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Page THE MILITANT August 1st, 1929.
Karl Radek and the Opposition During the last few weeks there has been con ced more and more to color Stalin zig zag in order FRAUDULENT SELF CRITICISM siderable talk in the world press about the disinte to justify his own. With regard to self criticism, the theses vow: Fration of the Russian Opposition and comrade This story, as already stated, has been going on It is not a fraud and not a maneuver, because the Radek has often been called the leader of the group for about a year and a half. In July of last year Ra intervention of a number of Party leaders implies that is joining Stalin. The uninformed and they dek wrote his draft of an appeal to the th Congress. the greatest concern for the fate of the Party and are the majority in the West may conclude from At that time the exiles were still permitted to cor the revolution. Is not here meant the latest apthis that Radek has only lately turned from the respond somewhat freely; the Stalinites hoped that pearance of the master (Stalin) understudy (MoloOpposition to the apparatus Centrists. In reality, the split would manifest itself more quickly that way. tov) with a shower of abuse addressed to the Opcomrade Radek hesitation has been going on for Through an exchange of telegrams between the col. position and with an explanation that criticism of about a year and a half. It would be still more cor onies of the exiles a sort a vote took place on the the administrative organs is useful, while criticism rect to say that comrade Radek path, beginning two texts of the appeal to the Sixth Congress, Radek of the leadership. harmful? should say: If in with 1923, has crossed with the line of the Opposi gathered half a dozen votes. My draft was signed by the question of the Kulak the purely combinatory tion only to turn from it to the Right or to the Left several hundred. In the end Radek also attached his maneuver amounts to 10 20 per cent and the posi mostly to the Right. and then again to meet name to the collective declaration.
tive measures forced by the bread shortage amount with it. Up till 1926 Radek held that it would be impossible to carry through any economic policy other dek theses to an analysis in a letter which sent tricks amount even at the present moment to not On July 17, 1928, subjected the draft of Ra to 80 90 per cent of the given zig zag, then in the question of self criticism the apparatus maneuvered than that of Stalin Bucharin. Up till 1921 Radek was to the exiles and to Moscow. consider it timely to less than 51 per cent, and 49 per cent are general under the illusion that it would be possible to work publish this analysis now. The reader will become together with Brandler and his group. Radek was convinced through that, hope that in 1929 Radek expenses of the maneuver: redeeming victims, scaagainst the Chinese Communist Party leaving the pegoats, etc. etc. There is hardly any reason for Kuo Ming Tang. After the general strike in England. has added little to his mistakes of 1928. At any rate, swearing with such assurance that there is neither Radek was against the dissolution of the Anglo Rus with the best intensions, cannot turn the Opposition maneuver mor fraud here sian Committee. After the Right and Left Kuo Min from its path. Radek theses refer to Stalin speech before Tang had betrayed the revolution, Radek was against the students, without mentioning that with regard to TROTSKY.
the slogan of the proletarian dictatorship and for the question of the Kulak, the speech is also a comthat of the democratic dictatorship, interpreting Constantinople, plete withdrawal of the February article in Pravda, that the same way Stalin, Bucharin and Martinov May 26, 1929.
and may mean the obliteration of the Left zig zag did. In 1923 Radek argued that the theory of the also in this important and specific question. Inpermanent revolution was basically one with the cidentally, this speech is astounding for its illiteracy strategic line of Lenin. In 1928 he attempted to build The Theses of Comrade Radek in economic questions.
up a complete contradiction in this question between Further on comes the explanation why the Lenin and Trotsky. He had to repeat, with minor Radek theses, sent to the eight comrades.
Three days ago received the draft of comrade Center, as distinct from the Right, was against innerThese Party democracy. Because, you see, our Party is not other hand, on the question of the Thermidor and theses have probably already been sent to the Con one hundred percent democratic (Stalin. Ratwo Parties, Radek went ultra Left in 1927. He at gress so that the immediate practical purpose of my dek theses accept this explanation at its face value.
tempted several times to proclaim that the Thermi remarks is lost. But since we need clarity for the fu repeat it and develop it. It is as if the Centrists were dor was already accomplished. For a time he re ture as well, consider it necessary to express an afraid that the insufficiently proletarian Party would fused to sign the Platform only because it spoke too opinion on these theses.
not comprehend their truly proletarian policies.
