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six-page supplement: n Letters and debate workern CPGB/LPM aggregate Lars t Lih looks at Lenin’s n ticktin vs roberts 1917 ‘Letters from afar’ n Arthur ransome: review No 1161 thursday June 29 2017 towards a Communist Party of the european Union £1/€1.10 seize Occupy requisition 2 weekly June 29 2017 1161 worker letters

Letters may have been the outsourcing of services without a of the anger that followed the fire doesn’t class takes the means of production another of those historical accidents, shortened because of serious fightback. err in the opposite direction. under its wing and protection, and in which reality manifested itself. space. Some names Next we come to the letter of Demarty’s comparison of post- thereby offers the whole of society a Because Labour’s Blairites believed  may have been changed Alan Johnstone (Socialist Party of Grenfell rage with indignation over the way out of this potentially catastrophic Michael Foot’s 1983 leftist election Great Britain), where he castigates MPs’ expense scandal of 2009 seems impasse. manifesto was “the longest suicide Unanswered me for opposing open borders and a bit complacent. In a neighbourhood David Ellis note in history”, they reasoned that William Sarsfield (Letters, June 22) free movement of labour (as did such where the luxury flats of executives Leeds another such manifesto would produce seems to have wilfully misread my ‘racists’ as Arthur Scargill and Bob and bankers stand side by side with the same result. The reasoning was letter of June 15. Nowhere can it even Crow). Aside from him not being high-rise slums; where these slums One-sided faulty then - it was the Malvinas war be inferred that I expected Labour able to quote anything by Marx, are prettified on the outside with In a New Statesman article on the British and the Gang of Four that cost that to lose on June 8 “and lose badly”. Lenin or Trotsky advocating open cheap, flammable materials to protect general election, Helen Lewis writes: election, not the manifesto. They William avoided answering the question borders, Alan even goes so far as to bourgeois aesthetic sensibilities and “Labour’s success on June 8 was allowed the leftist, Andrew Fisher, to I posed - if the major unions affiliated declare we should advocate this under property values, and 79 people are driven by its ambiguous stance on produce the killer document which to the Labour Party have not pulled capitalism - now! He proudly declares incinerated as a result, the reaction Brexit. To ‘leavers’, it could wink at would hopefully kill Corbyn off and it left, why would PCS, the NUT, the he is more advanced than the CPGB, cannot be devoid of class content. This ending freedom of movement when return Labour to the safe arms of RMT affiliating succeed (as various whose position is that this would be is one thing that distinguishes it from they worried about immigration; to Blairite reaction. writers in the Weekly Worker ask us to deliverable under world socialism (on general public discontent over political ‘remainers’, it offered a critique of the The plan went disastrously wrong. do) where they have totally failed? In that I agree). corruption. immigrant-bashing rhetoric of recent Although the manifesto was only a fact the super-unions haven’t even tried. Alan is heavy on patronising Another distinguishing mark times. But can that coalition hold, as mild social democratic document, Unions affiliate to Labour and expect comments, but totally silent on how is the unmistakable change in the the true shape of Brexit solidifies? nevertheless it reversed the Miliband them to promise some modest benefits this can actually be achieved under political atmosphere . Voters in the Over the next few months, Jeremy austerity-lite ‘cuts too far, too fast’ for their members rather than fight the capitalism. This vacuousness is common US and UK, partly from pent-up Corbyn’s biggest decision will be grovelling before the neoliberal employers. Knighthoods follow for to all open borderists I come across class resentment, are now defying this: which half of my voters should I agenda, unchallenged since 1997 those union barons. who, once they start being asked the the ruling classes in referendums disappoint?” (June 23). victory of Blair. It began moving in William is silent on my contention most obvious questions, accuse you of and casting their voting ballots for This article makes some cogent the other direction - hesitatingly and that PCS (and NUT and RMT) racism and excuse themselves never to political mavericks, some of whom points, but it is ultimately one-sided. unconfidently, but moving. affiliating to the Labour Party would discuss the issue with you again. When call themselves socialists. Demarty It is not wholly true that Labour These manifestos and not Brexit simply see us leaned on by Unison, did so-called Marxists turn into Oxfam doesn’t consider the possibility that, did so well in the election because issues now determined the character Unite, GMB and told to shut up and humanitarians and guilty white liberals? against such a background, the protests it took an ambiguous stance on of the election. The Tory manifesto not risk Labour’s electoral chances Alan resorts to the usual predictable of Kensington’s neglected half may just Brexit. Nor is it wholly true that drew howls of outrage even from their by calling for united industrial action insults rather than answer my simple resound more loudly than they would Corbyn is an instinctive Brexiteer own supporters. Many proposals like over anything! question about how he would deal, as have eight years ago. who opportunistically changed his the dementia tax, free school meals Next William dismisses my concern a Polish shop steward, with a factory And, even if Demarty is right to line and then did not campaign in the and reinstating foxhunting either had that the Labour left did not argue being relocated from Britain to Poland, dampen the ardour of those inclined to referendum so as not to alienate one to be withdrawn immediately or did Jeremy should stand for Labour leader on lower wages with local Poles read too much into the events, I wonder section of his voters. That is only half not make it into the queen’s speech. nor did they get him the necessary queuing up for jobs faced with the if his tone is a little too detached. the truth. In contrast, Labour’s manifesto was nominations. William’s attitude is ‘so displaced British ‘workers following It seems to me that Marxist writers And to analyse and react to the warmly received and it was this that what?’ Corbyn is the leader now. Well, the movement of capital’ being willing should do more than coolly describe situation we must see the whole won back the working class Brexiteers this matters. The left did not put him up to work for even lower wages than those the limits of local spontaneous class picture. Of course, the EU is a in the north of England and elsewhere, nor get him there, so to whom is Jeremy Poles. The trite answer: ‘Everyone joins anger. They should participate in and bosses’ club, but the question is: not the fudge over Brexit as asserted accountable? a union and argues for higher wages’. seek to generalise it. I think Ben Okri’s which location leaves the British by the New Statesman article and the Also not answered are my Erm, you cannot join a union usually poem, which he reads in the following and European working class best others mentioned above. Abolition points about the intended castration unless you are employed. Is the Polish video, fulfils this requirement better placed politically to fight austerity of university tuition fees, railway of Momentum, that the barring of shop steward to tell his local fellow than Demarty’s article: http://tinyurl. and the coming recession, alone or nationalisation, free school meals, thousands of leftwingers still stands, Poles, ‘We are internationalists - let com/y8hog4fb. in conjunction with their comrades social housing, defence of the NHS, whether the left is growing in the this employer choose who they want to Jim Creegan in Europe? A reformist conception etc. Labour Party (given the 800,000 employ. We are not nasty nationalists New York would say that alone, under British This analysis has serious members he crowed about) whether and if they choose all these British sovereignty, where we can pass laws in implications for Labour. If the fudge the new joiners are actually getting workers who have come here, so be it.’ Socialist Brexit favour of the working class, nationalise over Brexit continues, the forward involved in their local parties or are Peter Manson did not answer that There can be no doubt that the hyper- the rail and other utilities - and then momentum of Labour will be lost over simply just Corbyn worshippers rather question either. neoliberals and Thatcherites of the Tory the leading heights of industry and an concessions on immigration controls than serious activists. Again, all this I am greeted with the usual silence Party are planning to use the Brexit Enabling Act, and, bingo, we’re there: and being forced to accept a final matters if people like me (and their on whether indigenous people born in process to initiate a bout of ‘creative socialism! This is the line from the deal without another referendum. All union) are expected to join Labour a country have any rights whatsoever destruction’ that would shock even the Morning Star, Socialist Party, Socialist political and industrial struggles are and act to pull it left. These questions over those foreigners entering their Tory governments of the 1980s. Appeal, Socialist Workers Party and far better tackled on a European-wide are damned as my being gloomy and country. Arguing that Geordies and British capitalism has failed and Counterfire. and ultimately global basis, not on pessimistic. Scousers are just smaller units like it cannot compete in the European On the other hand, there is the a little Englander British road to Also unanswered is the key nations is disingenuous. National single market any longer, but the revolutionary and internationalist socialism one. That is the Trotskyist, question of how on earth the organised borders are a reality now. I accept it European Union is preventing the perspective. The 1917 world internationalist perspective. revolutionary left can actually reach may be different under world socialism. elites from opening the economy to the revolution one. One continually and Gerry Downing and win Labour Party new members Are the Palestinians racist for full force of international competition progressively being abandoned by the Socialist Fight over if they are not active? Thought opposing Zionist settlers taking over and deregulation that can clear out above-mentioned groups. waves perhaps, William? As for who ‘their country’, or isn’t it theirs? the old and let in the new. The mass Corbyn’s stance on the referendum DUP ‘morality’ will be the delegates at the next Labour Workers do not have a right to go unemployment and bankruptcies that was driven by two considerations. Following Theresa May’s deal with the conference it won’t be any of the new anywhere they want, even for a better normally accompany failure must be From his reformist standpoint of the Democratic Unionist Party, I’ve seen a joiners if they are not active in their life, without any regard whatsoever allowed to happen and the Great Repeal reformability of the EU, his seven and couple of women defending the DUP, CLP! Perhaps William thinks the new for those already inhabiting the Bill and trade deals that open Britain a half out of 10 was also based on the saying that they don’t oppose women’s young members can just turn up on country they have imposed themselves up to China, India, Brazil and the giant reactionary character of the Brexit rights: they only oppose abortion. the day? on - illegal immigrants are seeking corporations will ensure it. campaign, its anti-immigrant essence, Now, I wish no-one ever felt the need William asserts we have an historic to impose themselves on others But, of course, the economy will and the encouragement it gave to the to terminate a pregnancy and know that opportunity to remake the Labour (queue-jumpers). be asset-stripped, tens of thousands of far-right little Englanders, with the the decision to do so is only achieved Party. Er, how and who will do this and They may well be desperate, but the small and medium businesses sent to surge in attacks on immigrants and amidst a whole bucketload of soul- remake it into … what? The tired old consequences of mass, uncontrolled the wall and millions of workers will Muslims. Lexiteers never could take searching. But let me explain the DUP and failed project once again. immigration is to make the indigenous be made unemployed and destitute for that character away from Nigel Farage stance on abortion. Their rules mean I do not believe that the humble pie population also desperate. The open no good reason, because - even if this and the Tory far right. that a woman who finds she is carrying eaters have changed their stance on borderists are the ones driving people was all ‘a price worth paying’, as the So now we come to the question a child with a fatal foetal abnormality Corbyn’s principles - they have just to the far right. charming Norman Lamont said of the of why Corbyn did so well in the is forced to either take her pregnancy accepted he looks more electable now. I One further point I get no answers mass unemployment unleashed by his election less than a month ago despite to full term and deliver her dead child did not say the civil war was over - I was to - if advocating controlling borders is government - there is no possibility of that rightist surge a year ago - and the or until she begins to bleed heavily and being ironic, William. The (unadopted) racist then Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in capitalist creation following the social disastrous results in the local elections spontaneously aborts, putting her own Chartist demands I referred to also pledging to ‘manage migration’ is also and economic destruction. just a few weeks before the general life at considerable risk. Those who matter, as they determine whether a racist. So why does the Weekly Worker, Capitalism has reached the end elections. Why the eclipse of the UK become pregnant through rape and/or party’s MPs are accountable to their Johnstone and co support him? of its road. It has passed its sell-by Independence Party after their great incest are made to carry and deliver members. By design, from the early Dave Vincent date. It is globally super-monopolised, victory in the referendum and winning their abuser’s child - heaping systemic days of the Labour Party the PLP is not. Manchester stagnant, sclerotic, dead and decaying. the EU elections a few years ago? Is oppression right on top of the abuse and Jeremy is doing nothing to change the Imperialism was the highest stage of it really true, as this New Statesman oppression those women have already system of patronage. Too detached capitalism, while Pax Americana and article and John Rees, Lindsey German suffered at the hands of their attackers. As for my accepting the situation Paul Demarty’s journalistic prose not globalisation, now rapidly unravelling, and Tariq Ali say, that it was Corbyn’s Unless, of course, you happen not to today as it is, William clearly does only draws the reader in: it scintillates. were the highest stage of imperialism. acceptance of the ‘will of the people’ be poor as well as female, and have the not know me. I am a veteran attender That, in addition to his keen political There are no political-economic and voting to trigger article 50 that means to flout the DUP’s ‘Christian’ of protests, I agitate for my branch insight, is the reason I devour his articles arrangements that can replace the mollified and won over the working laws. In which case, you still have to members to get more involved, I put the day they appear, often with a twinge current ones that could give capitalism class Brexiteers in the north? travel abroad to seek a termination motions to conference on key issues of writer’s envy. His latest piece on the a new lease of life - even a technological That again is half the truth. Probably in the midst of all your turmoil at of the day. My main stance is that Grenfell Tower is strong on explaining leap would now cost jobs rather than it is correct that constituencies like finding yourself pregnant in these trade unions are failing to fight back the larger causes of the tragedy, as well create them. many in London and Cambridge and circumstances. precisely because they are affiliated as in suggesting programmatic demands A capitalist ‘remain’ is not an option Stroud were won because of the soft That is quite clearly not supporting to the Labour Party. I do not accept socialists could offer in response. Yet I then, but a capitalist Brexit is not going Brexit stance, but these are relatively women’s rights and I challenge anyone that Labour councils should impose wonder if his criticism of the Socialist to solve anything either. This is why a wealthy middle class and not working to tell me otherwise. Tory cuts, but Labour-affiliated unions Workers Party’s Charlie Kimber for socialist Brexit is the only reasonable class. Barbara Campbell clearly do, as they accept the job cuts, overestimating the political significance option. A Brexit by which the working Missing from this analysis is Stockton-on-Tees BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07704 903382 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly 3 worker 1161 June 29 2017 aggregate

Bringing out our differences London Communist Forum Sunday July 2, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional Peter Manson reports on last weekend’s meeting Central Committee, Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. Followed by open discussion and reading group: study of August Nimtz’s Lenin’s electoral strategy from Marx and Engels through the revolution of 1905. This meeting: chapter 1, ‘What Marx and Engels bequeathed’ (continued). Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk; and Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. Radical Anthropology Group Tuesday July 4, 6.45pm: ‘The musical precipitation of spirits, saints and selves: ritual, music and trance in Algerian popular Islam’. Speaker: Tamara Turner. Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: http://radicalanthropologygroup.org. The revolution will be photocopied Saturday July 1, 6pm to midnight: Art exhibition, Library, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2. Bar available (last entry 11.30pm) Free admission. Organised by Bishopsgate Institute: www.bishopsgate.org.uk. Happy birthday, NHS Saturday July 1 to Wednesday July 5, all day: Street parties followed by national day of action in support of the NHS, nationwide. ‘No cuts, no closures, no privatisation’. Organised by People’s Assembly: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk. National Shop Stewards Network Saturday July 1: Annual conference cancelled. Jeremy Corbyn at Glastonbury Not one more day Saturday July 1, 12 noon: Protest against continued Tory government. he main item on the agenda of he wondered. After all, the SWP calls For the many. On the anti-trade union Assemble BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1, for the June 25 meeting of CPGB and for Scottish independence, yet the laws, for instance, all it proposed was march to parliament. Labour Party Marxists comrades Scottish National Party lost a big slice the repeal of the Tories’ latest, 2016, Organised by People’s Assembly: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk. wasT a discussion on the situation in of its support. act. In other words, a “complete Latin America in crisis? Britain following the general election. Comrade Walker conceded that point internalisation” of Thatcher. Tuesday July 4, 6.30pm: Public meeting, ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, To that end the Provisional Central when she began her own introduction Comrade Phil Kent said that he London SE1. With Tariq Ali, Christine Blower and former MP Colin Burgon. Committee had put forward a set - “For socialists” should be dropped, too had thought Labour would “get Organised by Venezuela Solidarity Campaign: theses dealing with the general election. but she thought that the PCC version hammered” on June 8, but, although www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk. However, comrade Catherine Walker “doesn’t read like theses - they deal with Corbyn is now more popular than ever, had criticised these theses mainly lots of points that have already been we should eventually expect some kind The big meeting for their length, and had put forward covered in the Weekly Worker”. She of backlash against Labour. Saturday July 8, 7am till late: Durham Miners’ Gala. Main assembly an alternative, much briefer set of also thought it would have been useful Another visitor, Lawrence Parker, point: Market Place, Durham DH1. Also Durham Marriott Hotel Royal propositions. to attempt to explain why Labour had started by commenting on the Liberal County, Old Elvet, Durham DH1. In presenting the PCC theses, Jack done so well. But her main criticism, Democrats’ electoral showing. Unlike Organised by Durham Miners Association: www.durhamminers.org/gala. Conrad declared that there is nothing apart from the length, was the fact that comrade Conrad, he had not expected wrong with “lengthy” theses as such the PCC version “doesn’t admit we the Lib Dems to benefit much from their Trump vs China: new cold war? Monday July 10, 7.30pm: Public meeting, Brent Trades Hall (London - surely what matters is thir content. were wrong” in relation to the likely position as the only major party still Apollo Club), 375 High Road, Willesden, He wondered if this criticism actually result. She also thought that we had favouring membership of the European London NW10. Speaker: Jude Woodward, writer and journalist. disguised some political difference. In been wrong in another respect - a ‘left’ Union - people remember only too Organised by Brent Stop the War: fact, he said, what comrade Walker had programme, of the kind demanded well the despicable part they played in https://en-gb.facebook.com/BrentStoptheWar. omitted in her version - not just Ukip, the by certain revolutionary groups, had the coalition government under David Lib Dems and Tories, but the role of the succeeded in winning millions of