i n e d

i n

p r e s s a r t i c l e s a n d p a r l i a m e n t a r y

s p e e c h e s . U n d e r n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s

s h o u l d

s u c h

m i s t a k e s

b e

a l l o w e d

t o

p a s s

w i t h o u t c r i t i c i s m .

1 4 .

I n

a d d i t i o n t o t h e t a s k o f

c o m b a t i n g

p a c i f i s m a n d f r i v o l o u s

r e v o l u t i o n a r y p h r a s e m o n g e r i n g i n

t h e



w a r ,

t h e

C o m m u n i s t s a r e

f a c e d

w i t h a

n u m b e r o f o t h e r f u n d a

m e n t a l

a g i t a t i o n a l

a n d

e d u c a t i o n a l t a s k s . T h e s e a r e :

( a )

T o e x p o s e

i n

p r o p e r

t i m e ,

t h e s o p h i s t r i e s

a n d

c a t c h - w o r d s

b y

w h i c h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d

S o c i a l - D e m o c r a c y

t r y

t o

j u s t i f y

w a r .

T h e p r i n c i p a l

s l o g a n

a d v a n c e d

b y

t h e l a t t e r , e v e n

i n

t h e

p r e s e n t

d a y ,

i s t h e

s l o g a n o f

n a t i o n a l

d e f e n s e .

T h e w a r

a g a i n s t C h i n a i n

1 9 2 7

r e v e a l e d

t h e t r u e

s i g n i f i c a n c e

o f

s l o g a n s

l i k e

P r o t e c t i o n

o f

l i f e

a n d

p r o p e r t y , P r o t e c t i o n o f t r a d e ,

P r o t e c t i o n o f t h e f l a g ,

e t c .

I n

t h e l a s t i m p e r i a l i s t w a r , t h e A l l i e s m a d e

u s e o f t h e s l o g a n

1 4

Fight against Prussian militarism, while the Central Powers usedthe slogan "Fight against Tsarism; both sides using the respectiveslogans to mobilize the masses for the war. In a future war betweenItaly and France, or Yugo-Slavia, the same purpose will be servedby the slogan Fight against reactionary Fascism, for the bourgeoisie in the latter countries will take advantage of the anti-Fascistsentiments of the masses of the people to justify imperialist war. Onthe other hand, Fascism justifies its imperialist war policies by thecatchwords overpopulation, natural necessity for expansion, etc.The Communist Parties have hitherto paid insufficient attention tothe duty of refuting these sophistries.

(b) It is essential again and again, and as concretely as possible, to explain to the masses what the situation was at the time ofthe last war, and why that situation was inevitable.

It is particularly necessary to explain to the masses the significance of the fact that the question of national defense* is becomingan inevitable question, which the enormous majority of the toilerswill inevitably decide in favor of their own bourgeoisie. (Lenin).

In view of recent experiences of war, we must explain thaton the morrow of the declaration of war, such an enomous numberof theoretical and social questions will arise, that the overwhelmingmajority of the men called up for service will find it utterly impossible to examine them with a clear head and with any degree of impartiality. (Lenin).

We must tell the masses the real facts about the profoundsecrecy in which the governments make their plans for war and howimpotent the ordinary labor organizations, even those that call themselves revolutionary, are in the face of impending war. (Lenin).

The Bolsheviks, having a well set up illegal organization, werethe only Party able to carry on revolutionary work during the war.Yet even they could no more prevent the masses from responding tothe bourgeois call for national defense than they could prevent theoutbreak of war, notwithstanding the fact that the proletarianstruggle in Russia was at high tide at that period. In fact, only afew weeks before the outbreak of war, barricades were erected inthe streets of St. Petersburg.

Consequently, only by thoroughly explaining to the masses the15

t r e m e n d o u s

d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t h a v e t o

b e

o v e r c o m e

i n a

r e a l

s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t

w a r c a n

t h e

f o u n d a t i o n

b e

l a i d f o r t h e

s o l u t i o n o f t h e

t a c t i c a l p r o b l e m s i n v o l v e d

i n t h i s s t r u g g l e .

( c ) F i n a l l y , i t

i s

n e c e s s a r y

t o

e x p l a i n

t h o r o u g h l y t o t h e

m a s s e s

t h e e x p e r i e n c e s

o f t h e l a s t w o r l d w a r

o f 1 9 1 4

1 9 1 8 ;

t h e

t e n d e n

c i e s

t h a t p r e v a i l e d i n

t h e l a b o r m o v e m e n t a t t h a t t i m e

t h e

s t r u g g l e s

t h e B o l s h e v i k s c o n d u c t e d

a g a i n s t w a r ,

a n d

t h e

f u n d a m e n t a l

s l o g a n

t h e y

a d v a n c e d

b y

t r a n s f o r m i n g

t h e


w a r

i n t o c i v i l

w a r .

