MIA > Archive > Nicolai Bukharin
From International Press Correspondence, Vol. 3 No. 37 [19], 17 May 1923, pp. 349–350.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Marxists’ Internet Archive.
Moscow, May 1, 1923
A permanent feature of tec proletariat’s May Day has been the slogan: “War on War”! By this question any organization whatsoever may best be tested, since every servility, every treaty with the bourgeoisie, every friendship with the employer, every treason to the class interests of the proletariat, finds its highest expression in the attitude of the organization in question to the bourgeois state: in the defence of its interests, of its machinery, of its expansion.
On this rock the Second International suffered shipwreck in the year 1914!
It is therefore extremely interesting to raise the question as to how matters stand today, when an actual war is proceeding in Europe: the echo and the latest wave front the world events of 1914 to 1918.
Not to lose too many words, we say at once: on the occasion of French Imperialism’s Ruhr outrage, the Second and the Amsterdam Internationals acted precisely as in the year 1014. All the parties and organizations of these “Internationals” ran away from one another and took up their “national” positions; all have straightaway crawled into the mouse-hole of the state interests of their own bourgeoisie.
Unfortunately, we have no tune to read the whole Social-Patriotic press. We know, indeed, quite well what the “Socialism” of Messrs. Vandervelde, Ebert, and Henderson is worth. But every time that we begin to concern ourselves with the exploits of these gentlemen, at once the utter abjectness of these heroes leans into view; they are in reality still more abject than we had thought.
Yes, it is true. Let us turn to the facts.
As is known, before the Ruhr outrage of the French, the entire Social-Patriotic menagerie, with the bourgeois pacifists, with humanitarian and sentimental ladies and with the “progressive” parsons, assembled in an international congress in the zoological gardens of the Hague.
This company framed exceedingly radical resolutions and promised, in the event of a war or danger of war, to employ “every means of struggle” up to the general strike.
The Social-Patriotic sirens announced in every street the rebirth of the glorious International, the power of the Social-Democracy and the like. In every key they sang almost of the dawn of a new era in the history of mankind.
But it came about, that the French invaded the Ruhr province and the war began. And what happened then?
See and hear!
On the same day there arose in the Belgian Chamber of Deputies Vandervelde, the leader of the Secund International, the counsel for the Social-Revolutionaries, the maker of the Versailles Peace, the Socialist of Socialists, a Menshevik among Mensheviks, the humanest of the human, in a word, the noblest of the noble.
And what, in fact, did he say?
“We are all agreed, to a man, that our claims (as against defeated Germany – B.) are just as sacred as the Trench and Italian claims, and they must be met by Germany ... France gave her blood. There is no heavier responsibility than the responsibility of the German Government The German great industry remains a constant danger to peace.”
These words of Vandervelde should be branded upon the forehead of every Menshevik.
The French imperialists pillage, shoot workers, openly and directly set themselves the purpose of plundering the vanquished. Even a little child can see that. Even a blockhead must comprehend it. But the “Socialist” leader declares: the jobbery if sacred; we too will rob; for us too the competition of the German bourgeoisie is dangerous; we too want a share in the booty; we too will bring our pressure to bear.
Upon whom, indeed? Upon defeated Germany, at whose head stands none other than Monsieur Vandervelde’s comrade of the “International”, Herr Ebert!
A fine “struggle” against war! A magnificent “international solidarity”! A pretty specimen – this “International”!
What could be more abject man such a mode of procedure? But this, is by no means an isolated instance. At the session of the Central Committee of the Belgian Socialist (!!) Party, still lovelier voices let themselves be heard.
George Hubin declared his solidarity with Vandervelde and said:
“I greatly regret, that the Vorwärts has recommended a protest strike to the workers of the Ruhr province. The German Social Democracy, which has done nothing to provide against a situation in which the German proletariat is enriching Stinnes. recommends a strike when it is a question of working in the interest of the payment of Reparations ... We need the Reparations. Socialism is not only peace, but also justice ...”
Consider the logic of this! Because the German Social-Democrats, their comrades of the same “International”, have not made a revolution and overthrown Stinnes (observe, incidentally, that for this it would have been necessary io withdraw from the Secoud International), the Belgian Socialists must now, “for the sake of justice” and in the name of Socialism, support Monsieur Poincaré and his gendarmes and assistant headsmen!
De Bruckère declared at the same session, that the name of Scheidemann was covered with “everlasting shame ”. (Scheidemann is one of de Bruckère’s comrades of the “International”.)
René Branquart remarked that the occupation of the Ruhr would also be of advantage to Belgium, and indulged in reminiscences of the German bestialities in the year 1914. He announced to all the world:
“... I have not the courage to say that we (the Franco-Belgian troops. B.) should not march into the Ruhr province, in order not to make any unpleasantnesses for the Boches!” etc. etc.
What more do you wish?
The French Socialists? Do you know what they have done on the occasion of this new danger of war? They strove to convince the government of the unprofitableness of the operation. They would only persuade Poincaré to proceed by other methods. Jouhaux wrote that it would be much better to fleece the Germans by degrees. But to say a single word against the most revolting robbery in history – God forbid! For that there is an “International”, to lick the boots of the Messieurs robbers!
The English Labor Party too has at once understood that it must support its own masters. This it did in the following manner: it issued the slogan, that the matter should be decided by ... the League of Nations! Think of it: the Labor Party, which has only just sworn to organize a general strike, now chooses as judge the most rapacious institution of the bourgeoisie. Of course, because in this the voice of English Capital is strong
Still more comical was the behaviour of the Scottish leaders of the Labor Party. They protested, only think, against whom and what?
They protested against English Capital.
You will say, readers, that that, at any rate, was in order.
Yes, but do you know how they protested? They declared that English Capital was asleep, that the French would pocket single handed the entire booty, that it was time also to acquire something for the London Banks. And the German Social-Democracy? It proceeded to support its own government, voted for Cuno and declared that the workers could now make no demands ot their capitalists.
There is an “International” for you!
The fair words of the Hague are pricked like a soap-bubble. As soon as it smelt of gunpowder, the Social Democrats instantly ran away from one another, and remained the faithful hounds of their Capital
There was, indeed, nothing else to be expected. But the whole affair has made a very deep impression on the Social Democratic workers. Never before was the process of disintegration of the Social Democracy so marked as today. And that means the removal of the greatest obstacle in the path of the Revolution. The fall of Menshevism signifies nine tenths of the victory over international Capital.
Last updated on 12 October 2021