votes. Cameron. He also commented on the In conversation with Medea Benjamin European Union, support amongst some Finally she thought that a set of theses role of the media, which he thought was Wednesday July 12, 6.30pm: Public meeting, Sands Films, 82 St on the left for a so-called ‘progressive should “distinguish us from others”, to mainly reinforce people’s existing Marychurch Street, London SE16. ‘Trump, the special relationship and alliance’ and the politicisation of large but these were just “not sharp enough”. ideas, rather than shape them - and the “war on terror”’. sections of youth - all these were the same applied to social media, he Organised by Stop the War Coalition: www.stopwar.org.uk. essential elements in helping us grasp Debate contended. the post-election political situation. In reply to her claim that many of the Vernon Price complained that not Afghanistan: the forgotten war Comrade Walker had also criticised points in the PCC theses had already enough time had been allocated to the Wednesday July 12, 7.30pm: Public meeting, Friends Meeting House, the PCC theses for not being forthright been covered in the Weekly Worker, I current discussion, especially in view Friargate, York YO1. Speaker: Maya Evans (Voices for Creative Non- enough in admitting that we, like stated that the same applied to those of the length and complexity of the Violence). many others, had got our predictions she had kept in her version. Comrade theses. He also said that a “major flaw” Organised by York Against the War: of the election result wrong. Yes, said Walker had reduced the theses to a was that they did not end in “what we www.facebook.com/YorkAgainstTheWar. comrade Conrad, we thought there discussion on the Labour Party - not do” - what are our immediate tasks in 200 years of protest would be an increased Tory majority illegitimate, but the idea was to discuss the post-election situation? Simon Wells Thursday July 13, 6.30pm: History and politics educational, and we were clearly wrong. But the and bring out disagreements on the also thought the conclusion was “not Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2. Survey of large- purpose of making such predictions current overall political situation, not sharp enough” - he had really wanted scale protest in Britain since the early 19th century. £11. Bar available was actually to promote a particular just on Labour. the PCC to “go back and rewrite it”. throughout. strategic line. By warning of the danger Comrade Moshé Machover, a non- Replying to these points, comrade Organised by Bishopsgate Institute: www.bishopsgate.org.uk/event/877/ of a bad Labour defeat, we were trying CPGB guest at the aggregate, made Conrad said it was rather unsatisfactory We-Are-Angry---200-Years-of-Protest-in-Britain. to counter the ensuing demoralisation some general observations about the to complain in the way the last two of those who thought that a Corbyn-led election result. He pointed out that, just speakers had done, yet fail to propose Tolpuddle 2017 Labour government was the “big as Margaret Thatcher had managed to any amendments. He did accept, Friday July 14, 12 noon to Sunday July 16, 6pm: Festival, Dorchester prize”. We disagreed: our aim must be shift British politics to the right, Corbyn however, that the last few paragraphs Road, Tolpuddle, Dorset DT2. the transformation of the Labour Party had shifted it to the left. Labour - now were far from perfect and should not Organised by Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival: www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk. into a united front of a special kind. the biggest political party in Europe - be regarded as “the last word”. He Britain still needs a pay rise And today the mood on much of had been able to mobilise many, mainly also accepted comrade Macnair’s Monday July 17, 5.30pm: Rally, central London - exact location soon the left is based on the belief that such young, canvassers. He also pointed to amendments, as well as one from to be announced. Public-sector workers demand higher wages. a “big prize” is within our grasp. The the failings of opinion polls, based on comrade Becker, which stressed our Organised by Trades Union Congress: fact that the manifesto drawn up by several invalid assumptions. failure to predict the election results. www.tuc.org.uk/events/britain-still-needs-payrise-rally. Jeremy Corbyn’s team, For the many, However, a Labour government He said that it was wrong to say ‘No not the few, is not only not socialist, could never be anything but reformist to a Labour government’. While we It starts here! but is actually less radical than, say, - under Corbyn its basically rightwing should not support a manifesto like For Saturday July 22 to Sunday July 23, 10am to 5.30pm: Weekend-long Michael Foot’s 1983 manifesto, seems policies would be dressed up in ‘old the many, we should defend any Labour human rights/anti-arms event, Amnesty International Human Rights to elude them. Labour’ clothes. He agreed that government from attacks from the Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2. We need to emphasise the need for intervening in the Labour Party must be right. But, of course, our main emphasis Organised by Campaign Against Arms Trade: political independence from Corbyn the correct strategy, but that would leave was on the aim of transforming the www.facebook.com/campaignagainstarmstrade. and John McDonnell - after all, a failed Marxists with a “delicate problem” Labour Party. Labour government would be likely to - how can we be support a Labour With comrade Becker agreeing to Das Kapital and Marx’s economics make way for a Tory administration that government that runs capitalism? withdraw her alternative theses, the Thursday August 31, 7pm: Educational, Marx Memorial Library, 37A was even more rightwing. Comrade For his part, PCC member Mike PCC version, as amended, was then Clerkenwell Green, London EC1.With professor Ben Fine. Conrad also criticised the phrase with Macnair agreed with comrade Walker accepted unanimously1 l Hosted by Marx Memorial Library: www.marx-memorial-library.org. which comrade Walker began her in one respect - there was “too much CPGB wills theses: “For socialists, the results of fat” on the theses. But he still preferred [email protected] Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name the June 8 general election were almost the PCC version (and proposed a and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If without exception excellent.” While couple of minor amendments). Like Notes you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. they were excellent for us, what about others, he pointed out that there was 1. The final version can be viewed at http://tinyurl. the likes of the Socialist Workers Party, very little that was progressive about com/yayj9zw6. 4 weekly June 29 2017 1161 worker housing Seize, occupy, requisition Eddie Ford welcomes Jeremy Corbyn’s militant approach to the housing crisis

o far the death toll from the are being set up to defend the rights Bramley led 1,500 homeless people Grenfell Tower fire remains and interests of Grenfell residents, in an invasion of vacant luxury flats Sat 79, but the true figure is and all those in a similar situation in the Tory-controlled boroughs of expected to be higher. Indeed, some - direct action from below is only Kensington, Pimlico and St John’s believe that the real number of people to be encouraged and supported. Wood. Stepney councillor Tubby Rosen killed is for the moment being covered Obviously, Tory politicians and the took a hundred homeless families into up by the authorities. David Lammy, rightwing press are outraged by these Duchess of Bedford House in leafy the Labour MP for Tottenham, told attacks on the sanctity of private Holland Park. Lord Ilchester’s mansion the BBC’s Newsnight that people are property. One horrified government came next. Another CPGB councillor, saying to him that there could have minister told The Daily Telegraph Joyce Alergant, took hundreds of been “civil unrest” if the true figures that the Labour leadership is “on the homeless people into a vacant block of had been released immediately.1 cusp of encouraging insurrection”. flats formerly occupied by US soldiers. Not exactly exuding faith in the The same paper commented that The Labour cabinet did not approve. powers that be, Lammy also urged Corbyn’s call to seize rich people’s The squatting “has been instigated and the prime minister to immediately houses for Grenfell victims “shows organised by the Communist Party obtain all pertinent documents (emails, his true, disturbing nature” (June and must result in hindering rather minutes of meetings, correspondence 16) and informs us that the Labour than helping the arrangements made with contractors, safety assessments, Party’s “disregard for property rights for the orderly rehousing of those in specifications and reports, etc) before is extraordinarily worrying” - but is need of accommodation”. Orders were they get destroyed or ‘lost’. For Lammy, “significant for confirming what many issued for eviction and the cutting off it is imperative that “everyone culpable of us long suspected”: that the Labour of gas, electricity and water supplies. for what happened at Grenfell Tower is Squatting: Ivanhoe Hotel, 1946 leader “holds the concept of private Five CPGB councillors were charged held to account and feels the full force property - a necessary foundation with “conspiring to incite and direct of the law” - as “we may find that there residents were asked to find alternative Interestingly, though hardly of our prosperity and freedom - in trespass” - not wanting to turn them is blood on the hands of a number of accommodation or report to a local surprisingly, we also discover from disdain” (June 23). With absolute into martyrs, the judge bound them organisations”. leisure centre, where hundreds of Kensington’s housing and property predictability, but no less disgustingly over for good behaviour. Meanwhile, frustrated by the slow mattresses had been laid out - others scrutiny committee that the area is for that, Theresa May flatly rejected There was a tactical retreat from progress being made by the various were offered hotel rooms for the night. plagued by offshore owners with names Corbyn’s demand to requisition empty the more high-profile occupations, bodies investigating the fire - or maybe Less than reassuringly, a government like ‘Property International Holdings houses - a spokeswoman for the prime Nonetheless, under mass pressure local suspicious of their motives - a new spokesman said there was a “particular Ltd’ - based in tax havens like the minister saying that “we don’t support authorities began to requisition empty residents’ group of 86 families, called set of circumstances” in Camden, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda or proposals to seize private property”. properties and find accommodation for Grenfell United, has been formed as inspections had also found that Jersey - and that a huge swathe of this the squatters. Many thousands stayed on WhatsApp to begin a parallel or hundreds of fire doors were “missing” area, spanning most of the properties A ‘just right’ on in the former RAF and army camps alternative investigation by compiling - despite that, some residents refused between Knightsbridge and Sloane Alas, I do not think the Labour leadership for years afterwards. a list of the victims and survivors of the to leave. Square, has been in the possession of the is about to embark on a full-scale frontal The lesson for 2017 is obvious. fire. The founder of the group, Sajad Theresa May has ordered a “major” Earl Cadogan family for over 300 years.5 assault on private property rights - but, Tenants groups, left organisation, trade Jamalvatan, who lived on the third national inquiry into the disaster, on Anyhow, the Labour leader said from our perspective, it is madness to unions, local Constituency Labour floor of the block, said he was trying to top of the previously announced public that he was “very angry” that so many expect that capitalism can fulfil the Parties need to defy the law - and the organise a meeting between the council inquiry. Grenfell residents have written people had lost their lives in the blaze. basic human need for shelter. However, sacred rights of property - and house and all the survivors in one place, but to the prime minister demanding the After listening to flannel from various Corbyn and Abbott were totally right the homeless through occupying vacant that it was proving difficult to arrange: investigation leaves “no stone unturned” government ministers about Grenfell to suggest - at least implicitly - that flats and houses. Follow the lead of the “They don’t want to face 400 people - it “must identify each and every being a “national tragedy”, etc, Corbyn vacant properties should be squatted 1946 CPGB ... and Jeremy Corbyn. in a room. They prefer to deal with us individual and organisation who must demanded urgent action. “Kensington to provide housing for those made More generally, as laid out in the individually”. And another grassroots bear responsibility and accountability is a tale of two cities,” he said, with homeless by the fire or evacuations. CPGB’s Draft programme (section survivors’ group has been setup, Justice for this tragedy and the mishandling of the southern area the wealthiest part Taking matters into our own hands has 3.8), our demands should include: 4 Grenfell, which is also attempting the aftermath”. There must be “swift of the whole country - whilst the north, a long history in Britain - something  a “massive revival of council and other to establish an accurate list of those recommendations”, it continues, to where Grenfell Tower is situated, is that deserves to be celebrated, whether social house-building programmes”; who died. “ensure there can be no chance of a the poorest ward in the whole country. during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 or  council and social housing “must be Whatever the truth of allegations repeat of this disaster elsewhere”. As far “It can’t be acceptable that in London the Diggers in the 17th Century. They high-quality, energy-efficient and with made by Lammy et al, the Grenfell fire as we can tell at the moment, the central we have luxury buildings and luxury occupied disused common land and spacious rooms”; - started by a faulty fridge-freezer - has cause of the fire was the gap between the flats left empty as land banking for the cultivated it collectively on the basis,  accommodation must be “allocated exposed the appalling living conditions cladding and the insulation acting like a future, while the homeless and the poor as Gerrard Winstanley said, that “the on the basis of need and rents set at a that millions of people have to endure chimney to spread the fire.3 look for somewhere to live.” Corbyn poorest man hath as true a title and just token level” with “life-long tenure”; in today’s Britain. Ignored, neglected The police are now considering then made the call to “requisition” right to the land as the richest man”.6  “communal housing schemes with and abused, their lives are at risk every manslaughter charges in relation to nearby expensive properties to ensure Often, of course, squatting is a shared services, gardens, swimming day, whilst a pampered minority enjoy the inferno, stating that documents Grenfell residents were housed matter of sheer necessity, rather than pools, gyms, etc should be included an opulent lifestyle almost worthy and materials had been seized from a locally. He noted that if emergency the product of an egalitarian philosophy as part of the mix of housing options”; of a Roman emperor - delivered to number of organisations. But no-one accommodation could be found for - such as after World War II, when  all housing estates and blocks of them by the very British cult of ‘home has been questioned yet, as it was “too stranded airline passengers, then the so many returning ‘heroes’ found flats “should be democratically run by ownership’. At one stage, TV was early” in the investigation. Using far victims of Grenfell Tower should get themselves homeless. The severe tenants in conjunction with the local dominated by near endless programmes stronger language, John McDonnell, similar support: “Somehow or other, it post-war housing crisis was even authorities and relevant trade unions”; about how to buy or sell your property - speaking at Glastonbury - now seems to be beyond the wit of the public worse than that of 1918, and one of the  a “publicly-owned building corporation” at insufferable dinner parties you heard seemingly the natural venue for senior services to deal with the crisis facing a greatest challenges faced by the new must be established “to ensure that about hardly anything else. Your house Labour politicians - said the Grenfell relatively small number of people in a Attlee administration.7 The demands planned targets for house-building was just another financial asset. victims had been “murdered by country of 65 million,” he said. of wartime production meant that are reached and to provide permanent Telling us all we need to know, at political decisions”. This was a natural Then a few days later, the Labour house-building almost came to a halt employment and ongoing training for the time of writing safety checks on consequence of what happens when leader struck an even more radical for the duration, while the population building workers”.8 120 blocks in 37 areas in England have you “view housing as only for financial note: “There are a large number of needing homes grew - and in World Housing must be ripped away from had a 100% failure rate - a sort of grisly speculation rather than for meeting a deliberately kept vacant flats and War II there was the additional factor the grasp of sharks and profiteers. consistency. All the tests conducted basic human need”. With monstrous properties all over London - it’s called of damage to the housing stock from Housing is a need just like education so far, it seems, have been on local hypocrisy, MPs and the rightwing landbanking. People with a lot of air raids. The number of usable houses and health. It should be considered a authority-owned blocks rather than press have accused McDonnell of money buy a house, buy a flat, keep fell by 400,000 between 1939 and 1945. “just right” l private buildings - though samples of “politicising” the disaster! it empty” - what some people call Under the leadership of the cladding are now being sought from the ‘buy to leave’ market. Corbyn’s Communist Party a huge squatting [email protected] schools and hospitals as well. The NHS Crisis response was: “Occupy it, compulsory movement developed. In July and has identified as many as 30 hospital Responding to the crisis, Jeremy Corbyn purchase it, requisition it” - there are a August 1946 former RAF and army trusts in England that have cladding said the government should seize or “lot of things you can do”. He went on camps were targeted. Families Notes made of material similar to that used at requisition empty homes to house to say: “It’s all very well putting our moved into Nissen huts. Occupation 1. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ grenfell-tower-fire-cover-up-death-toll-stop-riot- Grenfell or about which there are other residents of Grenfell Tower. According arms round people during the crisis, committees were elected to oversee david-lammy-mp-labour-london- unresolved fire safety concerns - nine to the department for communities and but homelessness is rising, the housing repairs. The CPGB demanded that prevent-a7809911.html. hospitals deemed to be at “greatest risk” local government, the latest figures for crisis is getting worse.” Encouragingly, the authorities lay on gas, water 2. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/23/ are now receiving support from the Kensington and Chelsea, the borough in McDonnell, Diane Abbott and others in and electricity. In many areas the camden-to-evacuate-taplow-tower-over-fire- safety-fears-after-grenfell-disaster. regulator, NHS Improvement. which Grenfell is situated, reveal there the Labour Party have backed Corbyn’s squatters got the backing of the local 3. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ Scarily, at the weekend hundreds are 1,399 vacant dwellings as of April stance. Labour council and MP. In October london-fire-grenfell-tower-cladding-architects- of residents were evacuated from five 2017 - and the number has not dropped Communists welcome the Labour 1946, Aneurin Bevan reported to the firefighters-experts-reason-why-cause-a7789336. high-rise blocks in Camden - with below a thousand for over a decade (in leader’s militant call to expropriate Commons that 1,038 camps in England html. 4. https://whoownsengland.org/2017/06/18/where- residents on the Chalcots estate in fact, obscenely, some homes have lain empty and unused properties, which and Wales were occupied by 39,535 are-the-empty-homes-in-kensington. 4 Swiss Cottage woken during the empty for up to 15 years). Given that stands in healthy contrast to recent people. 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Cadogan. middle of the night and told to leave 600 people ‘officially’ lived in Grenfell accommodating noises to the right - The second wave came in early 6. From True commonwealth’s freedom c1649. immediately, after the council said Tower, though the actual number could such as the complete nonsense about September 1946. This action, termed 7. See H Webber, ‘A domestic rebellion: the squatters’ movement of 1946’ Ex Historia No4, it could not guarantee their safety - be higher, there are more than enough keeping Trident, but without nuclear the ‘Great Sunday Squat’, dominated pp125-46. cladding similar to that on Grenfell empty homes in the borough to house missiles. Obviously, we also welcome the media for weeks. In London CPGB 8. http://cpgb.org.uk/pages/programme/3- Tower had been found.2 The confused them all. the fact that grassroots organisations councillor and district secretary Ted immediate-demands. 