1 5 . T h i s a g i t a t i o n a l a n d p r o p a g a n d i s t a c t i v i t y m u s t b e c l o s e l y

>

l i n k e d

u p w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k o f t h e P a r t y

a m o n g t h e

m a s s e s .

T h i s i s

t h e m a i n

t a s k i n

t h e

s t r u g g l e

a g a i n s t


b e f o r e

i t

b r e a k s o u t .

S t a t e d i n

d e t a i l t h i s t a s k

i n c l u d e s

t h e

f o l l o w i n g :

( a )

F a c t o r y

a n d t r a d e

u n i o n

a c t i v i t y

m u s t

b e

c o n c e n t r a t e d

p r i m a r i l y

i n

t h e i n d u s t r i e s w h i c h s e r v e t h e m o b i l i z a t i o n f o r a n d c o n

d u c t o f

w a r ,

l i k e t h e m e t a l

i n d u s t r y ,

t h e

c h e m i c a l

i n d u s t r y ,

a n d

t r a n s p o r t .

I t

i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t t o a p p l y

t h e

t a c t i c s o f t h e


u n i t e d f r o n t a n d t o s e c u r e t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n a l

c o n s o l i d a

t i o n o f

i t s

r e s u l t s

( e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f C o m m i t t e e s

o f

A c t i o n ,

e t c . )

( b )

I n

v i e w o f

t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p e a s a n t r y

c o n s t i t u t e s

t h e b u l k

o f

t h e

a r m y

i n

m o s t

c o u n t r i e s ,

s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n m u s t

b e

p a i d

t o

a n t i - w a r

w o r k

a m o n g

t h e

p e a s a n t s . T h i s

w o r k i s f a c i l i a t e d

b y t h e

s t r o n g

a n t i - w a r s e n t i m e n t

p r e v a i l i n g a m o n g

t h e p e a s a n t s

i n m a n y

c o u n t r i e s .

T h e

b o u r g e o i s i e , t h r o u g h

t h e m e d i u m o f t h e

b i g

l a n d

l o r d s a n d

b i g

f a r m e r s a n d

t h r o u g h

E x - S e r v i c e m e n s

L e a g u e s ,

t h e

p r e s s ,

F a s c i s m ,

p a c i f i s m ,

t h e c h u r c h e s ,

e t c . , s t r i v e

t o c o n s o l i d a t e

t h e i r i n f l u e n c e

i n

t h e

c o u n t r y s i d e ,

a n d t o r o u s e

t h e

f i g h t i n g s p i r i t

o f

t h e

p e a s a n t r y .

C o m m u n i s t s

m u s t c o u n t e r a c t t h i s

a c t i v i t y

b y t h e i r

1

w o r k

t o

s h a r p e n

t h e

c l a s s - s t r u g g l e

i n

t h e

c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e C o m

m u n i s t s

m u s t c o n d u c t a n t i - w a r

a g i t a t i o n a m o n g

t h e

p e a s a n t m a s s e s

a n d i n t h i s u t i l i z e t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e w o r l d

w a r ,

a n d

l i n k

u p

t h i s

a g i t a t i o n

w i t h t h e e c o n o m i c

d e m a n d s

o f

t h e

s m a l l

p e a s a n t r y .

T h e y

m u s t

e x p l a i n

t o t h e

p e a s a n t s

t h e p r o l e t a r i a n a t t i t u d e

t o w a r d s

w a r ;

c a r r y

o n

f r a c t i o n w o r k

i n t h e r e a c t i o n a r y p e a s a n t l e a g u e s ;

o r g a n i z e

a n t i - w a r c o n f e r e n c e s o f t h e s m a l l

p e a s a n t r y ,

a n d

g i v e

c o n s i d e r a t i o n

t o t h e

s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t s

o f t h e

p e a s a n t s i n

c a r r y i n g

o n

w o r k

i n

t h e

a r m y .

1 6

(c) The national-revolutionary movements in the Balkans,Poland, etc., play an extremely important part in the struggle againstthe imperialist war danger and in transforming imperialist war intocivil war. The struggle against the imperialist war danger in thesecountries must be linked up with the fight against the remnants offeudalism and against national oppression, and must be directed towards the development of the agrarian and national revolutions.

Hence, the establishment and expansion of a revolutionary blocof the proletariat, the peasantry and the oppressed nations againstcapitalism and against the imperialist war danger is an exceedinglyimportant task that now confronts the Communist Parties.

