Political Banditry in the French Communist Party The Party is conducting Factional Struggles Without Principles or Platform to SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1931 THE MILITANT PAGE The Communist movement in Franee.
perhaps the envy of John Curry, McCooey today finds itself in an extremely ditand Boss Vare of Philadelphia.
ficult position. The tremendous sweep of enthusiasm for the Communist International in the early years following upon But, it will be ald, the new party the Russian revolution, reaching a high leadership nevertheless did uncover them point when the Left wing won a maj and pillory them in public. Like most ority at the Tours congress of the French Socialist Party, has been considerably arhalf truths this is worse than a false rested in recent years. Here, as every ists, manifestly resulted in no ameliora (for what else has replaced the old one, riber, the secretary of the Paris district, at the 1925 Plenum of the Young Com hool. The fact of the matter is that where else, the ravages of Stalinism tion of the falling health of the party in the leadership of the party. proceeds denies having known of the existence of munist International. In the political the group was not uncovered in the have left their painful scars more cor. If anything, it has gone from bad to systematically to demonstrate to the the group but acknowledgdes having Commission, Doriot, at that time a con interests of Communist purity and prorectly, open wounds on the body of the worse. And at the present moment, the membership what scoundrels their pre worked under its influence. No less a scious or unconscious agent of the bity of conduct. The fact of the matter movement. few instances, tersely party is threatened with heavy blows decessors were and what chemically pure Stalinist statesman than Pierre Semard, group. launched a furious and thor is, further, that Thorez and Co. knew stated, will prove adequate.
directed at the most important domain Leninists the party is now endowed with brief four years ago, the of Communist influence upon the work in the person of the new leadership: secretary of the party until a short time oughly nauseating attack upon the then of the existence of the group many representative in Moscow of the French months ago, at least, and this by their the trade union center under the control ing class: the trade unions. The details Thorez, Frachon and Co. At the same ago, made the same admission a self Youth League, Mouton. The violence own admission. In the very first artiof the party, had at least as many mem of this phase of the problem must be time, the excesses of last year Stal critical confession in Humanite. and the gross language in which the at. cle mentioning even the bers as the reformist unions some 400, left for a more extensive account. It inism are conveniently ascribed to the existence of the group (but taking care even then tack was made were incomprehensible at 000 in each. Today, the finds is enough to state here that the reform poor scapegoats. For example: Thorez The question immediately arises the time, as was the categoric demand to omit the names. Thorez wrote at itself in the grip of a profound crisis, ists of the have taken the of writes indignantly about the group in How was this group which, if we are to that Mouton be sent back to France. the end of October: having lost almost half of its members, fensive against the and the these terms: believe Thorez, has neither a definite Now we learn the reason for the demand. In July, the established, in spite while the has about 700, 000 in party all along the line, and already its ranks. The party has lost at least with considerable success. In the ranks hy the Central Committee thought that and which always voted approval of the by Dorlot in his two speeches. It ap. opment of the group spirit but also the comrade of the group condemned political platform nor any principles which was in no way at all motivated of its May resolution, not only the devel.
a similar proportion of its membership of the itself, a substantial the Communist International was back decisions of the International how was peared that at that time Mouton was a The reveals an even worse Right wing current has forged to the sliding to the right and a revising the this group able to exist for seven of political friend of Treint, the leader beisteubemitted close the rolet prihose mene state of affairs. The central organ of front and is conducting the work of re previous theses on social fascism. And eight years as a closed and unknown of the French party in 1926. The group bers submitted to the discipline of the pieces and group, met outside of the regular organterrupted decline in circulation. Or, bet on the question of trade union udts pretext, invoked Simply that we wa maneuvers throughout the party, the Mouton was only one of many who had bends overheerand to detectat pent their unpublished resolution adopted at the ist leaders of the whose nathe term social fascist. The group was single aim of gaining control of the Who Are the Fighters Against the Left party policy. 10 28 31. comnion attitude in all the problems of enlarged District Committee meeting of tional congress is assembled in Paris as impregnated with the sectarian, Leftist party apparatus? How was it able, from Opposition?
the Paris region of the party. these lines are written, show themselves spirit, the comrade considered as a step an obscure group of Communist Youth, The fact of the matter is, still further, Still another characterization of the that the group was known even before Revelations of the Party Conference of the incapable of counteracting. When towards opportunism the effort, recom to gain such decisive control of Paris contentment of the party membership towards convincing the socialist work stances of the Communist International them were and are still to be found in lowed after the heights for the third one adds to this the fact that the dis mended by the International, with view party, to represent it in the highest in group and its members cannot be July. In the middle of 1030, at the mo (a) The membership of the party is manifests itselt not only by voting ers otherwise than with epithets Aha. the Executive Committee?