5i Supplement Corrections from up close Censorship or retrofit? In the third part of the series, ‘All power to the soviets’, Lars T Lih looks at Lenin’s ‘Letters from afar’ and the reaction of the Bolsheviks he standard ‘rearming the party’ we will have a hard time finding even interpretation of Bolshevism in the germs of later conflict in this T1917 is a gripping and highly episode. We will be less tempted to dramatic narrative that goes something insist that there must have been some like this: old Bolshevism is rendered sort of boundary line between Lenin irrelevant by the February revolution, and the other Bolsheviks. Of course, as the Russian Bolsheviks flounder until Alexander Rabinowitch has shown us in Lenin returns home and rearms the such detail, there was plenty of conflict party, and the party is subsequently within Bolshevik ranks during 1917 divided over fundamental issues (as earlier and later) - but these were throughout the year. Party unity is conflicts within a shared understanding: restored - to the extent that it was tactical conflicts that produced different restored - after the other leading groupings on different issues. Bolsheviks cave in to Lenin’s superior The following section sets out the force of will. Only by these means was factual conclusions that by themselves the party rearmed by a new strategy invalidate the standard account of that proclaimed the socialist nature of the Letter (for supporting arguments, the revolution - an essential condition qualifications, references, etc, see for Bolshevik victory in October. my original Kritika article). The rest Observers with strikingly opposed of the essay examines the editorial political viewpoints all had their process in detail. While based on reasons for supporting some version my earlier findings, the present of this ‘rearming’ narrative.1 This discussion employs a new and more story seemed doubly confirmed when comprehensive framework that gives it became known in the 1950s that more emphasis to the creative moulding the version of Lenin’s first ‘Letter by the Pravda team. from afar’ that was printed in Pravda in March 1917 had been heavily edited, with almost a fourth of the text Odyssey of the removed. This fact became the basis letter of a vivid and persuasive anecdote of On March 7 1917, a week after the how the flabbergasted and frightened abdication of the tsar, Lenin completed Petrograd Bolsheviks censored Lenin, the first ‘Letter from afar’, which their own vozhd (leader). he promptly sent off to Aleksandra Here is how the story is usually Kollontai in Oslo (then Christiana). told: in early March 1917, immediately Although he circulated the texts of the after the fall of the tsar, Lenin set letters in Switzerland, Lenin had his down his reaction to the cataclysmic heart set on sending them to Petrograd events in Russia in four ‘Letters from for publication in the newly revived afar’, using the skimpy news reports Pravda. Under wartime conditions, using available to him in Switzerland. But Kollontai as a very circuitous courier the Petrograd Bolsheviks were utterly seemed the best bet. The other three scandalised by the views expressed letters were written between March 8 in Lenin’s letters, owing to his bold and 12, after which Lenin concentrated innovations that broke fundamentally wholly on the practical task of getting with old Bolshevism. Lenin’s audacity back to Russia (he finally got there at so flustered the editors of Pravda the beginning of April). that they refused to publish three of In Oslo, Kollontai wrote in her diary the ‘Letters from afar’, and even the on March 13: one letter that was actually published Lenin: from factional polemics to mass politics was heavily censored with cuts that It is now more important [than ever] disfigured its essential message. of Lenin’s Letter, the Petrograd it! But adjustments had to be made, in Petrograd. We also see the basic to be there [in Russia]. We must give Some years ago, while perusing a Bolsheviks enthusiastically endorsed adjustments that were straightforward contours of the necessary adjustment, direction to the party in our spirit, Soviet-era document collection, I ran it. The changes made to his text had and logical, but nevertheless not at all first by senior Bolsheviks, such as we must immediately draw a sharp across a telegram to Lenin from his specific and limited aims: they were automatic. These adjustments can be Kamenev and Stalin, and later by line between us and the Provisional sister, Maria, that she sent immediately not meant to censor or deform his summed up with this overall formula: émigrés, such as Lenin and Zinoviev. Government along with the defencists. after the Pravda publication of the argument, nor did they have that effect. the Bolsheviks had to move out of their Instead of censorship, we see teamwork That is clear. Our work lies ahead first (henceforth I will refer to the As this recital of my conclusions comfort zone of underground agitation - teamwork that was possible only … I am waiting for directives from first ‘Letter from afar’ as simply the shows, my aim at the time was and move into the realm of genuine because of a shared understanding of Vladimir Ilyich, and then I’ll start Letter). Maria Ulyanova was a member essentially negative: I wanted to mass politics on a national level as a basic tasks. off. I live in an intoxicating state of of the Pravda editorial board that had discredit a standard narrative that serious contender for power. China Miéville’s recently published happiness ­- it’s still so hard to believe allegedly disfigured Lenin’s text, yet simply did not fit the facts. Returning When Lenin wrote his Letter book October is the first secondary … I can hardly wait for an answer she wrote to him saying that his Letter to this material after a year and a half in March 7, his faulty information account to contain an accurate account from Lenin. had met with “full solidarity” and with a broader perspective, I now caused him to impose an out-of-date of the ‘Letter from afar’ (and this asking for more articles. This telegram want to bring out the more positive framework on post-February politics. is indicative of Miéville’s wide and On March 15, she received the first Letter certainly did not fit the standard story! aspects of this episode. The Pravda When the Petrograd Bolsheviks careful reading in the best current and sent a telegram to Lenin announcing I quickly realised that neither I nor, it editors did not simply remove a few received his Letter two weeks later, research). He is nonetheless reluctant that she was “thrilled by his ideas”; she seemed, anybody else had any real factual misconceptions on Lenin’s they perforce knew better and moulded to abandon completely the traditional set out the next day without waiting for grasp of exactly what was cut and what part - rather, they actively retrofitted Lenin’s Letter accordingly. By the time emphasis on disruption and conflict: any further letters. Her long journey to was added in the published version. Lenin’s article with their own hands-on Lenin arrived two weeks after that, he Petrograd under wartime conditions And so I embarked on a year-long understanding of the Russian political had already made some of the needed While this particular conflict [the required her to travel 800 miles to the detective adventure, during which situation. Like any successful retrofit adjustments in his original framework ‘Letter from afar’] was largely a northern tip of Sweden and then cross I laboriously investigated the mail (for example, adding new insulation to and went on to make more, as he retrospective fiction, it undeniably over to Finland before arriving in the service between Zurich and Oslo, the an old house), the cuts and additions of immersed himself in the hurly-burly of gained in plausibility due to the way Russian capital on March 18. The day internal politics of the Bolsheviks in the Pravda editors did not interfere with Petrograd politics. We can even speak Lenin’s formulations, including in after her arrival, Kollontai dropped off Petrograd, and the complicated later the efficient functioning of the original of Lenin’s de facto ratification of the his intemperate polemics, evinced the Letter at Pravda offices and joined history of the Letter’s text. structure - on the contrary, Lenin’s editorial changes to his original draft. an uncompromising tendency, a the editorial staff. My findings were published a essential message came through with So here is the irony: Lenin’s Letter distinguishing political logic that The Pravda editors took just year and a half ago in the journal less distortion and more force. is usually described as unsuccessfully would, in fact, be key to other two days to read the article, decide Kritika under the title, ‘Letter from The unexpected features of the prodding the Petrograd Bolsheviks in real disputes within the party. Not on necessary changes, make them afar, corrections from up close: the post-February situation could only the direction of his April theses. On the ineluctable by any means, but chafing and otherwise prepare the article Bolshevik consensus of March 1917’.2 be grasped by hands-on experience in contrary! We must turn this around and against Bolshevik moderation and for publication on March 21 and I showed that the anecdote of the Petrograd, the maelstrom of national say - the Petrograd Bolsheviks nudged coalition. The ‘Letters from afar’ 22. Close to one-fourth of the text censored Pravda article was a “turncoat politics. Kamenev and Stalin had to Lenin’s Letter in the direction of the were thus ‘continuity’ Bolshevism, was removed (Lenin’s original draft narrative”: that is, a story that under adjust to these realities when they April theses. and yet contained seeds of a distinct contains approximately 4,500 words examination changes sides: instead arrived from Siberia in mid-March, For this reason, the detailed and more trenchant position. One in the English translation, of which of serving as a pillar of the standard and Lenin and Zinoviev likewise examination of seemingly small that would become clearer with approximately 1,100 were cut). The narrative, it becomes a strong challenge had to adjust when they arrived from editorial changes gives us an Lenin’s return.3 Letter was widely republished in to it. The Pravda editors did not refuse Switzerland in early April. unparalleled dynamic picture of the Bolshevik Party newspapers throughout to publish any of the ‘Letters from Not that these unexpected realities Bolshevik adjustment in action. We see This is carefully stated and eloquently Russia, including Tallin, Moscow, afar’, since only the first one arrived invalidated the basic Bolshevik strategy exactly what facets of the situation were worded, but in my view it points us in Kiev, Kronstadt, Kharkov and Kazan in Petrograd in time. Far from being of ‘hegemony’ (as outlined in earlier new and unexpected for both Lenin the wrong direction. When we look at before Lenin’s return in early April, scandalised by the political message instalments of this series) - far from in Switzerland and the Bolsheviks the nitty-gritty of the actual changes, and Helsingfors and the Petrograd 6ii supplement

Vyborg district afterwards. This is a away”. Our task is therefore to organise abortive sketch written down on the accounts of 1917. As sometimes As the revolution develops, the surprisingly wide circulation for such and mobilise in order to replace the eve of his departure on the sealed train). happens, this anecdote served the bias Provisional Government will turn an allegedly scandalous article. present government with a vlast of the None of these letters reached Petrograd of opposing camps - both the anti-Lenin itself (objectively, it must do this) into Who were the Pravda editors in democracy. This project will become before he himself did: Kollontai did academic historians and the pro-Lenin a bulwark of counterrevolution - not 1917? Among those mentioned in the practical politics as soon as “our not wait for further letters before she Trotskyist historians - in equal fashion. a tsarist counterrevolution (danger sources as helping to edit Pravda in forces” are ready. This reading does set off on her laborious trek back to It did not serve anyone’s interest to does not threaten us from this March 1917 are Aleksandr Shliapnikov, not misrepresent Lenin’s Letter, either Russia, and no alternative method for throw suspicion on the alleged episode direction) - but an imperialist one. Petr Zalutski, Vyacheslav Molotov, in original or published form. getting them to Russia presented itself. - for example, there are no partisans of Lev Kamenev, Koba Stalin, Matvei On March 22 - the day that the They were first published in 1924, Kamenev who might be motivated to Indeed, the whole political spectrum Muranov, Mikhail Olminskii, Mikhail second instalment of Lenin’s Letter immediately after Lenin’s death. Both protect his reputation. in Russia had lurched to the left after Kalinin, Maria Ulyanova and (after appeared in Pravda - his sister, Maria Trotsky in 1924 and the editors of the Before moving on, I will summarise the February events to such an extent her return on March 18) Aleksandra Ulyanova, sent him the following 1920s edition of Lenin’s works state some of the reasons why the standard that the entire right wing of the pre- Kollontai. Most likely, decisions telegram: definitely that only the first Letter story of befuddled censorship is revolutionary opposition - what Lenin about how to edit Lenin’s article were arrived in Petrograd. incompatible with the facts as just here calls “landlord-Octobrist Russia” taken collectively and in consultation Articles received and printed. Full In general, Lenin did not take reported: - had also disappeared from the scene, with the Petrograd party committees. solidarity [polnaia solidarnost’]. kindly to people fooling around with 1. Only one Letter reached Petrograd leaving the liberal Cadets (short for the Kollontai’s presence is especially Send articles. Kollontai has arrived. his text. In the pre-war period, he and therefore the Pravda editors did not Constitutional Democratic Party) as the significant, since we have already seen Your arrival desirable, but avoid risk. regularly went ballistic about the way refuse to print the other letters. single non-socialist party left standing. her great enthusiasm about Lenin’s the Pravda editors in Russia treated 2. The Pravda version was widely Not knowing of these developments, article. Because we have no clear Ulyanova states that Lenin’s “articles” his submissions and after returning reprinted in Bolshevik newspapers. Lenin painted a highly inaccurate picture picture of the concrete decision process, have already been published. The only to Russia in 1917 he was unsparing 3. According to explicit statements of the Provisional Government: I will refer simply to ‘the Pravda possible explanation of the plural is the in his criticism of Pravda and its by participants made during March editors’. two-part publication in Pravda. The editors for other reasons. Yet there is 1917 before Lenin’s return, Petrograd This new government, in which Lvov Faced with a text written two request for more articles implies that no no evidence that he resented what the Bolsheviks expressed “full solidarity” and Guchkov of the Octobrists and weeks earlier by a writer who himself other articles by Lenin were available editors had done after he arrived back with Lenin’s Letter. Peaceful Renovation Party - yesterday’s noted that he was “obliged to content at the time of writing, and also that the in Russia a couple of weeks after the 4. Lenin’s rhetoric after his return to abettors of Stolypin the Hangman - himself with meagre foreign press editors were eager for more of Lenin’s publication of the Letter - he certainly Russia provided de facto ratification control the posts of real importance, dispatches”, the editors were presented views, not scandalised by them. Recall does not repudiate the article or insist of most of the specific changes. the crucial posts, the decisive posts, with the challenge of presenting it as an that Ulyanova was part of the Pravda that a full text be printed forthwith. 5. Stalin’s decision to allow publication the army and the bureaucracy - this effective analysis of a rapidly evolving editorial team and that she sent this Indeed, he referred in passing to the of the original draft in 1949 is not government, in which Miliukov situation. Publishing an article by the telegram after all the excisions and Pravda version as a valid statement compatible with a guilty conscience and the other Cadets serve mostly acknowledged leader of the party modifications had been made. Either of his views.5 We can even speak of about the matter. for decoration, for a signboard, for was a great opportunity, but also a she was lying to her brother about Lenin’s de facto ratification of editorial 6. The Soviet historians in the Khrushchev sugary professorial speeches, and great risk for the Bolsheviks. Lenin’s “full solidarity” or she thought that the changes, since he adopted most of them era who came up with the story about the ‘Trudovik’ Kerensky plays the analysis of the basic situation had to be editorial revisions had not interfered in his own rhetoric after his return. censorship had a parti pris that mandates role of a balalaika for gulling the a good one - it had to strike readers as with Lenin’s message. In the 1920s, the Bolshevik scepticism about their conclusions. workers and peasants. perceptive and insightful rather than A few days later, on March 26, leadership may have wanted to keep 7. The standard story has never out of date and out of touch. The editors Aleksandra Kollontai sent off a long quiet about the cuts in the Letter - not been backed up by any systematic In actuality, the balance of forces within could not preface the article with an letter to Lenin in Switzerland, in which in order to protect themselves, but in examination of the actual editorial the government was the reverse of apology: ‘Please excuse comrade she informed him that order to protect Lenin: in the context modifications. Lenin’s picture. To start off, Lenin had Lenin’s misapprehensions - remember, of the Lenin cult, the very fact that he got his Lvovs mixed up and confused GF he penned this in Zurich two weeks The beginning of your letters has did not fully appreciate every nuance Lvov, the head of the first Provisional ago.’ The editors needed to make Lenin been printed. Your voice is listened of the situation in Petrograd might be Toward a post- Government, with NN Lvov, a leader look good and, even more imperatively, to not only by supporters [nashi] but seen as embarrassing. February political of the pre-war conservative reform they needed to ensure that he did not by opponents … We work closely The only reason we know of the party, Peaceful Renovation. Further, the look silly. together at Pravda, in full solidarity existence of the editorial changes is map rightwing Octobrist Guchkov was not Given these constraints, there was and without disputes [tesno, splochenno the publication of Lenin’s original draft Before the war, the Bolsheviks charted the heart of the new government, but no guarantee that Lenin’s article was i bez trenii]. in the fourth edition of his complete their political strategy by pointing to rather an isolated outsider, who quit the even publishable. Remarkably, the works in 1949. Stalin was still very three fundamental political forces: tsarist government in frustration at the end of Pravda editors were able to mould Kollontai’s comment that “the beginning much alive and in power, and we reaction, the liberal and quasi-liberal elite April. If Miliukov was indeed relatively the Letter so that Lenin’s essential of your letters has been printed” does not may say with complete assurance opposition, and the narod (workers and powerless in the cabinet, the reason message was accommodated to the contradict Maria Ulyanova’s assertion that the original draft was published peasants combined). According to the was not a loose coalition to his right, new post-February political realities. that Lenin’s “articles” had already been with Stalin’s knowledge and explicit Bolshevik strategy of “hegemony” or but rather one to his left consisting of In the following sections, we will look published. Lenin himself made clear authorisation. If the usual story of class leadership, the socialist proletariat leftwing Cadet liberals plus Kerensky. at the editing process in detail. Here that the Letter was the first instalment Stalin’s and Kamenev’s censorship of must strive to lead the narod (people) These forces helped to oust Miliukov we will present some striking direct of a projected series. Lenin is true, Stalin’s publication of against tsarist reaction, since only the shortly after Guchkov’s exit. evidence that reveals how the Petrograd Can we reconcile Kollontai’s Lenin’s draft would be equivalent to proletariat could do what the liberals Lenin also misapprehended Bolsheviks felt about the Letter and its remarks with the standard story of a guilty man returning to the scene of refused to do: destroy tsarism and Kerensky’s role: his presence in the message. frightened Pravda editors censoring the crime and planting new evidence transform Russia in a democratic spirit. government was not due to rightwing In his classic memoir of 1917, Lenin’s article? Consider. Kollontai of his own guilt. How plausible is this In the first days after the February forces who wanted a “balalaika”. On the Zapiski iz revoliutsii, Sukhanov reports at this time was extremely loyal to account of Stalin’s motives? Shouldn’t revolution, as Lenin strived to contrary, Kerensky was deputed by the a conversation between himself and Lenin personally and insisted when we assume that, surprising as it may make sense of the fragmented and Petrograd Soviet as its representative in Kamenev that took place prior to still in Norway that Lenin provide seem, Stalin was proud of the job he distorted information at his disposal the government. Lenin’s mistake about Lenin’s return: “directives”. She read the Letter as and others did in preparing Lenin’s in Switzerland, he applied this same Kerensky reflected a more fundamental soon as she received it in Norway and article for publication? tripartite map of the post-February misapprehension about the role of I started to ask Kamenev what in promptly informed Lenin in a telegram Afterwards, Lenin’s original draft situation (all quotations from the Letter the Petrograd Soviet. In his tripartite general was being done in his party that she was “thrilled” with the ideas became the standard text in all later in this section come from the original map, Lenin placed Chkheidze and and in what direction was a ‘line’ therein set forth. Afterwards, she was editions of his works, including the draft):6 Kerensky directly in the camp of the being defined. What was Lenin among the first to give wholehearted