(d) A matter of decisive importance is the work among theyouth, especially among the industrial youth. The greatest effortsmust be exertednot only by the youth organizations, but by allCommunistsin combating bourgeois sport organizations, fascistorganizations, military schools, etc., through which the bourgeoisieare training the youth for imperialist wars. Furthermore, bourgeoismilitary training of the youth must also be combated. Where themilitary training of the youth is compulsory, the Communists shouldurge the young workers to accept it, but they must organize workfor the political education of these young workers and for the dis- ,integration of the bourgeois military organizations. Similar workmust be carried on in bourgeois, voluntary military training organizations. For this purpose, the Communist Party and the YoungCommunist League must send members into these organizations, butthey must not urge the young workers to join them. Instead, theymust urge the young workers to join, or form, Labor Defense Organizations.

(e) Bearing in mind the important part women play in industry, especially in time of war, work must be carried on among theindustrial working women and workingmens wives. To combatthe imperialist influence disseminated among working womenthrough petty-bourgeois organizations and to organize the workingwomen in trade unions and other proletarian mass organizations, areextremely important tasks at the present time in view of the threatening war danger. In this connection, special consideration must begiven to the plans for the militarization of women and to the in-

n

c r e a s i n g

i n f l u e n c e

w h i c h

b o u r g e o i s

p a c i f i s t ,

r e l i g i o u s a n d n a t i o n a l i s t

o r g a n i z a t i o n s

a r e

e x e r c i s i n g

o v e r

w o r k i n g c l a s s

w o m e n .

W o r k a m o n g

t h e w o m e n m u s t n o

l o n g e r

b e

n e g l e c t e d ,

a n d

t h e

i d e a

t h a t t h i s

w o r k

i s

s o l e l y

t h e a f f a i r

o f t h e w o m e n C o m m u n i s t s m u s t

b e

s t a m p e d o u t .

( f )

A n t i - m i l i t a r i s t

a c t i v i t y ;

w o r k

i n

t h e

a r m y

a n d

n a v y ;

w o r k

a m o n g

t h e

r e c r u i t s

a n d

r e s e r v i s t s a n d

i n

b o u r g e o i s

d e f e n s e o r g a n i z a

t i o n s

,

i n

w h i c h t h e p r o l e t a r i a n

e l e m e n t i s

s t r o n g l y

r e p r e s e n t e d , m u s t

c o n s t i t u t e a n i n s e p a r a b l e

p a r t

o f t h e

g e n e r a l


m a s s

a c t i v i t y

o f

t h e

P a r t y ,

a n d m u s t e m b r a c e

t h e

w h o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g

c l a s s .

1 6 . L e n i n w a s o f t h e

o p i n i o n

t h a t

t h e

o n l y

p o s s i b l e

w a y

o f

c o n t i n u i n g

r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k a f t e r t h e o u t b r e a k

o f

w a r

i s t h e

c r e a

t i o n o f a n

i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n .

B u t , a n

i l l e g a l o r g a n i z a t i o n i s

a l s o

n e c e s s a r y

i n

t h e a n t i - w a r

s t r u g g l e

b e f o r e w a r b r e a k s o u t . T h e r e i s

s t i l l c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n f u s i o n o f m i n d

c o n c e r n i n g

t h i s i m p o r t a n t t a s k

i n

t h e


w a r , a n d

s e r i o u s n e g l e c t

i n

i t s p r a c t i c a l f u l

f i l m e n t .

I n

s o m e C o m m u n i s t

P a r t i e s

t h e

d e f i n i t e l y

o p p o r t u n i s t v i e w

p r e v a i l s t h a t t h e

c o n d u c t o f a n t i - w a r

a c t i v i t y

i s

t h e

b u s i n e s s

o n l y

o f

t h e

y o u t h ,

o r o f

a

s p e c i a l

o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

w h i l e

a c t i v i t y

w i t h i n t h e

a r m y i s r e g a r d e d a s n o t b e i n g

a b s o l u t e l y

e s s e n t i a l . S u c h

v i e w s

m u s t

b e

v i g o r o u s l y

c o m b a t e d ,

a n d t h e w o r k m u s t b e t a k e n

u p

i m m e d i a t e l y ,

i n

t h e

s p i r i t o f t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s

g i v e n b y

L e n i n .

I n

t h i s

c o n n e c t i o n ,

w e

m u s t :

( 1 ) E n l a r g e

t h e n u m b e r o f P a r t y

f a c t o r y

n u c l e i w h i c h , u n d e r

g i v e n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

a r i s i n g

f r o m t h e p e r s e c u t i o n o f t h e e m p l o y e r s

a n d t h e

p o l i c e ,

m u s t g o

u n d e r g r o u n d .

T h e

p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r

t h e

t r a n s f e r e n c e t o u n d e r g r o u n d

c o n d i t i o n s

w h e n

t h e c o n t i n g e n c y

a r i s e s ,

n u s t

b e

u n d e r t a k e n n o w .