stagnant. The applications made hardly against the bureaucrats with their feet. And perhaps we shall still have to the very forefront of the struggle against period had been attained, the Political suffice to compensate the losses suffered but also by mutterings and even by establish to what extent the sectarian in the history of the Communist Inter: Barbe and his pals were carrying on order to destroy the domination of Barbe There have been numerous instances Tortskyism. At the very moment when Bureau was reorganized precisely in in certain centers and the fluctuations open protest, those in the slightest ini practises of the group contributed to dis national in its best days and in its their conspirative faction work, Barbe and Co. It was reconstituted with Thorez, which continue to be very substantial. tiated into the methods of operation of orienting the party, to disarming It be worst of factional and group struggles proclaimed at the 1928 congress of the Monmousseau, Semard, Frachon, Cachin. b) The Unitary trade unions have Stalinism will immediately realize that fore the bourgeois and social democratic for party leadership lost, in 1930, an important number of the stage is all set for a new turn enemy, to what extent, finally, the group carried on in the open, their existence pulsion of the Trotskyists from the named as a representative of the group.
But these were French parts. In speaking about the exDoriot and Barbe, leaving only the lastadherenta. In spite of the seriousness just as decisive as those which pre facilitated the frankly opportunist mis was known, they had distinct patforms, party. It is to insult the memory and why then are they exposed only now, at of such a fact, the loss of members has ceded it.
takes which we must establish at the with very tangible polnts at issue. Around all of the teachings of Lenin even to this late date? For the reason we mennot been arrested in the first semester Another Scapegoat Is Discovered of 1931. c) The sale of Humanite has been stalinist stage without a villain, that united front. 11 81. But no turn is complete on the ing the first step to the tactie of the very violent discussions after here in order to render legitimate the fae. the party has reached so Serious it state in constant regression for a long period.
is, without the revelation of a scape Bad? The Artful Dodger himself could triumphed and the course of the party leads to the demoralization of the work the party that another new turn has goat of a number. or group of scape do no better! And not only on the ques. was clearly identifiable with the people in class, to detecting it from the rev. been decided upon. Stalinist turn has. a) This weakening of our organization indicates a loss of influence which coats, to whom is attributed all the evil tion of social fascism. It appears that who directed it. Such internal disputesolutionary path. 1 28. It does not as its sina qua none, its absolutely inactive, of yesterday, all the maladies of the all the blunders and crimes, In the theor constitute the very life of an manitests itself in the assemblages (less require penetrating imagination to ple attendance at meetings and demonstra. party, and all the responsibility for etical as well as in the practical domain, lusty revolutionary political movement ture to oneself the cynical laughter that gets. In France, the scapegoat is the escapable pre requisite, a group of scapetions) and in the course of certain elee aina frequently further backe Sathis time, should lexitimately be ascribed to the course of events and their constant per delivering himselt of this righteous as public self dagellations of its adherents what has happened since the last turn committed in the trade unton question which is closely connected on with the must have shaken Barbe internally while group. It offers itselringelsas the tions where, side by side with some progress, we have observed retreats.
sault upon the factionalists of the demonstrate. As a reward for this final however, the discovery of those respon group The apostle Thorez vouchsafea mutations.