categorically for a single Party. There is nothing THE ANTI KULAK AGITATION This is inadmissible apologetics. The Centrists felt unnatural in this combination of ultra Left conthat their Chiang Kai Shek, Purcell and Kulak policlusions and Right premises. On the contrary, the First of all, the theses say: Several months of an cy would not be accepted by the proletarian kernel history of the Comintern is replete with such com ti Kulak agitation that is a fact of the greatest of the Party. That is why they have been and are binations. Nor is there anything unnatural in Radek political significance which it would be complete po strangling democracy.
going over so easily from ultra Left deductions on litical blindness not to recognize. In these words the 10. The question of inner Party democracy lies the question of the Thermidor and two Parties to polemical spear is pointed in the wrong direction alone in the awakening of the Party masses. If they the road of unprincipled conciliation with regard to in my oppinion, the following should have been said: do not take into their hands the matter of self crithe Left Centrist zig zag. We have seen also in Several months of anti Kulak agitation, if they ticism. etc. Again too general. In order that the other contries, particularly in Germany, how easily are not followed by a radical change in the line, masses may actually participate in this matter, it people who have accused the Russian Opposition of will inevitably throw the Party back considerably is necessary that they do not allow the Centrists to not going far enough, and who have proclaimed and will undermine the last vestiges of confidence lull them to sleep. The Centrists have considerable dozens of times that the Thermidor was already ace of the ranks in all slogans and in all campaigns. means for that even now. They lack only the bliss complished, went over with their light baggage to the camp of the social democrats. With regard to the capital outlay, Radek roviade are at present the most effective opium ful confidence on our part. Piatakoviade, Safasays. Instead of investing the basic capital in a se for the people. All the more frequent should be the RADEK IMPULSIVENESS ries of undertakings in the same branch of product antidote from us.
To be sure, none of us means to put Radek on ion which would only show results several years lathe same plane as these weathercocks. Radek has to ter, concentration of funds is necessary in order to gard to self criticism are the following: a) further 11. The deductions of Radek theses with rehis credit quarter of a century of revolutionary obtain goods with the least possible delay. This ob extension of self criticism; b) curtailment of the Marxist work. Not only is he incapable of going over scure expression is apparently intended to convey Party apparatus; c) proletarianization of the appato the social democrats, but he can hardly become the idea that funds should be transfered from heavy ratus; d) prosecution of those who strangle demoone with the Stalinites. At any rate, he will not be industry to light. This is part of the Right wing cracy in the factory; e) ridding the Party of bougeois able to live together with them. He is too much of a program. see no reason why we should enter on Marxist for that, and, above all, too international. that road. If it is a purely practical proposal, then and is repeated on every possible occation, withand bureaucratic elements. All this is too general Radek misfortune lies where his strength is: his ex it should be supported by figures; that is, it should out furnishing any guaranties. As an afterthought, cessive impulsiveness.
be proved that in allocating the funds, the necessary it is said: Finally, the readmission of the Opposition Radek is undoubtedly one of the best Marxist proportion between heavy and light industry is not into the Party is necessary. That is correct. And in journalists in the world. It is not only the precision being preserved. If such a reallocation of funds were place of the other points, which are too general, it and strength of his style. No, it is first of all his to be made only on considerations of the moment, it should be said more concretely: a) to fix the date ability to react with amazing quickness to new phen would mean to prepare a still greater crisis in two or for the 16th Congress during 1928 and to bind the omena and tendecies and even to their first symp three years. Improvisation in such a question can preparations for the Congress with every guaratee toms. Here lies Radek strong point. But the strengh not be allowed at all and, as has been said, is only of real self criticism; b) to publish immediately all of a journalist becomes a source of weakness to a grist to the mill of the Right. It is sufficient for us the articles, speeches, and letters of Lenin that have stateman. Radek exaggerates and anticipates too to demand the allocation of funds for light as well been hidden from the Party. have named seven much. He measures with a yardstick where it is on as for heavy industry.
ly a matter of inches. Therefore he almost always groups of such documents in my letter to the Confinds himself to the Right or to the Left. much is impossible to combat With regard to the Stalinist argument that it gress; c) to curtail at once the Party budget twenmore often to the Right of the correct line.
the Kulak as long as the ty fold, that is, to five or six millions, because the As long as we lived in Moscow, Radek impul middle peasant has not been won over, Radek the present budget is the financial basis of the apparasiveness was often of service to the Opposition. At ses say: We still haven won over the middle peasant tus of autocratic and bureaucratic corruption. These almost every session he would bring up suggestions our policies we have lost the middle peasant whom the regime, but they are perfectly concrete sufficiently. This is to embellish the reality. With demands do not, of course, exhaust the questions of and. in the whole of it or in this or that question. He the Kulak has led away, something that is acknow mark a step forward.