English-language Collected works, liberal opposition, while portraying the thinking, what was he writing? … endorsement of Lenin’s April theses. so that the Pravda text - the version These three political camps, these soviet as already opposed to the new [Kamenev responded:] Lenin? Lenin Kollontai worked with the Pravda read by people at the time, and thus of three fundamental political forces government. But in fact, Chkheidze and thought that the revolution up to editorial staff immediately after her far greater historical importance than - (1) the tsarist monarchy, the Kerensky were leaders of the soviet, now had unfolded as might have arrival with the Letter and therefore Lenin’s original draft - has essentially head of the feudal landlords, of and their political influence came from been predicted [zakonomerno], that was perfectly aware of the cuts made in vanished from public view. When I the old bureaucracy and the high solid majority support among the soviet a bourgeois vlast was historically Lenin’s text - indeed, she undoubtedly first started asking myself questions military command; (2) bourgeois constituency. necessary right now and that there participated in making them. Yet she about the changes made to the Letter, and landlord-Octobrist-Cadet Russia, Lenin’s misunderstanding of the could not have been anything else expresses no outrage that Lenin had I was surprised to run into difficulties with the petty bourgeoisie (of which role of the soviet is even more evident after the overturn. been censored or that his “thrilling” when simply trying to locate the Pravda Kerensky and Chkheidze are the in the second instalment of his ‘Letters “Then you are not yet trying argument had been deformed. She does text. In this case, an archival document principal representatives) following from afar’, written a day or so after to overthrow the elite [tsenzovoe] not even inform Lenin that cuts were has driven out of circulation a more in its wake; (3) the Soviet of completing the first Letter. From the government right away [seichas] made. Instead, she says that the Letter, significant published document. Workers’ Deputies, which is looking skimpy reports in western newspapers and do not insist on an immediate far from causing scandal among the In the 1950s, pioneering Soviet to make the entire proletariat and (especially the London Times), Lenin vlast of the democracy?” I inquired Bolsheviks, was treated with respect historians tried to move away from the entire mass of the poorest part drew the conclusion that the Bolsheviks further of my interlocutor, who was even by non-Bolsheviks. She also the heavy constraints of the Stalin cult. of the population its allies - these had a commanding influence in the opening perspectives that were goes out of her way to emphasise Our natural admiration for these brave three fundamental political forces soviet. Thus he describes Kerensky important for me. the unanimity of views at Pravda. historians who were fighting the good fully and clearly revealed themselves as wavering between “the Provisional “Neither we here nor Lenin over Unless we assume a phenomenal and fight should not lead us to overlook their even in the eight-day ‘first stage’ and Government of the bourgeoisie, the there have this point of view. Lenin inexplicable duplicity on Kollontai’s own specific point of view. Historians even to an observer so remote from Guchkovs and Miliukovs, and the writes that our urgent task now is to part, her letter to Lenin is by itself such as Eduard Burdzhalov or AV the scene of events as the present ‘provisional government’ of the organise and mobilise our forces.”4 enough to make the standard story Snegov were following a Khrushchev- writer, who is obliged to content proletariat and the poorest masses untenable. era anti-Stalin line that aimed at putting himself with meagre foreign press of the people: the Soviet of worker Kamenev’s description of what “Lenin These statements testify not only as much space between Lenin and dispatches [Lenin’s emphasis]. deputies and the Russian Social writes” can only refer to the Letter, which to the attitude of the three people Stalin as possible. Since Stalin was a Democratic Worker Party United by evidently had not yet been published. who made them, but also of the entire member of the Pravda editorial staff, This mapping was inadequate for the Central Committee” (the last 10 His interpretation of Lenin’s message Bolshevik leadership in Petrograd. By these historians had a vested interest the new political realities even when words constitute the official title of the can be paraphrased as follows: Events the way, all these pieces of evidence in portraying the changes introduced Lenin wrote it in early March and it Bolsheviks at this time). are unfolding “zakonomerno” - that is, have been available in published form by the Pravda editors as anti-Lenin only became more so by the time the In contrast to the situation in according to predictable regularities. A for a long time - close to a century in censorship. This interpretation has Bolsheviks received it two weeks later. 1905, the soldiers in the Petrograd “bourgeois” government immediately the case of Kamenev, and 40 or 50 years been uncritically accepted ever since. First, the utter collapse of tsarism meant garrison had become an integral part after the fall of the tsar was no doubt in the case of Ulyanova and Kollontai. The spin put on the Pravda cuts that the Romanov dynasty was no longer of the soviet constituency and were inevitable. The situation is not ripe Lenin wrote three more ‘Letters by the Khrushchev-era historians part of anyone’s political calculations. represented in the soviet - in fact, they “yet” for an “immediate” overthrow from afar’ between March 8 and 12 soon congealed into a juicy anecdote As Stalin put it in a speech at the end often outweighed the workers. For of this bourgeois government “right (the so-called ‘fifth letter’ is only an that enlivened practically all western of the month, Lenin in early March, however, the iii7

soviet was “a worker organisation” After pointing out the [earlier received Lenin’s Letter on March 19, into the post-February political scene Irakli Tsereteli, the iconic “revolutionary that needed to reach out to win over leadership] role of the Bolsheviks they were fully aware of the challenge were all excised. defencist”. the soldiers. Finally, a crucial political versus their insignificant influence of winning over a soviet majority. At the time of writing the Letter,  Lenin calls Chkheidze a “traitor” development had occurred only after in the Petrograd soviet at the present Their task was therefore to retrofit the Lenin was convinced that the because he refused to acknowledge Lenin sent off his Letter: the appearance moment, he [Kamenev] examined Letter to fit the new realities: remove Provisional Government was hell-bent that the government was making a deal of ‘revolutionary defencism’. For this incongruity. It is surprising that the more glaring misapprehensions on making a deal with the dynasty: with the dynasty (excision P, plus the Lenin, the only socialist supporters the Bolsheviks are not occupying a and mould the Letter’s rhetoric toward apparent allusion to Chkheidze in G). But of the war were “social patriots” who dominant position in the Petrograd the pressing task of winning over the The new government has not yet the government was not making a deal contributed directly to the tsarist war Soviet of Worker and Soldier Deputies soviet constituency. As I stated earlier, finished off the tsarist monarchy with the dynasty and everybody knew effort and denied that the war was - and why do they allow into the soviet Lenin’s Letter is usually described as before it has begun to make a deal it. If this passage had been printed, the imperialist on both sides - people such the liquidators, who do not express unsuccessfully prodding the Petrograd with the landlord Romanov dynasty. only result would have been to make as K Gvozdev, head of the ‘Workers the outlook of the Petrograd workers? Bolsheviks in the direction of the April The bourgeoisie of the Octobrist-Cadet Lenin look silly. Group’ that directly strove to mobilise We are the representatives of the theses, but we must turn this around: type needs a monarchy to serve as  Kerensky is described as a crypto- worker support for the tsar’s war. revolutionary element in Petrograd, the Petrograd Bolsheviks nudged the head of the bureaucracy and the monarchist, a charge implausible in Gvozdev had been enemy number 1 but in the meantime it seems that the Lenin’s Letter in the direction of the army in order to protect the privileges itself and reflective of Lenin’s general for the local Bolsheviks in the months wide masses do not understand us. April theses. of capital against the working people overestimation of monarchism as a prior to the February revolution, but Evidently, since we are essentially (Lenin’s emphasis, excision P). political force (excisions P and Q). after February he and other ‘social correct, we are formulating our What about other mentions of patriots’, such as Plekhanov and resolutions and decisions in a way Retrofitting the By March 21-22, these accusations would Chkheidze and Kerensky in the Letter Potresov, immediately lost whatever that the masses do not understand. letter have struck readers as seriously out of - how vulnerable were they to removal influence they had. If we are correct in calling We will now look in detail at the date. Mikhail Romanov (the brother by the editors? Well, as it happens, In their place came the the Provisional Government process whereby the Pravda editors of the ex-tsar) had also abdicated; the there are no other mentions: we have ‘revolutionary defencists’. Kerensky counterrevolutionary, then, clearly, retrofitted Lenin’s Letter with their Romanov dynasty and monarchists in already eliminated every single one. and Chkheidze were proto- we should overthrow it and institute own hands-on understanding of Russian general were without influence. The Therefore, although each particular revolutionary defencists, since (as a new, revolutionary one. Therefore, political realities, helping it convey an editors therefore excised this passage passage was eliminated on its own Alexander Shliapnikov informs us) either we should declare open war effective message that spoke directly and others like it (excisions I, J, L, P, demerits, the end result is just the same they disavowed Gvozdev and his on the Provisional Government to the intended audience. We will start S, W, Z). as if a conscious decision had been like even before the revolution. But or we should take up some other with the straightforward elimination As we have seen, Lenin’s made never to mention Chkheidze and the real spokesman of revolutionary position in regard to it. The latter of assertions that the Pravda editors overestimation of the dynasty’s political Kerensky by name. defencism was the Menshevik, Irakli is just what is necessary. Have thought were clearly mistaken (or, in influence also led to a misapprehension In fact, commentators (including Tsereteli, who arrived in Petrograd we developed to the point that we any event, would be rejected as mistaken about the political nature of the myself in my original Kritika article) from Siberian exile in mid-March can create the dictatorship of the by readers), and then move on to more Provisional Government. According to have all assumed that there was a and immediately became the most proletariat? No. What is important is creative interventions. Lenin, the overtly monarchist Octobrist blanket decision not to mention these important leader of the soviet majority. not taking power - what is important 1. No accusation of a “plot” to overthrow party was the “decisive” force in the two politicians by name.10 The only From the point of view of the is keeping it [Nevazhno-vziat’ vlast, the tsar organised by the British and new government, while “Miliukov question was, what motivated this Bolsheviks, the revolutionary defencists vazhno-uderzhat’]. This moment will French embassies, including direct and the other Cadets serve mostly for decision? In my original article, I were ultimately no better than the social come, but it will be advantageous for payments to named Russian groups decoration”. This whole passage was argued that the editors wanted to patriots. Nevertheless, the old critiques us to put it off, since right now our (see excisions E, F, G, H, K). Writing removed (excision L). avoid directly insulting people whose aimed at social patriotism were no forces are still inadequate.8 on March 7, Lenin was convinced that Other interventions were somewhat cooperation was needed to ensure longer serviceable. The revolutionary there was a direct, cash-on-the-barrelhead more proactive. In one phase, Lenin Lenin’s return. China Miéville has well defencists came out of the anti-war The required adjustment had several conspiracy between the Allied embassies wrote that “the revolutionary workers described the contrast between this and Zimmerwald movement, and thus had dimensions. First, accept the new definition and the liberal elite, including army units. were destroying, have destroyed earlier explanations: the editors were good credentials as anti-imperialists. of the soviet as representing both worker In point of fact, not only was there no already to a considerable degree and “not so much soft, then, as strategic”. Furthermore, their support for the and soldier deputies: a new alignment conspiracy, but the Allies did not want will continue to destroy [razrushali, This proposed motivation is not Provisional Government was tied to of forces within the soviet that was to see Nicholas deposed in the middle razrushili, budet razrushat’] to its implausible: the Bolsheviks really insistence on an active peace policy both constraint and opportunity. Next, of a war. Judging from what they left in foundations the infamous tsarist were trying very hard to get Lenin and governmental appeals to the accept the humbling fact of the minority the published article, the Pravda editors monarchy”. Besides extending credit back just at this time, and Chkheidze, proletarians of the warring countries. standing for the Bolsheviks, since the themselves believed that the British and to the soldiers, the Pravda version at least, provided invaluable help. Lenin was necessarily unaware of this soviet constituency at present did not French embassies had played a direct says simply “have destroyed” (when Nevertheless, if the removal of all crucial development when he wrote his support or even understand the Bolshevik role in the removal of Nicholas. Where used by itself, the verb form razrushili mentions of Chkheidze and Kerensky Letter in early March. message. The proper response to this they drew the line was any specific is more final). Presumably by the is an accidental by-product of other Lenin’s various misapprehensions in sobering reality was not to abandon or assertion of criminal behaviour. Thus same reasoning, the editors removed concerns, then there was no conscious no way cast doubt on the validity of the modify the essentially correct message, they removed the italicised words in “relative” from the following sentence: decision and hence no motivation. overall hegemony strategy. The task of but rather to find better ways to get it the following passage, replacing them “We must now take advantage of the The editors may not even have noticed the party and the socialist proletariat it across. And this imperative of outreach simply with “strove” (excision F): relative freedom of the new order.” that every single mention of these two represented was still to lead the narod meant a shift away from the Bolshevik 3. Lenin’s rogues gallery. Lenin’s names had been removed. to the full conclusion of the revolution. comfort zone of underground agitation The whole course of events in the Letter is awash with proper names and, Ultimately, I suppose, there is no But, given the unexpected minority aimed at “purposive workers”. The February-March revolution clearly although this profusion creates problems sure way of assessing motivation or status of the Bolsheviks within the Bolsheviks now faced the challenge shows that the British and French for today’s reader, Lenin’s aim was the lack of it. Nevertheless, at present soviets, their first task was to win of genuine mass politics. embassies, with their agents and to make his analysis more accessible I cannot see any reason for treating majority backing. In this task, their The returning émigrés, Lenin and ‘connections’, who had long been to his immediate readers: “instead Kerensky and Chkheidze as different primary rivals were the ‘agreementists’ Zinoviev, had to go through the same making the most desperate efforts to of general critical definitions we use in principle from Romanov, Guchkov, (soglashateli) - that is, those socialists sense of shock after their hands-on prevent ‘separate’ agreements and a political names familiar in Russia”. Gvozdev and the like, whose names who at present represented the soviet experience of the Petrograd political separate peace between Nicholas the These proper names illustrate the key were also eliminated on multiple majority and who sought some sort situation. As Zinoviev remarked at a Second (but let us hope and strive to groupings on his political map: tsarist occasions for various reasons. One of ‘agreement’ or coalition with the party conference a couple of weeks make him ‘the last’) and Wilhelm II, reaction (ex-tsar Nicholas Romanov, general motivation suffices for all elite reformers of the Provisional later, directly organised a plot along with his brother Michael, Rasputin), the elite such cases: removing passages that Government. the Octobrists and Cadets, along reformers (Guchkov, Lvov, Miliukov), betray Lenin’s misapprehensions This adjustment implied a new After 1905, the Soviet of Worker with a section of the generals and and the rightwing socialists (Plekhanov, about the concrete political situation tripartite political map. Lenin had Deputies had a glorious reputation. the officer staff of the army and the Potresov, Gvozdev). The political meaning in Petrograd. originally posited three fundamental But at present it is not on our side St Petersburg garrison, especially to of these names was unambiguous. To conclude: most likely, the Pravda forces: tsarist reaction; Provisional [on ne nash]. And what we’re seeing remove Nicholas Romanov. Two other names, however, created editors were neither soft nor strategic Government plus petty bourgeois is horrifying: there are members of real difficulties: Nikolai Chkheidze, the - not solicitous in any particular way hangers-on; the soviet. The new the Soviet of Worker Deputies who Thus Lenin was insistent that there Menshevik chairman of the Petrograd toward Kerensky and Chkheidze. political map - one more adequate make completely counterrevolutionary had been a “plot” (a word he used five soviet, and Alexander Kerensky, the These two were central figures in to the realities of 1917 - also had a speeches. The situation is worse times). Most instances of this word socialist lawyer deputed by majority the unexpected and (to Bolsheviks) triangular conflict that consisted of than you can imagine. But the future were simply removed. In one case, vote in the soviet to serve as minister of counterintuitive relationship between the Provisional Government, the will be ours. [Still,] the position of “plot” was allowed to remain after it justice in the Provisional Government. the Petrograd soviet and the Provisional soviet ‘agreementists’ and the soviet the soviet is very ambiguous right had been defanged. Lenin had written These two figures symbolised the Government, so Lenin’s various ‘internationalists’ (Bolsheviks and now - for example, Kerensky has that the Anglo-French imperialists most unexpected and (for Bolsheviks) mentions of their names to illustrate others who rejected coalition). After been delegated by the soviet [to “set up a plot with the officers of the scandalous post-February reality: the his political map were simply more his return in April, Lenin set forth this be a member of the Provisional guards”. In the published version, the veto power of the Petrograd soviet likely to be candidates for excision. revised map in colourful fashion: Government].9 imperialists merely “set up a plot” (see over the government’s programme 4. Dialling it down. In a couple of excision K). Since no indication is given and personnel, combined with its minor instances, the editors do seem to There is now going on a struggle When Lenin read out his April theses of the goals or co-conspirators of this support of the “bourgeois” Provisional be motivated by a desire to dial down between three parties: the first is the on the night of his arrival, he still had plot, the Pravda version here reads Government. Lenin’s political map Lenin’s more abusive rhetoric. The party of plunderers and murderers; the not corrected all his misapprehensions somewhat strangely. in the Letter did not yet include words “conman swindles” (excision second consists of those who cover from afar - for example, he still talked 2. Correcting Lenin’s overestimation these realities, so that his references R) were removed. A crack about the up these plunderers with eloquent about “the soviet of worker deputies” of tsarism’s role in post-February to Chkheidze and Kerensky were sincerity of Guchkov and Lvov was words; finally, the third party stands rather than ‘soviet of worker and soldier politics. As we have seen, Lenin’s vulnerable in the following ways: taken out. This excision may also have for no support to the plunderers, deputies’. Nevertheless, since writing Letter portrayed tsarist reaction as  Lenin equated Chkheidze and Kerensky been motivated by stylistic reasons. explanation of everybody’s mistakes, the first two ‘Letters from afar’ Lenin one of the three fundamental forces in with the Provisional Government and Compare the following passages: including the mistakes of the executive had become aware of one important fact, current Russian politics. This picture contrasted them with the soviet, instead committee of the Soviet of Worker with the result that in his theses he called was outdated even when Lenin wrote of accurately portraying them as leaders [Lenin’s original draft:] The government and Soldier Deputies.7 for “recognition of the fact that in the the article, and it would have struck of the soviet who enjoyed majority of the Octobrists and Cadets, of majority of soviets of worker deputies readers in late March as seriously out of support there (excisions C and L). the Guchkovs and Milyukovs, is When senior Bolsheviks Kamenev our party is in the minority, for the time touch. The passage where Lenin set out  Kerensky and Chkheidze are equated unable - even if it sincerely desired and Stalin returned to Petrograd in being a small one”. Persuasion of the his tripartite political map could itself without justification with the “social this (only infants can think that mid-March, they quickly sized up the soviet constituency through “patient be left in (with changes), since Lenin patriots” and “liquidators” such as Guchkov and Lvov are sincere) - is new and surprising situation. Kamenev’s explanation” was therefore imperative. seemed to be describing the lead-up to Plekhanov and Gvozdev (excisions unable to give the people either remarks to his fellow Bolsheviks on As we have seen, this observation the February revolution rather than the A and T). After his return to Russia, peace, bread or freedom. March 18 convey both the shock and was hardly news to the Bolsheviks in post-revolutionary situation. In contrast, Lenin made the appropriate adjustment: the adjustment: Petrograd. Certainly by the time they Lenin’s extrapolations of tsarism’s role Chkheidze’s name is now paired with [Published Pravda version:] The 8iv supplement