sible has laid bare a case of political us this revelation also: By forgetting Opposition. e) While the Socialist Federation banditry which, at least so far as the or not knowing these elementary truths, Sordid Practices Revealed phase of the conspiracy against the party, And now, where was the party all these they are let off makes an effort to win the with a punishment workers writer knows is unique in the records of the group did considerable damage to But what we have here is an entirely strata, while it fights stubbornly for our the international Communist movement, the work of redressment decided upon and a radically different matter. The seven eight years, while the bandits were which is nothing less than a direct introops, we record no work to win over the socialist and workers. reads now that most it not all of the tri. in the relations between the party and political platform its existence was icies and party leadership? The only avawal of the fact that he had acted for In the columns of Humanite, one by the party since July 1830, particular. sroup was constituted without any Secretly at work? Where was the mem. citation to a repetition of such work. One of the most disturbing and bulations of the party are to be traced the trade unions. 10 31 31. most serious facts is that the offensive to what is currently known as the The Paris resolution referred to above, its own chiefs. It never strove to gain answer is: it was there, but it had noth some eight years as a common bourgeois against wages in the metal industry de group. that is, a clique of leaders of to explain the situation which it speaks places and posts in the party leadership ing to say in the matter. The member politician, as a bandit instead of a Comveloped this year without our having the party and the Youth. Just what is about in such detail, announces that in the name of a political line different ship became a mere shadow on the wall, munist, is punished by being made prepared and organized the resistance. the group. One of its leading mom the fact that one of the principal lead from that pursued by the incumbent going through certain formal motions full time treasurer of the Workers Sport (8) Our organizational positions in bers, Billoux, gives the following intorers of the district, comrade Celor, be leadership. All its actions bore a pure its. Everything was decided outside of What Needs To Be Done er. One might say almost non existant. Iated directly from Humanite. Itsell. leadership of the party, contributed political control without political prin the ranks of the party itself in the seeret meeting places of a self perpetuating But Thorez, Frachon and Co. to whom. h) The demonstrations of February ber 6, brought out only a tiny number of the party leaderships of those days. solution that we learn for the first time by the short and ugly term: pelitical responsibility. In the face of the recent alien qualities, are not interested in that. Actually constituted since 1923 in the greatly to the development of such a ciple, without a special platform, by ex25, of May 1, of August 1, of Septem: struggle against the opportunist policy state of affairs. And it is in this reclusively conspirative methods, is known clique without principles or a feeling of cynicism and Stalluist corruption are not revelations, what do all the discussions All they require is a scapegoat for them.
of workers.
in the French party signify? What value selves. The party membership is rest (1) The district revealed an almost Youth, helped greatly in the purging of. the enlarged District Committee this group, as leader of the Communist who it was that constituted the group. banditry. couple of Instances will serve as have all the party conferences and con less? Then throw it a bone! That is approves the condemnation of the grave additional portant national and international take of the comrades belonging to this Raymon. Lozeray, Billoux, Coutheiltas, members is an incident like the follow. ect the leadership of the party? In this against the group. That is why the complete passivity in the course of im the party and in its formation. The mis mistakes committed by Barbe, Celor. What Humanite for this designation. gresses, which were supposed to decide why the campaign is being conducted does not tell the party the questions of party policy and to sel so furiously in the columns of Humanito events Spain berbaloncermanece po sroup is only the greater because of it. Galopin and condemns the group working: When Thorez was serving a term. whole sordid history, where can mone attention of the partiomeetthet is Reynaud to Indo China, etc. In the meetings of the regions and carried on by Celor in the Paris dis in prison at Nancy in 1930 for violat. the merest trace of party democracy being turned in that direction. That 18. The Youth organization is stagof the district committees, many com trict.
ing the press law Barbe, who was in. Nowhere, for in France as everywhere why it is already common knowledge nant and has found no support in the rades have asked for clarification on the Central Committee resolution where it Who Are The Group. party.
the party secretariat at the time, made else in the Stalinist International, party that, in face of the tremendous problems. k) In the various mass organizations says that we had constituted a group! The members of the group are no a whole series of demagogie arguments democracy has long ago been ruthlessly facing Communism in France, the an(International Red Aid, Workers Inter without a political basis. It is a fact small fry. They were the leaders of the against paying the fine which would have etxerminated: only the most shadowy nounced party congress will be held national Relier, Frlends of the Soviet that we had no special political platform. party and nothing less. Barbe was a released Thorez for party work: Party rocollections of it remain. And that is shortly entirely under the sight the Unton, Tenants, etc. there is a stagna. But we considered ourselves as the only member of the Political Bureau and of Isaders should not be better treated than in the very nature of Stalinism: a false struggle against the group that he how the Stalinists hope to distract the tion or a retrogression of membership ones capable of applying the correct pol. the Executive Committee of the Com the ordinary revolutionary worker. policy, a policy of blunders and uninteritical line. 11 31. munist International, where he represent was only after an indignant intervention rupted defeats can be imposed upon the attention of the parts from their own Stated in moderated terms, the re Confirming the confessions of Billoux, ed the French party. Celor held the retaricominte che lomahat he doe worker Communists only by bureau enormities, from their own Ineu pacits.
cratic machine which crushes the party from their own blunders in permanence.
solution of the Paris district indicates the representative of the Politient Bureau same two positions. Raymond was on retariat was obliged to pay to pieces as it rolls along Let us hope that the Left Opposition the present state of affairs in the ranks at the Paris district committee meeting the Paris District Committee. Lozeray Barbe reluctance to see Thorez at of official Communism in France, based mentioned above, Frachon declared that was on the Central Committee of the large is now easily comprehensible in the ent and unanswerable example of this upon conditions obtaining in the most the group constituted in the Political party and a member of the Secretariat. light of the revelations Thorez and process than that presented by the in France, despite the fewness of its num.