PROBLEM OF THE COMINTERN usually met with friendly resistance and was soon ledged by the February article in Pravda.
reconciled to it. But under his exaggerated and dan Coming out against the view that the left 12. It is still worse when it comes to the question gerous innovations one could often find some valu move is a mere maneuver, the theses say: Whether of the Comintern. Radek estimation of the Februable observation or new impression. That is why Ra. or not this struggle will be carried to the end depends ary Plenum as a great, in a way decisive, turn about dek participation was always beneficial to the col on the strength and the determination with which face to the road of Marxist policy, is basically incor.
lective work. And none of us would have made a list the working masses will insist on the extension of rect. The symptomatic significance of the February of the numerous zig zags of Radek. to the Right this struggle. This, of course, is true, but it is too Plenum is very great; it shows that the Right Cenas well as to the Left;more often to the Right, though, general. It would mean: The Central Committee trist policy has landed completely in a blind alley, than to the Left. The trouble is, however, that since did what it could, but now it is the turn of the mas. and that the leadership is trying to find a way out 1928 the leading group of the Opposition has been ses. In reality it should be said: The measures un not to the Right, but to the Left, and that is all.
dispersed. All of us were separated from one another dertaken above will result in an inevitable fiasco if there is no unifying idea in the Leftism of the Febby enormous distances, and each was left to him the Opposition. in spite of the dreadnoughts of ruary Plenum. This Leftism reminds one a great deal Relf. It is clear that under such circumstances Ra bureaucratic Centrism. will not educate the mas of the Leftism of the Fifth Congress. No real condek extreme impulsiveness would serve him badly. ses and help them carry this struggle to the end. clusion have been drawn from the greatest defeat RADEK RIGHT ABOUT FACE The Center in the Party, say Radek the of the Chinese revolution; instead there is the fanSince February 1928 comrade Radek has made ses, by concealing the existence of this group fare of boasting about the approach of the socalled a very abrupt turn in the question of the Thermidor the Right. only weakens the chances of the strug new wave, with regard to the peasant movement and two Parties He did not foresee the possibility gle for a correction of the Party line. This is to and this after the proletariat has been decimated.
of resistance on the part of the Centrists the put it very tenderly. The struggle against the kutak This whole perspective is faise and the whole manRight, as did all those who first heard about the means in the Party a struggle against the Rights. ner of approaching the question gives its blessing Thermidor from us and immediately began to vow Carrying on a campaign against the Kulak, the to adventurism. The little reservations on putches that it was already accomplished. Only, since Ra Center in the Party covers up the Right wing and are for self justification in the future. If there is a dek does not merely repeat general, empty phrases, stays in a bloc with it. The theses remark reproach new wave, then the revolts in the provinces are not but tries to observe facts and understand them, he fully that this only weakens the chances of the putsches. In reality, it is the destruction of the remwent to the oposite extreme. The Stalinites began to struggle. No, it dooms the struggle to inevitable nants of the proletarian vanguard that is going on.
seem to him, after February 1928, to be Marxist, defeat, if the Opposition will not open the Party Theoretically the Menshevik resolution on the Chiand the Thermidor almost a myth. Had we all been eyes to this whole mechanics.
nese question, though it was written in pseudo Bol.
in Moscow, Radek would probably have quieted down shevik terminology, should, from the strategical The characterization of Schwartz after his first exaggerations. until a new flare up.
as a point of view, destroy the Chinese Communist ParBut Radek was in Siberia. He sent letters and theses comrade keenly attuned and tied up with the pro ty. The English and French resolutions cover up the to a number of comrades. Everyone jumped on him. letarian masses sounds strange. Did he protest anytraces of yesterday, combining with them elements The correspondence was intercepted by organs of the where against the infamous banishments under Ar of ultra Leftism and Right premises. Here, too, there and turned over to the Central Committee. ticle 58? It seemed to me that he keenly voted for is much resemblance to the Fifth Congress which Yaroslavsky reported Radek views at meetings, these banishments.
tried to eliminate the questior of the German defeat making a mess of it for lack of understanding and of 1923 by means of uitra Left violence.
telling lies out of malice. Thus Radek became the Schwartz is the chairman of the All Russian Miners 13. Finally, Radek theses say that those should of the Central Committee of the be returned to the Cominhorn who sincerely