government of the Octobrists and meant nothing more than prioritising campaigns that will voice demands that given to the word “all”: potential allies. At a later, second, stage Cadets, of the Guchkovs and Miliukovs, the overthrow of tsarism. In any event, the Provisional Government make radical of the revolution, the proletariat and its is unable - even if it sincerely desired Pravda insisted, the Bolsheviks did not peace overtures, publish the secret treaties Second, the ally of the Russian allies will achieve “a democratic republic this - to give either peace or bread call for soldiers simply to stick their signed by the tsarist government, and proletariat is the proletariat of all and complete victory of the peasantry or freedom. bayonets in the ground or to voluntarily so forth. The government’s inevitable the belligerent countries and of all over the landlords” and then, with the surrender. failure to meet these straightforward countries in general. help of socialist workers in Europe, the Lenin’s original sentence, with its After his return, Lenin also repeated and understandable demands will drive proletariat will move toward socialism. parenthetical statement within a the assurance about not simply sticking the point home better than any amount This emphasis is not in Lenin’s original; (Compare Lenin’s final paragraph in the parenthetical statement, is stylistically bayonets in the ground. But in his of propaganda lectures. it was added by the editors to align it Letter with his formulation of the ‘two clumsy and hard to process. More Letter, prior to his immersion in mass A week later, when the Pravda with Pravda’s new campaign. After his allies’ framework in October 1915: “The importantly, the accusation of individual politics, after noting the “series of editors received Lenin’s Letter, they return to Russia, Lenin did not disdain task confronting the proletariat of Russia insincerity weakens the political point. extremely severe defeats sustained tweaked it to fit in with the projected the agitational theme that exposed the is carrying out the bourgeois-democratic Besides being somewhat implausible by Russia and her allies”, Lenin went campaign. One of the themes of Provisional Government’s loyalty to revolution to the end in order to kindle and hard to prove, the accusation on to make a bitter polemical point in this campaign was the Provisional tsarist commitments. the socialist revolution in Europe. The implies that replacing these particular defence of ‘defeatism’: Government’s refusal to renounce second task now stands very close to “bourgeois” politicians would at least the treaty obligations undertaken by Lenin’s message the former, yet it remains a special and help to solve the problem. Later in 1917, Those who, openly grovelling to the tsarist government. The editors For a while now, we have been peering second task, for it is a question of the Lenin himself argues that we should the bourgeoisie or simply lacking therefore inserted the following words at Lenin’s misapprehension of some of different classes who are collaborating not judge political opponents by their backbone, howled and wailed against into Lenin’s sentence: a government the political realities of post-February with the proletariat of Russia. For the sincerity or lack thereof. ‘defeatism’ are now faced by the fact of “conquest that has not uttered one Russia. It is time to step back and look first task, the petty bourgeois peasantry 5. The role of the soviets. The change of the historical connection between word to renounce the tsarist policy of at Lenin’s positive message - a message, of Russia is the ally [sotrudnik]; for the of greatest political significance in the the defeat of the extremely backward the conquest of Armenia, Galicia and as we have seen, strongly endorsed by second, the ally is the proletariat of other Pravda text is not a cut, but an addition: and barbarous tsarist monarchy and Turkey”. the Petrograd Bolsheviks. This message countries.”)13 “soldiers” is systematically added to every the beginning of the revolutionary In the same Pravda issue as the can be stated succinctly as follows: the In the version of the Letter printed mention of the Petrograd soviet, so that conflagration. first instalment of Lenin’s Letter, an hegemony strategy of old Bolshevism in Pravda, Lenin’s message comes the title now reads: “Soviet of Worker and unsigned front-page article entitled is still valid, and here’s why. through loud and clear without any Soldier Deputies”. Furthermore, every This polemical sally was cut (excision ‘War and social democracy’ expanded Let us recall the main tenets of the distortion - and without distracting mention of the workers’ heroic role in D). A gloating reference by the leader of the point: hegemony strategy, as set out originally misapprehensions. Nor was there the overthrow of the tsar is widened to the party to Russia’s defeat by Germany in 1905-06. This strategy arose out of anything in this message to surprise share credit with the soldiers. Finally, if was exactly what was not needed. While calling on other peoples to an empirical reading of the contending or shock the Petrograd Bolsheviks. A the Petrograd soviet already represented In his magisterial study of the declare war on their own imperialism, class forces in post-1905 Russia. The week earlier, the same basic strategic soldiers, it could hardly be described as ‘defeatism’ slogan, Hal Draper makes the labouring masses of Russia social democratic proletariat must lead line was laid down in a Pravda editorial “beginning to win over the soldier and the point that Lenin’s return to Russia must first of all declare open war the narod (primarily the peasants) in drafted by Kamenev: the Provisional peasant deputies” (excision B). was also a journey from an obsession on imperialist strivings in their own carrying out a compete democratic Government cannot meet “essential The reason for these changes is easy with intra-socialist polemics to genuine country. Still today, strivings toward transformation of Russia. This task needs of the proletariat and peasantry” to see. The soldiers in the Petrograd mass politics.11 Looking back in 1921 conquest [zakhvatnye stremleniia] of requires the creation of a worker/ and thus “it will inevitably attempt garrison who were represented in the during the Third Comintern Congress, tsarism remain the official programme peasant vlast (sovereign authority), for to halt the revolutionary movement”. soviet had become a political factor of Lenin himself made this point and of Russia, since the new government which the socialist proletariat and its The revolution will “develop and a magnitude that was not apparent to admitted that, as an émigré, he had of Russia is in no hurry to renounce party will provide essential political deepen” until the stage is reached Lenin in Switzerland when he penned focused too insistently on slogans them. Still today, the proletarians [in leadership. The efforts of liberal elite when the workers and peasants will the Letter on March 7. As Kollontai like “civil war”. For this reason, European countries] to whom the reformers to lead the revolution must take “full and complete vlast [vsia wrote to him in her letter of March 26, “on April 7, I published my theses, Russian revolution has addressed its be fought tooth and nail, because polnota vlasti] in their own hands”. in which I called for caution and summons for an uprising are being they will necessarily strive to halt the This stage of the revolution will be The mood here is dictated by the patience” (not the usual view of the fooled by their own imperialists and revolution midway - indeed, they will reached soon, very soon - but in the soldier, and it is the soldier who theses today!). In consequence, “we their sidekicks, the social chauvinists, inevitably make some sort of deal with meantime, “the slogan of the moment creates the unique atmosphere, where completely changed our position” who use the fact - a shameful one tsarist counterrevolution. Socialists who still remains: organisation of the forces we see all mixed up together the and accepted the existence of “honest for free Russia - that the Provisional strive for an agreement with liberals of the proletariat, consolidation of the grandeur of vigorously expressed defencism”.12 (Of course, by “honest Government has not uttered the are misguided at best, traitors at worst. forces of the proletariat, peasantry democratic freedoms, the awakening defencism,” Lenin did not mean the slightest indication of any renunciation The full and complete victory of the and army by means of the soviets of of a civic awareness of equal rights, “revolutionary defencism” of socialist of tsarist foreign policy. democratic revolution in Russia is deputies, absolute lack of belief in any and a complete incomprehension of leaders such as Tsereteli, but rather the bound to spark off socialist revolution in liberal promises”.14 the complexity of the moment we very understandable feeling of ordinary This Pravda article not only reveals the Europe that in turn will allow backward The unexpected realities of the are living through. workers and soldiers that foreign troops preference of the editors for “conquest” Russia to move toward socialism in an post-February situation required some should be prevented from occupying instead of Lenin’s “plunder”, but it also international framework. adjustment, and the changes made to the Because Lenin did not fully take in one’s country.) should put paid to the widespread myth The major new development since Letter show the adjustment being made in the fact of Bolshevik minority status, 7. Agitational campaigns. The switch that the Petrograd Bolsheviks were the original statement of the hegemony real time. Nevertheless, the big story here he also revealed a tendency to assert to mass politics was not only a matter some sort of quasi-defencists prior to strategy in 1905-06 was, of course, is the shared understanding that united prematurely that the soviet was carrying of abandoning sectarian slogans. The Lenin’s return. the world war. According to Lenin’s the Bolsheviks, whether in Switzerland out Bolshevik policy. Thus, he asserted above-ground Bolsheviks could now The wording of the new agitational presentation in the Letter, the war or Petrograd: the hegemony strategy, the that the soviet was “seeking ties with employ time-honoured social democratic theme was probably also influenced by only strengthens and accelerates the role of the war, and the drive toward a the soldiers and peasants, and also with techniques that previously they could another ‘letter from afar’ - Zinoviev’s predictions of the hegemony strategy. At worker-peasant vlast rooted in the soviets. the agricultural workers, with the latter only envy at a distance: uncensored article, ‘War and revolution’, published home, it deepens the chasm separating The shared understanding documented particularly and first of all, of course, newspapers, mass rallies and coordinated in Pravda immediately following the narod from a liberal elite that is in Lenin’s ‘Letter from afar’ became the more than with the peasants” (excision agitational campaigns. The Bolshevik Lenin’s Letter. Writing in early March, forcing the Russian people to fight a basis of Bolshevik victory in October l N). Here he was clearly taking the wish leaders had already begun to think about Zinoviev had presciently outlined the disastrous war at the behest of foreign for the fact (the claim that the agricultural how to employ these new/old tools, and potential clash on this issue between governments. Abroad, the war is This article was originally workers were a more important target these plans are reflected in some of the soviet and Provisional Government, preparing the ground for an outburst published at https:// than the peasants was controversial changes they made to Lenin’s Letter. one that eventually resulted in the first of socialist revolution that will greet johnriddell.wordpress.com. even in Bolshevik ranks and led to Lenin’s original draft describes the big governmental crisis at the end of the creation of a revolutionary worker/ disagreements in April). Provisional Government in this way: April: “Meanwhile, all these Miliukovs, peasant vlast in Russia (the forthcoming Notes In excision O, Lenin refers to the Lvovs, Guchkovs and Shingarevs have “second stage” of the revolution). 1. For classic accounts, see L Trotsky Questions of soviet as “an organisation of workers”. a government of plunder [grabezh], not renounced tsarist declarations that Thus Lenin hammers home the October (1924), Stalin’s Short course (1938), and RV Daniels Conscience of the revolution (1960). I think the problem here is not so much one that wants to plunder Armenia, they do not want to end the war until following themes in his Letter: 2. Kritika: explorations in Russian and Eurasian “workers” (the editors could have Galicia and Turkey … they get Constantinople.” history fall 2015, pp799-834. simply added “and soldiers”), but More evidence of tweaking Lenin’s  The 1905 revolution revealed the 3. C Miéville October: the story of the Russian rather the implication that the soviet In the Pravda version, this passage is Letter in this direction is provided by “interests, forces, modes of action and Revolution London 2017, p99. 4. N Sukhanov Zapiski o revoliutsiia (three was simply a private organisation, as changed to read: the following ringing sentence in the the immediate and ultimate aims” of volumes) Moscow1991, Vol 1, p273. opposed to “an embryo of a worker unsigned Pravda article, ‘War and the various classes in Russian society in 5. VI Lenin CW Vol 31, pp132-33. government”, as Lenin described it in a government of conquest [zakhvat] social democracy’, just mentioned: ways that are still valid in 1917. 6. The text of the original draft can be found at the immediately following words. that has not uttered one word to “Just let the governments of belligerent  The war is “a mighty accelerator” of www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/ lfafar/first.htm#v23pp64h-297. 6. Defeatism. “Defeatism” was a slogan renounce the tsarist policy of the countries stand in the way of realising the revolutionary crisis in Russia. The 7. Remarks during the city party conference on advanced by Lenin (and very few other conquest of Armenia, Galicia and such a peace, as proposed by the war shows that the bourgeois Provisional April 22: CW Vol 31, p325. Bolsheviks) as part of European intra- Turkey … Russian narod and supported by the Government is an “agent” of the imperialist 8. Pervyi legal’nyi PK Bol’shevikov v 1917 g socialist polemics during the war years. proletariat of all belligerent countries!” Allies; it is engendering a “revolutionary Leningrad 1927, pp49-50. Kamenev was speaking at a meeting of the Petrograd committee. This slogan was never going to fly with a This simple change is more revealing The point of emphasising “all crisis” in all the belligerent countries. 9. Sed’maia (aprel’skaia) vserossiiskaia mass audience, as the Bolsheviks quickly than is apparent at first glance. In belligerent countries” was to underscore  The present revolution is based on the Aprel’skie konferentsiia RSDRP (bol’shevikov); discovered in the new post-February their much-misunderstood editorials that the Anglo-French allies of the narod and therefore the proletariat must Petrogradskaia obshchegorodskaia Aprel’skie context of open mass politics. Pravda in mid-March, Kamenev and Stalin Provisional Government were just fight for influence over its potential allies: konferentsiia RSDRP (bol’shevikov) Moscow 1958, p42. articles in March 1917 reveal that the set forth a new plan for getting the as imperialist as the German enemy. “the broad mass of the semi-proletarian 10. For reasons that now elude me, I also included Bolsheviks were taking a beating due Bolshevik message across to the mass The Bolsheviks therefore demanded and, partly, of the small-peasant population, Prince Lvov as someone whose name had been to the widespread association of their soviet constituency. Their thinking can be that Russian foreign policy rip the who number scores of millions and removed. This is simply an error. party with ‘defeatism’. Indeed, the outlined as follows: first of all, we must mask off Allied war aims and even constitute the overwhelming majority 11. H Draper, ‘The myth of Lenin’s “revolutionary defeatism”’, first published in New International soldier section of the Petrograd soviet make absolutely clear that the Bolsheviks to incite revolution in France and of the population of Russia” (of course, Vol 29, Nos5 and 6; and Vol 20, No1 (1953-54). was so ‘defencist’ that they regarded the do not intend to call for mutiny in the England - not, of course, because they given these allies, it follows that the The text can be accessed at www.marxists.org/ ‘defeatist’ Bolsheviks as traitors. Charges ranks and sabotage of the army. If we fail expected the Provisional Government present Russian Revolution, taken by archive/draper/1953/defeat/index.htm. of treason and betrayal of Russia put the to do this, we are consigning ourselves to do any such thing, but because they itself, must be a “bourgeois revolution”). 12. My thanks to John Riddell for alerting me to  Lenin’s comment; it can be found in J Riddell (ed) Bolsheviks on the defensive, and they had to marginality. But at the same time, felt such a demand would expose the The Provisional Government cannot To the masses: proceedings of the Third Congress to explain away ‘defeatism’ as best they we must find a way to demonstrate to counterrevolutionary nature of the give “either peace or bread or freedom”; of the Communist International, 1921 Leiden could. For example, ‘defeatism’ was said this inexperienced new constituency present government and the need for the “cruel lessons of the war” will 2015, p1170. to be no more than the prediction that the that the Provisional Government is a worker-peasant vlast to conduct an enlighten the narod about the real nature 13. ‘Several theses’, VI Lenin CW Vol 27, pp48- 51 (Lenin’s emphasis). incompetent tsarist autocracy would be neither willing nor able to carry out a effective peace policy. of the government. 14. For full text and commentary, see LT Lih, defeated and, as such, no longer relevant non-imperialist foreign policy. We will Turning to Lenin’s Letter as printed  The Soviet is an “embryo vlast” that will ‘Bolshevism was fully armed’ Weekly Worker after the fall of tsarism. Or ‘defeatism’ drive the point home by using agitational in Pravda, we find the same emphasis steadily gain the loyalty of the proletariat’s February 26 2015. 9v