Barbe were at sword points in the group cannot be given in the recent bers, will be able to arouse at least a important and strongest sector of the Bureau has existed for seven to eight Billoux was secretary of the Young Comparty Paris. In the provinces, the years, that it had groups in the regions, munist League and member of the Ex party and the bourgeoisie had simply history of Stalinism. To And. com small but resolute section of the party which will start delivering tableau is considerably more depressiog. in the districts, in the Paris district, in ecutive of the Young Communist Interdone Barbe a decent turn by incarcerat parison one must depart from the domain vanguard Preparations For Another Decisive the Confederal Bureau of the national. Couthelllas was on the secing Thorez! Only, it must be borne in of the labor movement and search in the some imperatively needed blows, not only Turn retariat of the Galopin was on mind that if such conduct cannot be sewers of bourgeois politics: the seven at political banditry but at the whole the Confederal Bureau of the called Communist, it can surely be com years history of the group is com rottel foundation of Stalinism which unThe decisive turn of the middle of Explaining Away the Excesses Their Influence extended far beyond the pared to the conduct of a gangster to parable only to the conduct and methods derlles it.
last year, even if one is to take only the of Stalinism MAX SHACHTMAN.
limits of seven clansmen.
The report wards his rival.
of Tammany Hall. Its succes would admissions made officially by the Stalin The group disclosed, the new group of the Paris meeting declares that Lar. The writer recalls further an incident, undoubtedly excite the admiration and Paris, November 11, 1931.
The Work of the Greek Opposition The Archio Marxists Lead the Workers in the Class Struggle the Party. The membership began to see, workers, and although these same work ined.
that the Archio Marxists are no Archloery follow our Opposition in the daily Organization fascists. but together with the Party struggle and in all extra parliamentary The participation of the Opposition in are struggling against the hated sys activity, still at the elections they con the general cinss struggles in Greece tinue to regard the Party as the only forced a small number of its adherents Unemployment representative of the and of to leave its ranks. These are the soOn behalf of the International Sectness of the ideas of the Left Opposition, fractions of the Left Opposition in the called Fractionists. who reunited with Since February 1930 the work of or the At the later elections retariat visited the Greek comrades, and they carry on an untiring fight for Left trade unions.
our elements which had already previously with whom stayed four days. became clarification among the workers.
ganizing the unemployed has been be comrades understood this mistake, form been expelled from the Opposition. At The Unton of Employees of Banks gun, accompanied by frequent collisions ed a united front with the Party and first this took on a purely personal charconvinced that the Left Opposition in Greece has become a leading revolutionThe Opposition in Greece, called the and Corporations issue a monthly pub with the police. In Athens. Archio Marxists. far outnumber the lication. This union has 200 members there is a committee of 50 unemployed, called on all workers to vote for the acter, through mudslinging and slander movement there. must emphasize the in the number of readers of their press, the Left Opposition. All the comrades these organizations. Lately general masa thusiasm by the Party comrades and the they took the viewpoint that the Opposiary force in the young working class Party, not only in membership. but also and fully approves the political lines of in Saloniki of 30 members, who direct Party. This action was greeted with en of various comrades. Later, however, fact that the whole revolutionary move not to speak of its quality. Even if the who issue this magazine are among the meetings have been organized. In Athens pressure became so strong that recently tion must give up all political as well ment, both Party and Opposition, is be ing frightfully there were 1, 000 participants, In Piraeus the Party leadership was compelled to as trade union struggles, and thus idealParty recelved more votes than the Left old Party comrades.
terrorized, that antiCommunist laws and special courts are Opposition in the past, it must be re Next week they will also begin the 500 and in Saloniki about 2, 000. An take the Opposition back into the Red ized the beginning stage of the Oppoalprevalent, that severe penalties (lately membered that the Party carries the publication of a new monthly in Jewish, unemployment meeting in Salonikl was Rellet. In all the prisons, too, the option, which had been based on work in position have been received into the col narrow circles.
charged by cavalry, and some were five and six years of prison) are being authority of the and of the The Proletariat, in Saloniki.