( 2 )

M a k e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r

g u a r a n t e e i n g

t h e

p r o p e r

f u n c t i o n

i n g

o f

t h e

l e a d i n g b o d i e s

o f t h e P a r t y , o f t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

a p p a r t u s

a n d o f t h e

P a r t y

p r e s s ,

i n

t h e e v e n t o f

t h e

n e c e s s i t y

a r i s i n g

f o r

g o i n g s t r i c t l y

u n d e r g r o u n d .

W h i l e n e v e r

f o r a m o m e n t

c e a s i n g

t o u t i l i z e

a l l a v a i l a b l e

' e g a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s , t h e

C o m m u n i s t P a r t i e s m u s t a l r e a d y

a t t h e p r e s e n t

i m e ,

d e v o t e

t h e

g r e a t e s t e n e r g y

a n d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s e t a s k s .

I f

t h e y f a i l t o d o

t h i s

t h e p e r s e c u t i o n t h a t m u s t s e t i n

a t t h e m o m e n t o f

t h e

o u t b r e a k

o f w a r

a

f o r e t a s t e

o f

w h i c h w e h a v e

a l r e a d y i n

a

1 8

number of countries todaywill inevitably destroy the Party organization, and with it, the principal base of the revolutionary struggleagainst war.

17. The Communist Parties must bend all their work to thecentral task of preparing, winning over and organizing the massesfor the struggle against imperialist war. The struggles of the proletariat and of toilers generally against the intensification of exploitation and oppressionin matters of wages, the working day, taxes,rent, social services, political disfranchisement, victimization and theintensification of the Fascist menacemust not be confined to thedemands arising out of these struggles, but must be linked up withthe determined struggle against imperialist war policy.

All the important questions of foreign policy, of armaments, ofthe introduction of new weapons of war, etc., must be broughtbefore the masses of the workers and utilized for the organizationof revolutionary mass action. In this struggle, the CommunistParty, giving due and sober consideration to its strength, must marchboldly and determinedly at the head of the masses. It must organize demonstrations and strikes against the war policy of the imperialist bourgeoisie, and, at the proper moment, put to the masses thequestion of the general strike and of still sharper methods ofstruggle.

2. The Struggle During Imperialist War18. The political program of the Communists in an imperialist

war is the program worked out and applied by the Bolshevik Partyunder the leadership of Lenin in its heroic struggle against the lastimperialist war. The main points of this program may be summarized as follows:

(a) The rejection of imperialist national defense in this war.To enlighten the workers and peasants as to its reactionary character. Strongly to combat all tendencies in the labor movement whichopenly, or covertly, justify this war.

(b) Defeatism, i. e. to work for the defeat of the home imperialist government in this war.

(c) Genuine internationalism, i. e. not internationalphrasesand formal agreements, but revolutionary defeatist work to be

19

a r r i e d o n b y t h e p r o l e t a r i a t

i n a l l

t h e

b e l l i g e r e n t c o u n t r i e s ,

f o r t h e

o v e r t h r o w

o f

t h e i r

h o m e


( d )

T o

t r a n s f o r m

t h e w a r b e t w e e n i m p e r i a l i s t

S t a t e s

i n t o p r o

l e t a r i a n c i v i l

w a r

a g a i n s t t h e

b o u r g e o i s i e ,

f o r t h e

p u r p o s e

o f

e s t a b

l i s h i n g

t h e

d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d S o c i a l i s m

t h i s t r a n s

f o r m a t i o n t o b e a c h i e v e d

b y m e a n s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a s s a c t i o n

i n

t h e r e a r , a n d

f r a t e r n i z a t i o n a t t h e f r o n t .

( e ) A d e m o c r a t i c o r j u s t p e a c e c a n n o t r e s u l t

f r o m

a n


w i t h o u t

t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e

s e i z u r e o f

p o w e r b y

t h e p r o l e t a r i a t

i n t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t b e l l i g e r e n t

S t a t e s .

T h e r e f o r e ,

p e a c e c a n n o t b e t h e c e n t r a l

s l o g a n d u r i n g

V


w a r ; t h e

c e n t r a l

s l o g a n

m u s t b e p r o l e t a r i a n

r e v o l u t i o n .

I t i s t h e b o u n d e n d u t y

o f

C o m m u n i s t s

s t r o n g l y

t o c o m b a t a l l p e a c e

p h r a s e m o n g e r i n g ;

f o r a c e r t a i n

m o m e n t

i n

t h e w a r ,

t h i s

c a n b e

'

The Struggle Against Ιmperialist War and the Tasks of the Communists , July - August 1928

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Transcript of The Struggle Against Ιmperialist War and the Tasks of the Communists , July - August 1928