Appendix I Lenin’s ‘Letter from afar’, as printed in Pravda, March 21 and 22 1917 The location of cuts made by the Pravda editors is indicated by bracketed letters, A to Z - the excised passages can be found in appendix II. Text in square brackets was added by the Pravda editors. First stage of the first revolution he first revolution born out of the global imperialist war has Tbroken out. This first revolution, for certain, will not be the last. The first stage of this first revolution - namely, the Russian revolution of March 1 1917 - judging by the scanty information [at the disposal of the writer of these lines] in Switzerland, has ended. This first stage, for certain, will not be the last stage of our revolution. How could such a ‘miracle’ happen, that in eight days - the period indicated by Mr Miliukov in his boastful telegram to all Russia’s representatives abroad - a monarchy that has held on for centuries, and that in spite of everything had managed to hold out during three years of the tremendous, nationwide class battles of 1905-07, could utterly collapse? Miracles in nature or history do not exist, but every abrupt turn in history - and this applies to every revolution - presents such a wealth of content, unfolds such unexpectedly idiosyncratic combinations of forms of struggle and alignment of fighting forces, that to the philistine mind there is much that must appear miraculous. A combination of a whole series of conditions of world-historic importance was required for the tsarist monarchy to have collapsed in a few days. Let us point out the main ones. Without the three years of tremendous class battles and the Soldiers were prominent from the start revolutionary energy displayed by the Russian proletariat during 1905-07, the nuance in political tendencies and ways between hostile classes. ‘farcical dream’ of transforming the hushed up by the Anglo-French press second revolution could not possibly of operating. This transformation has begun imperialist war into a civil war. They and maliciously emphasised by the have been so rapid in the sense that For the first and great revolution with the February-March revolution sang praises in every key to the strength, German. We who are Marxists must its initial stage was completed in a of 1905, which the Guchkovs and of 1917, whose first stage showed us, tenacity and adaptability allegedly soberly look truth in the face and not few days. The first revolution (1905) Miliukovs and their hangers-on firstly, a joint blow at tsarism struck by revealed by capitalism - the very ones allow ourselves to be confused either deeply ploughed the soil, uprooted condemn as a “mighty mutiny”, led after two forces: one, the whole of bourgeois who helped the capitalists ‘adapt’, tame, by the lying officialese, the sugary age-old prejudices, awakened millions 12 years to the “brilliant”, the “glorious” and landlord Russia, with all her fool and disunite the working classes of diplomatic and ministerial lies, of the of workers and tens of millions of Revolution of 1917 - the Guchkovs and unenlightened hangers-on and all her the various countries! first group of imperialist belligerents, peasants to political life and political Miliukovs have proclaimed it “glorious” very enlightened managers, the British But ‘he who laughs last laughs best’. or by the sniggering and smirking of struggle and revealed to each other - and because it has given them the power (so and French ambassadors and capitalists, The bourgeoisie has been unable to their financial and military rivals from to the whole world - all classes (and far). But this required a great, mighty and and the other, the Soviet of Worker [and delay for long the revolutionary crisis the other belligerent group. The whole all the principal parties) of Russian all-powerful ‘stage manager’, capable, Soldier] Deputies [B]. to which the war has given birth. This course of events in the February-March society in their true character and in on the one hand, of vastly accelerating These three political camps, these crisis is growing with irresistible force in revolution clearly shows that the British the actual alignment of their interests, the course of world history and, on the three fundamental political forces - (1) all countries, beginning with Germany, and French embassies, with their agents their forces, their modes of action and other, of giving birth to worldwide crises the tsarist monarchy, the head of the which is experiencing “brilliantly and ‘connections’, who had long been their immediate and ultimate aims. This of unparalleled intensity - economic, feudal landlords, the head of the old organised hunger”, as an observer who making the most desperate efforts to first revolution, and the succeeding political, national and international. bureaucracy and of the high military recently visited that country put it, prevent ‘separate’ agreements and a period of counterrevolution (1907-14), Apart from an extraordinary acceleration command; (2) bourgeois and landlord and ending with England and France, separate peace between Nicholas the laid bare the very essence of the tsarist of world history, there were also needed Octobrist-Cadet Russia, with the petty where hunger is also looming, but Second (but let us hope and strive to monarchy, brought it to its “utmost particularly abrupt turns, in order that bourgeoisie [C] in its wake; (3) the where organisation reveals much less make him ‘the last’) and Wilhelm II, limit”, exposed all the rottenness and at one such turn the cart of the filthy Soviet of Worker [and Soldier] Deputies, ‘brilliance’. directly [F] [strove] to remove Nicholas vileness, all the cynicism and corruption and blood-stained Romanov monarchy which is looking to make the entire It was natural that the revolutionary Romanov. of the tsar’s clique, with that monster, should be overturned at a stroke. proletariat and the entire mass of the crisis should have broken out before Let us not harbour any illusions. [G] Rasputin, at its head. It exposed all the This all-powerful ‘stage manager’, poorest population its allies - these three anywhere else in tsarist Russia, where That the revolution succeeded so bestiality of the Romanov family - those this mighty accelerator was the global fundamental political forces fully and the disorganisation was the most quickly and - seemingly, at the first pogrom-mongers who drenched Russia imperialist war. clearly revealed themselves even in the appalling and the proletariat was the superficial glance - so ‘radically’ is in the blood of Jews, workers and Now it can no longer be doubted eight days of the ‘first stage’ and even most revolutionary (not by virtue of due only to the fact that, as a result revolutionaries, those ‘first among that this war is a worldwide one, for to an observer so remote from the scene any special qualities, but because of the of an extremely unique historical equals’ of the landlords, controlling the USA and China have already been of events as the present writer, who is living tradition of ‘05’). This crisis was situation, absolutely dissimilar currents, millions of dessiatines of land and half-dragged in today, and will be fully obliged to content himself with meagre precipitated by the series of extremely absolutely heterogeneous class interests, ready for any brutality, for any crime, involved tomorrow. foreign press dispatches. severe defeats sustained by Russia and absolutely contrary political and social for the ruination and crushing of any Now it can no longer be doubted But before dealing with this in her allies. The defeats shook up the strivings have merged together, and number of citizens, all for the sake of that this war is imperialist on both greater detail I must return to the part entire old apparatus of government, the merged in a strikingly ‘harmonious’ preserving this ‘sacred right of property’ sides. Only the capitalists and their of my letter devoted to a factor of prime entire old order, and roused the anger manner. Indeed, the plot of the Anglo- for themselves and their class. hangers-on, the social-patriots and importance: namely, the worldwide of all classes of the population against French imperialists, who impelled Without the revolution of 1905-07 social-chauvinists, [A] can deny or imperialist war. it; they embittered the army, wiped Miliukov, Guchkov and co to seize and the counterrevolution of 1907-14, suppress this fact. Both the German The war shackled the belligerent out a very large part of the old body of power for the purpose of continuing there could not have been that clear ‘self- and the Anglo-French bourgeoisie powers, the belligerent groups of commanders, composed of backward the imperialist war, for the purpose of definition’ of all classes of the Russian are waging the war for the plunder of capitalists, the ‘bosses’ of the capitalist gentry and an exceptionally rotten conducting the war still more ferociously people and of the peoples inhabiting foreign countries and the crushing of system, the slave-owners of the capitalist officialdom, and replaced it with a young and obstinately, for the purpose of Russia - a definition of the relation of small nations, for financial supremacy slave system, to each other with chains and buoyant one of a predominantly slaughtering fresh millions of Russian these classes to each other and to the over the world and the sharing and of iron. One bloody clot - such is the bourgeois, socially mobile, and petty workers and peasants in order that the tsarist monarchy, which manifested itself resharing of colonies, and in order to social and political life of the historical bourgeois origin. [D] Guchkovs might obtain Constantinople, during the eight days of the February- save the doomed capitalist regime by moment we are now living through. But, while the defeats in the war the French capitalists Syria, the British March revolution of 1917. This eight- fooling and disuniting the workers of The socialists who went over to the were a negative factor that hastened capitalists Mesopotamia, and so on. day revolution was ‘performed’, if we the various countries. bourgeoisie at the outbreak of the war the explosion, the ties between Anglo- This on the one hand. On the other, may use a metaphorical expression, as It was objectively inevitable that the - all these Davids and Scheidemanns in French finance capital, Anglo-French there was a profound proletarian though after a dozen major and minor imperialist war should have immensely Germany, these Plekhanovs, Potresovs, imperialism and Russian Octobrist- and mass popular movement of a rehearsals; the ‘actors’ knew each other, accelerated and intensified to an Gvozdevs and co in Russia - clamoured Cadet capital was a factor that hastened revolutionary character (a movement their parts, their places and their setting unprecedented degree the class struggle loud and long against the ‘illusions’ of this crisis. [E] of the entire poorest population of town in every detail, through and through, of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, the revolutionaries, against the ‘illusions’ This highly important aspect of and country) for bread, for peace, for down to any more or less significant and then transform itself into a civil war of the Basel Manifesto, against the the situation is, for obvious reasons, real freedom. 10vi weekly June 29 2017 1161 worker supplement

[H] The revolutionary workers and public education, and congresses government, the representative of the or freedom. mass peace, bread, freedom and land [and soldiers] [I] have destroyed to of various types, and the duma, and interests of all the poorest masses of It cannot give peace because it is a are essential. It is inevitable that to its foundations the infamous tsarist the war industries committees, and the population - ie, of nine-tenths of the war government, a government for the a certain extent this mass will find monarchy. They are neither elated nor so on. This new class was already population - striving for peace, bread continuation of the imperialist slaughter, itself under a certain influence of dismayed by the fact that at certain brief ‘almost completely’ in power by and freedom. a government [V] [of conquest that has the bourgeoisie, and particularly of historical moments of an exceptional 1917, and therefore the first blows The conflict of these three forces not uttered one word to renounce the the petty bourgeoisie, to which it is combination of circumstances they are to tsarism were sufficient to bring it determines the situation that has now tsarist policy of the conquest of] Armenia, most akin in its conditions of life, aided by the struggle of Buchanan, to the ground and clear the way for arisen, a situation that is transitional Galicia and Turkey, of capturing vacillating between the bourgeoisie and Guchkov, Miliukov and co to replace the bourgeoisie. The imperialist war, from the first to the second stage of the Constantinople, of reconquering the proletariat. The cruel lessons of war one monarch by another [J]. which required an incredible exertion of revolution. [P] Poland, Courland, Lithuania, etc. It - and they will be all the more cruel, the Thus, and only thus, did matters effort, so accelerated the development If there is to be a real struggle is a government bound hand and foot more vigorously the war is prosecuted stand. Thus, and only thus, must of backward Russia that we have ‘at against the tsarist monarchy, if freedom by Anglo-French imperialist capital. by Guchkov, Lvov, Miliukov and co - be the view of the politician who one stroke’ (actually just seemingly is to be guaranteed in fact and not Russian capital is merely a branch of will inevitably push this mass towards does not fear the truth, who soberly at one blow) caught up with Italy, merely in words, not in the promises of the worldwide ‘firm’ that manipulates the proletariat, compel it to follow weighs the balance of social forces England and almost with France: we the phrase-mongers [Q] [of liberalism], hundreds of billions of roubles and is the proletariat. We must now take in the revolution, who appraises have obtained a government based it is necessary, not that the workers called ‘England and France’. advantage of the [X] freedom of the every ‘current situation’ not only on a ‘coalition’, a ‘national’ (ie, one support the new government, but that It cannot give bread because it is a new order and of the Soviets of Worker from the standpoint of all its present, adapted for carrying on the imperialist this government ‘support’ the workers! bourgeois government. At best, it can [and Soldier] Deputies to enlighten and ephemeral peculiarities, but also from slaughter and for fooling the people) For the only guarantee of freedom give the people ‘hunger organised with organise this mass first of all and above the standpoint of the more fundamental and a ‘parliamentary’ one. and of the destruction of tsarism to genius’, as Germany has done. But all. Soviets of Peasant Deputies and motives, the deeper interrelations of Side by side with this government the end is arming the proletariat, the people will not accept famine. The Soviets of Agricultural Workers - here the interests of the proletariat and - which as regards the present war is the strengthening, extending and people will discover, and probably very is one of the [Y] [most essential] tasks. the bourgeoisie, both in Russia and essentially the agent of the billion- developing of the role, significance soon, that there is bread and that it can We will thereby strive not only for the throughout the world. dollar ‘firm’, ‘England and France’ - and strength of the Soviet of Worker be obtained, but not otherwise than by agricultural workers to establish their The workers [and soldiers] of there has arisen a [new] [M], unofficial, [and Soldier] Deputies. methods that do not respect the sanctity own separate soviets, but also for the Petrograd, like the workers [and undeveloped and still comparatively All the rest is mere phrases and of capital and land ownership. propertyless and poorest peasants to soldiers] of the whole of Russia, weak worker government, which lies, self-deception on the part of the It cannot give freedom because it is a organise separately from the well-off self-sacrificingly fought the tsarist expresses the interests of the proletariat politicos of the liberal and radical landlord and capitalist government that peasants. The special tasks and special monarchy - fought for freedom, land and the whole poorest urban and rural camp [R]. fears the people [W]. forms of organisation urgently needed for the peasants, and for peace against population. This is the Soviet of Worker Help, or at least do not hinder, the In another article, we will speak of the at the present time will be dealt with in the imperialist slaughter. To continue [and Soldier] Deputies in Petrograd arming of the workers - and freedom in tasks of our short-term tactical conduct the next letter. and intensify that slaughter, Anglo- [N]. Russia will be invincible, the monarchy towards this government. In it, we shall Second, the ally of the Russian French imperialist capital hatched Such is the actual political situation, unrestorable, the republic secure. explain the peculiarity of the present proletariat is the proletariat of all the court intrigues, set up conspiracies [K], which we must first endeavour to [S] [Otherwise the people will be situation - a transition from the first to belligerent countries and of all countries incited and encouraged the Guchkovs establish with the greatest possible deceived. Promises are cheap; promises the second stage of the revolution - and in general. At present this ally is to a large and Miliukovs, and fixed up a ready- objective precision, in order that we cost nothing.] All bourgeois politicos in why the slogan, the ‘task of the day’, at degree crushed by the war, and all too made new government, which in fact may base Marxist tactics on the only all bourgeois revolutions use promises to this moment must be: Workers, you have often the European social-chauvinists did seize power after the very first solid foundation upon which they ‘nourish’ the people and fool the workers. performed miracles of proletarian and speak in its name - those who, like blows delivered to tsarism by the should be based - the foundation of Ours is a bourgeois revolution - popular heroism, in the civil war against Plekhanov, Gvozdev and Potresov in proletarian struggle. facts. therefore the workers must support tsarism. You must perform miracles of Russia, have gone over to the bourgeoisie. [L] This government is not a The tsarist monarchy has been the bourgeoisie, [T] [say the worthless proletarian and popular organisation in But the liberation of the proletariat from fortuitous assemblage of persons. smashed, but not finally destroyed. politicians from the camp of the order to prepare for your victory in the their influence has progressed with every It consists of the representatives The Octobrist-Cadet bourgeois liquidators.] second stage of the revolution. month of the imperialist war, and the of the new class that has risen to government, which wants to fight Ours is a bourgeois revolution, we Confining ourselves for the present to Russian revolution will inevitably hasten political power in Russia, the class of the imperialist war “to the end”, Marxists say - therefore the workers an analysis of the class struggle and the this process tremendously. capitalist landlords and bourgeoisie and which in reality is the agent must open the eyes of the people to the alignment of class forces at this stage of With these two allies, the proletariat, which has long been ruling our country of the financial firm, ‘England and deception practised by the bourgeois the revolution, we have still to put the using the peculiarities of the present economically. This class, not only France’, is forced to promise the people politicos, teach them to put no faith in question: who are the proletariat’s allies transitional moment, can and will during the revolution of 1905-07, but the maximum of liberties and sops words, to depend entirely on their own in this revolution? proceed, first, towards the achievement also during the counterrevolutionary compatible with the preservation of this strength, their own organisation, their It has two allies: first, the broad of a democratic republic and complete period of 1907-14, and finally - and government’s power over the people own unity and their own arms. mass of the semi-proletarian and, in victory of the peasantry over the landlords with especial rapidity - during the and the possibility of continuing the The government of the Octobrists and part, of the small-peasant population, [Z], and then towards socialism, which war period of 1914-17, was quick to imperialist slaughter. Cadets, of the Guchkovs and Miliukovs, who number scores of millions and alone can give peace, bread and freedom organise itself politically, taking over The Soviet of Worker [and Soldier] is unable - even if it sincerely desired constitute the overwhelming majority to the peoples devastated by war l control of the local government bodies, Deputies is [O] the embryo of a worker this [U] - to give either peace or bread of the population of Russia. For this, N Lenin Appendix II Excised passages are cued by letter to the text provided in appendix I. The following are the words and phrases removed : or - if instead of general [The passage is replaced by the The new government has not succeeded the “of liberalism”.] critical definitions we use word, “strove”] K: with the officers of the guards in finishing off the tsarist monarchy, Apolitical names familiar in has already begun to make a deal with R: conman swindles Russia - only the Guchkovs and G: Let us not make the mistake of those L: This new government, in which Lvov the landlord Romanov dynasty. The Lvovs, Miliukovs and Shingarevs, on who - like certain ‘OC’ supporters and Guchkov of the Octobrists and bourgeoisie of the Octobrist-Cadet S: Otherwise the Guchkovs and the one hand, and only the Gvozdevs, or ‘Mensheviks’ who are oscillating Peaceful Renovation Party, yesterday’s type needs a monarchy to serve as Miliukovs will restore the monarchy Potresovs, Chkhenkelis, Kerenskys between the Gvozdev-Potresov line abettors of Stolypin the Hangman, the head of the bureaucracy and the and grant none, absolutely none of the and Chkheidzes, on the other, and internationalism and who only control the posts of real importance, army in order to protect the privileges ‘liberties’ they promised. too often slip into petty bourgeois the crucial posts, the decisive posts, of capital against the working people. [Instead, the following words B: [The Pravda version changes “Soviet pacifism - are now ready to extol the army and the bureaucracy - this He who says that the workers appear: “Otherwise the people will of worker deputies” to “Soviet of ‘agreement’ between the workers’ government, in which Miliukov and the must support the new government in be deceived. Promises are cheap; Worker and Soldier Deputies” here and party and the Cadets, ‘support’ of other Cadets serve mostly for decoration, the interests of the struggle against promises cost nothing.”] throughout the article (later instances the latter by the former, and so on. for a signboard, for sugary professorial tsarist reaction (and apparently are not flagged). Furthermore, the In conformity with the old (and by speeches, and the ‘Trudovik’ Kerensky this is being said by the Potresovs, T: say the Potresovs, Gvozdevs and Pravda version does not contain the no means Marxist) doctrine that they plays the role of a balalaika for gulling Gvozdevs, Chkhenkelis and also, Chkheidzes, as Plekhanov said yesterday. following words: “which has begun have learned by rote, they are trying the workers and peasants - all evasiveness notwithstanding, [Instead, the following words to win over the soldier and peasant to throw a veil over the plot of the by Chkheidze) is a traitor to the appear: “ say the worthless politicians deputies”.] Anglo-French imperialists, along M: [In the Pravda version, the word workers, a traitor to the cause of the from the camp of the liquidators”.] with the Guchkovs and Miliukovs, “new” replaces the word “chief” in proletariat, to the cause of peace and C: (of which Kerensky and Chkheidze aimed at removing the ‘chief warrior’, Lenin’s original.] freedom. For actually, precisely this U: (only infants can think that Guchkov are the principal representatives) Nicholas Romanov, and putting more new government is already bound and Lvov are sincere) to give the people energetic, fresh and more capable N: which is seeking ties with the hand and foot by imperialist capital, D: Those who, grovelling to the warriors in his place. soldiers and peasants, and also with by the imperialist policy of war and V: of plunder, one that wants to plunder bourgeoisie or simply lacking backbone, the agricultural workers, with the latter plunder, has already begun to make [Instead, the following words howled and wailed about ‘defeatism’ are H: It would simply be foolish to speak particularly and primarily, of course, deals (without consulting the people!) appear: “of conquest that has not now faced by the fact of the historical of the revolutionary proletariat of more than with the peasants with the dynasty, is already working to uttered one word to renounce the connection between the defeat of the Russia ‘supporting’ Cadet-Octobrist restore the tsarist monarchy, is already tsarist policy of the conquest of”.] extremely backward and barbarous imperialism, which has been ‘patched O: an organisation of workers, soliciting the candidature of Mikhail tsarist monarchy and the beginning up’ with English money and is as Romanov as the new kinglet, is already W: and has already begun to make deals of the revolutionary conflagration. abominable as tsarist imperialism. P: The antagonism between the first taking measures to prop up the throne, with the Romanov dynasty and second force is not profound, it is to substitute for the legitimate (lawful, E: by means of out-and-out organisation I: [From the passage, “were destroying, temporary - the result solely of the present ruling by virtue of established law) X: relative of a plot against Nicholas Romanov. have destroyed already to a considerable conjuncture of circumstances, of the monarchy a Bonapartist, plebiscite degree and will continue to destroy”, abrupt turn of events in the imperialist monarchy (ruling by virtue of a Y: [In the Pravda version, “most F: organised a plot along with the the Pravda version retains only “have war. The entire new government is fraudulent popular vote). essential” replaces “most serious” in Octobrists and Cadets, along with a destroyed”.] monarchist, for Kerensky’s verbal No, Lenin’s original.] section of the generals and the officer republicanism simply cannot be taken staff of the army and the St Petersburg J: monarch and also preferably a seriously, is not worthy of a statesman Q: [The Pravda version replaces the Z: instead of the Guchkov-Miliukov garrison, especially Romanov! and, objectively, is political chicanery. words, “Miliukov and Kerensky” with semi-monarchy l weekly 11 worker 1161 June 29 2017 debate Optimism and pessimism What is the nature of capitalist crises? Paul B Smith weighs up two contending views