Under this slogan they wounded. As a result of our activity so lective organizations of the prisoners.
imposed for mere membership in a comC. on its banner. In all activities acquired a Political Activities munist group, and finally, that the Party force, it is clearly proven that not the outside the elections, as an organized tar, the unemployed already receive tree This was accomplished only by a correct group of elements who have no under These at first consisted of the offer to soup. Our Opposition was the first to united front tactie toward the party. standing of mass struggle. The strug.
and the opposition work under stricts Parts, but the opposition, enjoy the the Party of a united front in the strus take up the struggle for the demands of Trade Unions gle of the Opposition against this slogan illegal conditions.
The work of the Opposition in the forced the Fractionsts to drop it, but In spite of all this, the Opposition is Let us let the facts speak for themselves. Party made no answer. They realized it Marty take it up. One thing should be trade unions is concentrated under the later they took up the slogan of democra strong in numbers; counting all Greece, in spite of the refusal.
The Press It took place at pointed out the class enemy, and its slogan, For Trade Union Units Against the centralism, which they understood as it has today about 1, 400 members. Its the well known trial of the two soldiers, savage armed forces, makes no distine the Splitters! Everywhere in the workmeaning that the majority must submit strongest centers are Athens, Piraeus, Our comrades began with a magazine Party members, who were condemned to tion between the Opposition and the ers centers, among the workers of the to the minority. The theses of Fractionand Saloniki, which are among the most which appeared twice a month. Now it death. demonstration was organized Party.
Party and those who are under reformist ists appeared in the Pali (the theor important centers of the labor movement appears twice a week with an issue of in front of Athens University, at which in Greece. We must however remember to 7, 000 coples. Our comrades are now the majority consisted The demonstrations of war orphans influence, this slogan finds ready accept etical monthly of the Greek Opposition. that these 1, 400 members without excepissuing, or causing to Issue under their comrades: a severe collision with the should also be mentioned here. We car ance. For instance, as a result of the At the moment this group is in course tegrantet Orly established in all mass induence, the following papers: police took place, some of the comrades ried through a demonstration in front untiring work of the Opposition, reunton or disintexration: the honest theoretical magazine, appearing inonthly. were wounded and some arrested, but of the political office of Venizelos, In has been achieved in the bakery and shoe are returning: the rest, consisting of which some 1, 000 took part.
All work is strictly divided among the with an issue of 4, 000 coples.
one comrade was able to deliver speech.
great many formists. Now, after this reunion, the with the Spartacus group and both of members, the activity of each is under The trade unions which are under Then followed demonstrations in the counter with the police a leadership is in the hands of the Op them support the Stalinists in their dirty exacting supervision, as all comrades our influence issue a number of papers court. room. In the course of the trial were wounded.
position. The same roaplts were achiev. struggle against the Opposition: In fact, must give an accurate report twice a which are edited completely along the of the two soldiers one of the Oppost Elections ed with the food industry workers. We their slanders are more bitter and say month on their activity, and a true collines of the Left Opposition. To name tionist comrades were sentenced to four At the elections the Party received forced the Stalinists to accept the reage than those of the Stalinists. On the lective cooperation rules in the organiza only the most important. a) bakery years in jail, only for shouting out to many more votes than our Opposition, union of both organizations and to take most important questions, such as the ation. had the opportunity of talking workers monthls. b) a shoemakers the Judges and the audience. The work but this is explained on two grounds: the bakers union into the general federaluation of Fascism, trade union un.
to a group of comrades from Saloniki, monthly. e) a monthly paper for war ers produce and have to starve, while The members and sympathizere oferation of food Industry workers.
who were in Athens for a conference invalids, The Voice of the Sacrificed. you gentlemen nothing and live on the Opposition in Saloniki are partly Opposition hopes to win over the whole the they take the same postThey were almost without exception (d) a monthly paper for students. Each the fat of the land! For this insultgrouped around young worker elements, federation in a short time. The same tion as the Stalinists. They have all workers. They are among the best of these has a circulation of to 7, 000 to the judges our comrade was sentenced who have not yet reached the legal voting tactics are being applied in the leather formed a Holy Alliance with the purtrained cadres in the labor movement, and is distributed throughout the ento four years in jail. This action how. age, Although the Party 1s constantly and building construction trades. The pose of breaking down the oppositionist very active in dally work, fully pene tire country. An this work is control ever showed good results for the future losing fafluence and now has little in unlons which are led by the Opposition organization.
trated with the conviction of the correct. led and directed by the strictly organized development of the united front with fluence among organized trade union are the most active and the best organ(optinued on page 4)