his article discusses a debate Tony Cliff (1917-2000), who did not no-one can sell. This means wiping out destroying these forces today - it realises withheld from circulation as productive between two Marxists, Hillel do much better. They predicted an constant capital in the form of machinery it must live with the working class. If it capital. Rather than a fall in the rate of TTicktin and Michael Roberts, immediate crisis after World War II. (and variable in the form of wages), so went for mass unemployment in the form profit, monopolies control their rates which took place in Glasgow earlier This never happened - global capitalism that investment can start again. This it did in the last depression, it would not of profit during a crisis, leading to the this year.1 It was organised by the Labour remained relatively stable until the late is what Schumpeter called “creative survive. The period after World War II contradictory situation that money no Party Socialist Network. destruction”. The difference between a longer functions as capital, but as sterile Roberts works as an economist in slump and a depression is that in a slump hoards. (I would add that monopolies the City of London. This gives him the the fall in profits is not as wholescale or believe they are ‘too big to fail’. They advantage of observing the operations prolonged as in a depression. This theory are secure in the belief that the state will of finance capitalism from the inside. can be proved with empirical data and bail them out if their profits collapse. A few years ago, Roberts wrote a book statistics. This is further evidence that there is a on the ongoing depression, which he tendency for capitalist production to be has now updated, and he has a lively, Limited theory increasingly socialised and politicised.) popular blog.2 Ticktin agreed that during a crisis all Roberts’ reply to Ticktin’s challenge In contrast, Ticktin taught socialist the three aspects Roberts mentioned - was to state he does not see the causes theory and movements at Glasgow underconsumption, disproportionality and of crisis in that way. The classical model University. He was the founding editor falling profits - are present. Nonetheless, of creative destruction is not over. of Critique - a journal of socialist theory3. he argued that the tendency for the rate Capitalism will not stagger on indefinitely He has written books on the former of profit to fall is not the only form of until it is overthrown. Competition is USSR and the politics of race in South explanation. real - there is never a total monopoly Africa.4 He has also edited books on the Hillel Ticktin Certainly Marxists can emphasise Michael Roberts of a market. The process that Marx crisis, and the ideas of Trotsky.5 Within one aspect of Marx’s writings on crisis as describes in Capital is happening now: Critique, he has published articles on 1960s and early 70s. superior to all others. They can pit either saw a vast increase in state expenditure the depression will come to an end, once political economy, Marxism, decline, The reason Ticktin gave for the failure one of the aspects against the other two on arms, which guaranteed a period of the weak competitors are cleared out. finance capital, socialism, consciousness of Marxist theory was that Stalinism had (as Roberts and underconsumptionists relative stability. The reduction in arms There will then be a series of further and the crisis. destroyed the possibility of a healthy left. have done); or they can uphold two of the expenditure from 1986-97 coincided with slumps and the introduction of new Roberts and Ticktin have some things The role Stalinism played in the defeat aspects against the other one. According state guarantees to the stock exchange technologies and forms of exploitation, in common. Both contribute regularly to of the working class after the October to Ticktin, neither approach provides the after the crash of 1987. as capitalism recovers. Profitability will the Weekly Worker and attend Communist 1917 revolution is responsible for the foundation for a sufficient understanding. Ticktin was at pains to stress that crises be restored and the hoards of money will University every August. Both are highly absence of a left today. This includes a Why did Ticktin think Roberts’ and their recovery in the 20th and 21st flow back into the economy as productive critical of bourgeois economics. There Marxist left. As a consequence, Marxists approach was limited? For two reasons. century involve workers’ resistance to the investment again. I guess this is why are, however, important differences have difficulty understanding the nature The first was that it gave a technical destruction of productive forces. These he described himself as an optimist between them - not least the role that the and future of the crisis in the present. account. The focus was mostly on are political, not technical, issues. To concerning the future of capitalism. tendency of the rate of profit to fall plays Nonetheless Ticktin was optimistic that, profitability and productivity. By doing understand them fully, a socialist analysis Roberts also summarised what in a crisis.6 the further people moved away from a so, it lost sight of the political and needs to take into account the objective he thought Ticktin’s position is: ie, At one point during the debate, preoccupation with the former USSR historical character of crises. Secondly, strength of the working class. Policies that imperialism and war have saved Roberts attempted a summary of these (and national regimes modelled on it), the it excluded the influence of the class of full employment and the welfare capitalism. Marx’s model of creative differences. He stated that he is an more likely they would be to be attracted struggle on the development of capitalism state made workers more powerful and destruction is therefore no longer optimist regarding the future of capitalism to the idea of socialism as an alternative to as whole. The class struggle became an led to mass strikes. The turn to finance applicable. The state now plays a crucial and a pessimist regarding the ability of a crisis-ridden capitalism. It follows that afterthought. capital as a means of weakening workers’ role in keeping capitalism going. Crisis is the working class to bring socialism the conditions for a satisfactory theory of Roberts mentioned the class struggle collective struggles through cuts and caused by capitalists refusing to invest. into being. He described Ticktin in the crisis could also emerge. as something that does not disappear privatisation began to fail by the end of Ticktin did not argue with Roberts’ opposite way - a pessimist about the The debate therefore addressed this during crises, but becomes more difficult. the century. This saw crashes of the Long summary of his position. Rather he asked future of capitalism and an optimist absence of a coherent understanding In his final contribution he predicted there Term Capital Management Fund (1998) the audience to consider the situation regarding the working class’s ability to of crisis. Roberts gave a quick outline will be no confident working class until and East Asian economies (1997). Arms outwith Europe and the United States. end it. Ticktin smiled at these remarks. of what Marx had thought, contrasting the present depression ends and there is a expenditure on imperialist wars in the People in Brazil and South Africa have Are these characterisations true? If so him with Keynes. He criticised Keynes recovery. He thought that presently there Middle East delayed the beginning of difficulty feeding themselves. How is this why? for having a “technical” approach, are only a few groups of workers with the present depression until the crashes surplus population going to be absorbed believing that crises were caused by a any confidence in collective struggle. of 2007. by a fresh expansion of capital? Building Pure ideology lack of demand - workers just did not He gave the railway workers in the UK socialism in one country is impossible Both thinkers thought we are living through have enough to spend. When demand as an example. I guess this confirms his and no solution. another great depression. They agreed collapsed, profits and investment description of himself as a pessimist Monopoly and Why should capitalists continue to that it is longer and deeper than the two went down. A crisis could therefore concerning the potential of workers to decline invest in these countries? Are they going previous ones of 1873-93 and 1929-39. be solved by lowering interest rates to form a class capable of taking power. Ticktin asked Roberts why he had made no to go for policies of full employment They stated that bourgeois economics has zero and using the state to invest in the He did not discuss the role of the state reference to monopoly in his explanation. in South Africa and Brazil? How is nothing to say to explain or predict how infrastructure. According to Keynes, or politics in this process. He wondered whether Roberts agreed with capital going to expand in the future? these changes came about. As Ticktin put there was nothing wrong with the engine Ticktin’s contributions were different. that section of the left that now shares a A massive investment in technology it, bourgeois economics is “pure ideology”. of capitalism that could not be repaired. After a short exposition of reasons why bourgeois viewpoint once associated with would lead to a decline in profits. How Roberts began his talk by ridiculing Marx, on the other hand, argued he thought it is impossible to provide the neoliberal thinker, Milton Friedman far will they go with automation? It the arrogant ignorance of a range of that crises are characterised by sufficient data to prove that profits are (1912-2006). This is that monopolies no is surprising how limited it has been different bourgeois economists including overproduction. There are three causes falling, he gave an historical and political longer play an important role in the global so far - how slow the introduction of a Nobel prize-winner, Robert Lucas. Not of this. The first is similar to Keynes. account of crises. Rather than attack the economy. He referenced Anwar Shaikh, automation has been. He thought that only did these ‘experts’ not consider Capitalist expansion requires wages to bases of Roberts’ interpretation directly, a Marxist economist. Ticktin alleged the aim of the ruling class in the future a crisis likely: many thought it was be held down and workers cannot buy he challenged a latent assumption within that Shaikh denies that monopolies are will be to avoid abandoning capitalism. impossible. Some believed the problem what is being produced. The second is it that the contemporary crisis involves able to control production by restricting They will try to maintain the system of depressions had been solved forever. what Marx called disproportionality. the extent of ‘creative destruction’ Marx competition.7 In contrast, Ticktin cited at a low level with minimal levels of Ticktin recalled the embarrassment Overproduction is caused by a described in Capital. empirical evidence for increasing industrial employment for as long as possible. economists felt when the queen visited disproportionate investment in producer, Ticktin mentioned Hilferding and and financial concentration within the These are important questions for the London School of Economics in as opposed to consumer, goods. This Lenin’s use of Marx’s categories to global economy. Peter Nolan, a specialist further debate and discussion that arose 2007. She asked them why they had failed is the result of a lack of planning and theorise finance capitalism, imperialism on Chinese development, has compiled the during a meeting lasting two and a half to predict the collapse of the banks. They causes crashes. and world wars. These were attempts data in a recent book. Nolan argues that hours. It could have gone on much answered it was too complicated. Roberts rejected these two alternatives to explain the ways the capitalist class Chinese companies will be unable to take longer! l A notable difference between the two - he thought they did not explain crises had responded to crises. Ticktin also over the global market, because the latter was evident early on. This was not just sufficiently well. According to Roberts, integrated crises within the perspective is dominated by a few huge American and 8 Notes Roberts’ confident presentation of his the only real way to understand them is he has developed in Critique: capitalism European transnational corporations. 1. The debate took place on February 4 2017 and ideas and Ticktin’s careful response. It to look at the nature of capitalism itself. and the law of value is in decline. The Ticktin compared monopoly - a can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/ydbmfqdr. was the notion that Marxist explanations Capitalism is based on making profits - growth of monopoly forms part of the feature of a declining capitalism - to 2. M Roberts The long depression Chicago 2016. Michael Roberts blogs at https://thenextrecession. of crisis are necessarily superior to money making more money. The aim of empirical confirmation of this perspective the mature capitalism Marx described wordpress.com. bourgeois ones. Roberts assumed his exploitation is to make more money than and Ticktin spent some time discussing in Capital. In the latter there were a 3. www.critiquejournal.net. interpretation based on Marx’s law of you invest. The essence of the system is monopoly to prove this point. large number of competitors, leading to 4. HH Ticktin Origins of the crisis in the USSR: the tendency of the rate of profit to fall to make profit. Crises therefore take place Ticktin argued that, after the crisis of the bankruptcy of many firms during a essays on the political economy of a disintegrating system London 1992. HH Ticktin The politics of is the only possible explanation of crises. when profit is not delivered or realised. 1873-93, imperialism played a crucial crisis. Ticktin argued that monopolies race: discrimination in South Africa London 1993. Ticktin disagreed with this. He pointed Roberts argued that there is a role in raising the rate of profit through the avoid overproduction by managing the 5. HH Ticktin The ideas of Leon Trotsky London out that Marxists had not done much contradiction between the drive to export of capital abroad. Imperialism and gap between what is actually produced 1995; HH Ticktin (ed) Marxism and the global better than their bourgeois opponents. He make labour more productive and the war have been important to the survival and what potentially could be produced. financial crisis London 2012. 6. I was unclear whether they had a shared cited the Hungarian Stalinist economist, aim of getting more profits, which means of capitalism ever since. Moreover, the Through managerial forms of control understanding of the nature of crisis. Roberts Eugen Varga (1879-1964). Varga had there is a tendency for profits to fall over kind of devastation that took place in they avoid creative destruction and talked about the difference between booms and argued that, after 1945, the state would time. Capitalists increasingly invest in crises before 1873 was not repeated in bankruptcy. They invest their surplus slumps and a depression. This may reflect the ensure that there would be no more machines rather than living labour. As 1929-39. A world war was needed to capital to a certain level and if there is distinction some people make between cyclical and systemic crises. crises of capitalism. Capitalism would be they make losses, they lay off workers. destroy the forces of production, clearing no demand keep what is left in the bank. 7. See A Shaikh Capitalism: competition, conflict, inherently stable from there on. Ticktin As profits fall, there is less investment. the way for the process of accumulation Ticktin cited the $29 trillion held crises Oxford 2016. then mentioned anti-Stalinist Marxists, Less investment means less employment. to start afresh. in the Bank of New York Mellon as 8. P Nolan Is China buying the world? New Jersey such as Ernest Mandel (1923-95) and A slump happens - no-one can buy and However, the capitalist class is not evidence of the vast quantities of money 2013. 12 weekly June 29 2017 1161 worker review Crisis and degeneration David E Lowes (editor), Arthur Ransome Three accounts of revolutionary Russia Red Revenant, 2017, £6.90, pp212

Arthur Ransome was once [The the number of workers, along with organisation are thrown out the Guardian] correspondent in Moscow. the production of, for example, farm window!]. You perhaps recall rumours of an machinery - necessary for the expansion Lenin, on the same occasion, unconventional life. Chances are, of agricultural production exponentially, replying to a critic [of the dictatorship though, you are not fully aware upon which the revolution depended: of the proletariat] said: “He says that that the man who wrote Swallows we understand by [these] words … and amazons [for children] was Let us now examine the combined effect what is actually the dictatorship of its married for many years to Trotsky’s of ruined transport and the six-years determined and conscious minority. personal secretary; shared a flat with blockade on Russian life in town and And that is the fact.” Later he asked: Karl Radek, the Bolshevik chief country. First of all, was cut off the “ What is this minority? It may be of propaganda; thought the world import of manufactured goods from called a party. If this minority is of Lenin, with whom he was on abroad … In 1915 [Russia’s] own actually conscious, if it is able to excellent terms…. production of [agricultural machinery draw the masses after it, if its shows He collaborated with the Cheka and implements] had fallen to 15.1% itself capable of replying to every - the Bolshevik secret police and of her already inadequate peacetime question on the agenda of a political forerunner of the KGB - and Lenin saw output. In 1917 it had fallen to 2.1%. day, it actually constitutes a party.” him as his first source of intelligence And Trotsky again, on the same on British policy. At the same time, Therefore, occasion, illustrated the relative despite serious doubts about his positions of the Soviet constitution and loyalty, he was in the pay of British The agricultural productive powers the Communist Party, when he said: intelligence as an acknowledged of Russia are consequently sinking. “And today, now that we have received intimate of many of the revolution’s But things are no better if we turn an offer from the Polish government, leaders: he was … [probably] a from the rye and corn fields to the who decides the question? Whither double agent.1 forests. Saws are worn out. Axes are the workers to turn? We have our are worn out. Council of People’s Commissars, of he crisis in Russia’ (1921), the course, but that, too, must be under third of Ransome’s essays in There is also an enormous shortage a certain control. Whose control? ‘T this volume, is poles apart from of horses: The control of the working class as the sunny optimism of his earlier ‘Six a formless chaotic mass [as it then weeks in Russia’ (1919) - or Bessie Timber can be floated down the was]? No. The central committee of Beatty’s Red heart of Russia (1917- rivers. Yes, but it must be brought to the party is called together to discuss 18) - which were written between the Arthur Ransome: sympathetic eye the rivers. Surely horses can do that. the question ... It gives directives to heady days of the October revolution Yes, but horses must be fed … [Apart the local committees ... The same and the end of the first year of the civil the Bolshevik leaders themselves, France is conscious of it; it is only from that the] men who cut the wood applies to every other important war: ie, when the Bolshevik leaders he is grappling with the growing in England and America that the cannot do it on empty stomachs ... The matter …” (p143). still believed that the international contradiction between “the power and threat is not among the waking towns suffer from lack of transport … revolution was possible, if only they the dream”. Ransome acknowledges the nightmares of everybody ... when Townsfolk and factory workers lack could hold on to power. fact that, instead of the dictatorship of countries … do their utmost to food, fuel, raw materials and much else Cheka and party The crisis in Russia covers the the proletariat, a Bolshevik dictatorship accelerate the economic ruin of each that in a civilised state is considered Here I am more at odds with Ransome’s period from late 1919 to early1921, had emerged, because the proletariat, other, we are witnessing something necessary to life ... Townsfolk are somewhat simplistic approach to the when at least 14 countries, led by the which constituted its social base, had like the suicide of civilisation itself. starving, and in winter cold. People Cheka (Extraordinary Commission for main imperialist powers - not forgetting collapsed under the exigencies of There are people in both camps who living in rooms in a flat, complete Struggle against the Counterrevolution) their Trojan horse (the White armies) - civil war. Thus the goal of proletarian believe that armed and economic strangers to each other, by general and its relationship to the party, which attacked and invaded the revolutionary democracy - itself contingent upon the conflict between revolutionary and agreement bring all their beds into I would attribute to the benefit of government from all sides, leading success of the international revolution - non-revolutionary Europe - or if the kitchen ... There is no means of hindsight on my part. The more isolated to the shrinking of the Soviet state to had to be postponed for the time being. you like between capitalism and heating ... [and a] lack of medicines the revolution became, the deeper the about a third of its size. In their attempt As with my review of Bessie Beatty communism - is inevitable (pp127-28). ... Soap has become so rare … that for breach between party and the people; to strangle the revolution, they aimed on revolutionary Russia4 - published the present is to be treated as a means the black market flourishes. The to restore the old order by any means originally as Red heart of Russia (1918) of safeguarding labour, to be given greater the opportunity for sabotage necessary. - I shall focus on some of the highlights Shortages to workmen for washing after and and betrayal of the revolution, the This period also ends with the of ‘The crisis in Russia’. By so doing, This is the subject of chapter 2. during work ... And, as one country greater the need for the state to wield final defeat of the German revolution. I hope that Weekly Worker readers will Paradoxically, despite his pessimistic follows another to the brink, so will its repressive apparatus, instead of As result, the Bolsheviks found want to get both books and read them view that the collapse of civilisation the remaining countries be faced by withering away. But, to return to themselves alone and the Red Army from cover to cover. in Russia might lead to its collapse conditions of increasingly narrow Ransome: “I am perfectly aware that had to fight terror with terror in a Contrary to the standard bourgeois, elsewhere as well, we also see glimpses self-dependence (pp133-35). without this police force with its spies, desperate bid to save the revolution. one-sided approach to the Bolshevik of Ransome’s literary flare, which he its prisons and its troops, the difficulties Nevertheless, bourgeois historians regime in power (which persists to this would later put to good use when writing He concludes this section thus: of the dictatorship would be increased.” like to reverse cause and effect. For day) - ie, as a power-hungry regime his children’s books. He starts with the However, he adds a note of caution: “I them the ‘red terror’ is the primary which started the terror - Ransome railways - obviously crucial to a country Russia, in these circumstances, may believe, too, that the overgrown power cause, not the effect of the imperialist relies on objective reality instead: like Russia, which occupies one-sixth sink into something very like barbarism of the [Cheka] … may, as in the French counterrevolution. On the other hand, of the earth’s surface: ... It would be possible, no doubt, for Revolution, bring about the collapse Trotsky spoke the truth, when he said When the test of crisis is applied, foreigners to trade with the Russians of the system.” that civil war (class war) itself is a the actual governmental machine in In 1914, Russia had … 20,057 as with the natives of the cannibal For Ransome, the repressive power “disgusting barbarism”.2 Ransome, the every country looks very much like locomotives … In 1918 ... the number islands, bartering looking-glasses of the Cheka rises and falls, dependent children’s writer, understands this. As that of every other ... ‘constitutional of locomotives fell from 14,519 in and cheap tools. [But it will be a on the latest defeat for the Red Army he says at the start of his first account, safeguards’ go by the board ‘for the January to 8,457 in April, after the long time before] western Europe in the civil war (eg, against Poland) Open letter to America, public good’, in Moscow as elsewhere. artificially instigated revolt of the could count once more on getting a or victory. But then he goes on to Under that stress it becomes clear Czecho-Slovaks made possible considerable portion of its food from say that the “overgrown power” of There is nothing here of the Red that, in spite of its novel constitution the fostering of civil war on a large Russian corn lands ... But opposed the Cheka is a subordinate question Terror … But for its poverty in [being more democratic than even the scale, and the number fell swiftly to to these tendencies are the united to the communist dictatorship - ie, atrocities, my book will be blamed American], the real directive power 4,679 in December ... [Thus] Russia efforts of the communists and of the Bolshevik Party itself - despite by fanatics, since they alone desire lying in the hands of a comparatively possesses one-fifth of the number of those who, leaving the question of his acknowledgement of the growing proofs of past terrors as justification small body … with its conscious will locomotives which in 1914 was just communism aside, work with them centralisation of the latter and the for new ones.3 [being forced to drive] a population sufficient to maintain her railway for the sake of preventing the collapse growth of bureaucracy. largely indifferent and inert ... No-one system in a state of efficiency ... of Russian civilisation (pp141-42). On the other hand, he is right to This account, although it covers the tries to shirk from the fact that the For six years she has been unable to assert that we are obliged to distinguish end of the civil war itself, stops short executive committee has fallen into import the necessary machinery for In a neat turn of phrase, Ransome begins this “communist dictatorship from of those even more depressing events, [disuse], from which, when the stress making engines. Further coal and oil by saying any other dictatorships, by which it which soon followed: namely the slackens enough, … it may some day have been, until recently, cut off by might be supplanted”, such as the Kronstadt rebellion in March 1921 be revived. [Meanwhile, the] bulk of civil war. The mines are left, after the How is that will expressed? What is restoration of the old regime under and the retreat into the New Economic its members have been at the front civil war, in such a condition that no the organisation welded by adversity, the tutelage of the imperialist powers. Policy (see below). or here and there about the country, considerable input may be expected which, in this crisis, supersedes even These were high stakes indeed. A party But the necessities of life continued wrestling with the economic problem. from them in the near future (p132). the Soviet constitution, and stands with “611,978 members on April 2 to shrink, whilst inequality and between [its] people and chaos? … 1920” is ruled by just 19 members bureaucracy continued to grow. Faced Ransome becomes even more pessimistic: Ransome goes on to explain that the At the second congress of the Third of the central committee, of which with this stark reality, Ransome is less desperate shortages of railway engines International, Trotsky remarked within the Politburo there are five anecdotal than previously. He is more The threat of a complete collapse and rolling stock exacerbated the [echoing Their morals and ours key leaders, who are directing policy empirical in his approach: ie, reliant of civilisation is more imminent contradiction between the countryside 15 years later]: “A party, as such, from day to day. on undeniable hard facts and statistics, in Russia than elsewhere. But it is and the city - in particular, the workers’ in the course of the development On this basis the party (ie, combined with his own analysis (or clear enough in Poland, it cannot dependence on the peasantry to provide of a revolution, becomes identical during 1919) was “in the process of that of others). By so doing, his style be disregarded in Germany, there them with sufficient food. Otherwise with that revolution” [ie, for a time, persuading 600,000 [party members] becomes more brutally realistic. Like is no doubt of its existence in Italy, it would be impossible to increase civilised behaviour and democratic of the desirability of … such measures weekly 13 worker 1161 June 29 2017 What we fight for as [that] of industrial conscription, But he should have added that the this the cinematograph throws its after free trade, notwithstanding that n Without organisation the which, at first sight, was certainly economic ruin of Russia was a direct picture on the giant screen outside, the two things are self-contradictory. working class is nothing; with repugnant to most of them …” (p146). consequence of the imperialist so that several thousands could see Of course, if they were a united force the highest form of organisation Later Ransome devotes a whole counterrevolution: in particular the it at once (pp164-66). they could swamp us, but they are it is everything. chapter to industrial conscription: blockade against Soviet trade with the disunited both in their interests and n There exists no real Communist because workers were prone to slack outside world, which enables all of geographically. The interests of the Party today. There are many periods, the policy of payment by these “jerry-built alliances” to flourish, Plans for the poorer and middle class peasants are so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In results was introduced: because both aspects are working in in contradiction with those of the reality they are confessional sects. tandem. future rich farmer who employs labourers.” Members who disagree with the … payment of conscripted workers Now for some light relief! Ransome The highlight of this section is Ransome’s [They know that we are on their side.] prescribed ‘line’ are expected to was to be by production, with prizes was also fascinated by the fact that account of Trotsky’s aim to introduce I said: “If state agriculture in Russia gag themselves in public. Either for specially good work. Specially art was being forced into the role a programme for the reconstruction of comes to be on a larger scale, will there that or face expulsion. bad work was also foreseen in of agitprop in the defence of the Russia, based on centralised planning, not be a sort of proletarianisation of n the detailed scheme of possible revolution. In this regard, he has which had the full approval of Lenin. the peasants, so that, in the long run, Communists operate according punishments. Offenders were to be something to say about the growing Even in late 1920-21, Trotsky is their interests would become more or to the principles of democratic brought before the ‘people’s court’ conflict between futurist, experimental anticipating the ideas which he would less identical with those of the workers centralism. Through ongoing debate (equivalent to an ordinary civil art and the more conventional demands publish later as The new course. This [in the factories]?” we seek to achieve unity in action court), or, in the case of repeated of Proletcult - which insisted that art book would also become the basis for He replied: “Something in that and a common world outlook. As or very bad offences, were to be should be subordinated to the interests the struggle of the Left Opposition direction is being done, but it will long as they support agreed actions, brought before the far more dreaded of the revolution: against the Stalin faction. The latter, have to be done very carefully and members should have the right to revolutionary tribunals. of course, was preoccupied with must take a very long time ...” speak openly and form temporary Six categories of possible When I crossed the Russian front establishing its own power, based on “Did he think they would pull or permanent factions. offences were placed upon the in October 1919, the first thing I the bureaucratic degeneration of the through far enough economically n Communists oppose all impe- new code: (1) … absenteeism, or noticed in peasants’ cottages, in revolution, as opposed to the need to to be able to satisfy the needs of the rialist wars and occupations but desertion. (2) The preparation of villages, … in every railway station return to revolutionary principles. As peasantry before that same peasantry constantly strive to bring to the fore false documents … (3) … giving along the line, was elaborate pictorial Deutscher writes in his biography of had organised a real political opposition the fundamental question - ending war false information to facilitate these propaganda concerned with the Trotsky, The prophet unarmed, that should overwhelm them?” is bound up with ending capitalism. crimes. (4) Purposeful damage of war. There were posters showing Lenin laughed: “If I could answer n Communists are internationalists. instruments or material. (5) … Denikin standing straddle over Nobody had gone farther than Trotsky that question,” he said, “I could Everywhere we strive for the closest careless work. (6) Probably the Russia’s coal … in demanding that every interest and answer everything, for on the answer unity and agreement of working class most serious of all, instigation to aspiration should be wholly subordinated to that question everything depends. and progressive parties of all countries. any of these actions (p176). He also mentions the five propaganda to the ‘iron dictatorship’. Yet he was I think we can. Yes, I think we can” We oppose every manifestation trains, organised by a certain comrade the first of the Bolshevik chiefs to turn (pp192-93). of national sectionalism. It is an Splits were beginning to develop Burov, which travelled to every corner of against the machine of that dictatorship internationalist duty to uphold the within the leadership over serious Soviet-controlled territory. The prosaic when it began to devour the dream.5 Of course, the introduction of Trotsky’s principle, ‘One state, one party’. questions: eg, war communism versus “Burov, it seems, has only recently central plan - as well as the solution n The working class must be the peasantry’s desire to own land and escaped from what he considered a Thus he advocated the establishment of to the problem of the peasantry - was organised globally. Without sell their produce for private gain; the bitter affliction due to the Department a centralised planning, which is essential frustrated; first of all, by the dire situation a global Communist Party, a danger of great Russian chauvinism of Proletarian Culture, who, in the for socialist construction, along with a that the country was in - in particular, Communist International, the versus the rights of nationalities; beginning, for the decoration of his return to proletarian democracy; otherwise the shortage of food - which prompted struggle against capital is weakened the militarisation of labour versus trains, had delivered him bound hand planning would fall into the hands of Lenin to introduce his New Economic and lacks coordination. proletarian democracy; how the Polish and foot to a number of futurists.” He the bureaucracy and lead to an entirely Policy in March 1921(viz, the partial war of 1919 could be won; demands objected to the fact that the ‘Lenin’ different outcome: ie, the meagre surplus restoration of the market, which allowed n Communists have no interest for a programme of full communism train had been decorated with this would continue to be creamed off for the the peasants to produce for profit), in apart from the working class versus the reality (ie, that this could revolutionary art, on the grounds that it benefit of the few. the hopes that this would lead to an as a whole. They differ only in only be possible in “an economy of was inaccessible to the masses; but one Apropos Trotsky’s proposal (circa immediate increase in food supplies for recognising the importance of plenty” - Soviet Russia was anything year later, it “had been brought under 1920-21), Ransome explains that its the workers in the factories. Secondly, Marxism as a guide to practice. but!) So how could any of these questions proper control”. Futurist pictures are immediate task is to improve centralised planning was frustrated by That theory is no dogma, but be resolved, when the party itself had “‘art for art’s sake’, and cannot have the developing power struggle between must be constantly added to and become a centralised machine, which done more than astonish, and perhaps ‘the condition of transport’ in Russia, left and right in the party, which ended enriched. depended more and more on economic terrify, the peasants and workmen of so that the growing gap between the with the triumph of the Stalin faction n Capitalism in its ceaseless and technical experts? Ransome was the country towns who had the luck city and the countryside: concretely the and the bureaucracy. search for profit puts the future witnessing the rapid bureaucratisation to see them.” But the ‘Red Cossack’ is needs of industry and farming, could Thus the gap between town and of humanity at risk. Capitalism is of both party and state. quite different: be addressed. In Trotsky’s own words: countryside (aka ‘the scissors effect’) synonymous with war, pollution, Nevertheless, he is right to conclude “The fundamental task at this continued to grow, along with the exploitation and crisis. As a global this section with the following As Burov put it with deep satisfaction, moment is improvement in the condition aggrandisement of the rich peasants system capitalism can only be sardonic observation: “At first we were in the artist’s of our transport, prevention of its or Kulaks. This meant that the superseded globally. hands, and now the artists are in further deterioration and preparation collectivisation of agriculture was delayed n The capitalist class will never If its only task were to fight those our hands” - a sentence suggesting of the most elementary stores of food, even further; hence the imposition of the willingly allow their wealth and organisations of loosely knit and only the horrible possibilities of official raw material and fuel. The whole of latter had to be undertaken by the most power to be taken away by a momentarily united interests which art under socialism … the first period of our reconstruction brutal means. parliamentary vote. were opposed to it, those jerry-built will be completely preoccupied in the On this note - that is, the deepening n alliances of reactionaries with So we know where Ransome’s sympathies concentration of labour on the solution problems of Soviet Russia at the We will use the most militant liberals, united-indivisible-Russians lie - because he is, after all, a creative of these problems, which is a condition beginning of 1921 - I shall leave the last methods objective circumstances with Ukrainians, agrarians with writer himself! of further progress. The second period, word to the ever astute Ransome: At the allow to achieve a federal republic sugar-refiners, monarchists with A final word must go to the [although it will be difficult to predict end of the final paragraph of The crisis of England, Scotland and Wales, republicans, that task would long when this will begin], depending on in Russia, he refers to the contradiction a united, federal Ireland and a ago have been finished. But it has to cinematograph wagon, with benches many factors, beginning with the between the ultimate aim of the revolution United States of Europe. fight something infinitely stronger to seat about 150 persons … at night, international situation and ending and its immediate needs. By so doing, he n Communists favour industrial than these in fighting the economic a giant screen is fixed up in the with the unanimity or the lack of it in anticipates the introduction of the NEP (if unions. Bureaucracy and class ruin of Russia (p148). open. There is a special hole cut in our party, will be occupied in building not the Kronstadt rebellion, which was compromise must be fought and the side of the wagon, and through machines in the interest of transport, just around the corner): the trade unions transformed into and getting the raw materials and schools for communism. provisions. The third period will be … there is a strange irony in the fact that n Communists are champions of occupied with building machinery, with the communists desire that upheaval the oppressed. Women’s oppression, Fighting fund a view to the production of articles in [a continuation of the international combating racism and chauvinism, general demand, and, finally, the fourth revolution] and, at the same time, desire and the struggle for peace and period will be that in which we are able a rebirth of the Russian market, which ecological sustainability are just to produce these articles” (pp184-85). would tend to make that upheaval as much working class questions Made it! unlikely, while those who fear upheaval as pay, trade union rights and C, a longstanding Marxist already made it! A total of £102 Next Ransome gives us a glimpse of the are precisely those who urge us, by demands for high-quality health, Jactivist who is now a member came in through standing orders real contradiction between the workers making recovery in Russia impossible, housing and education. of the Labour Party, writes: “I have (thanks go to SS, GT, DC, BB and and the peasants via a report of one of his to improve the chances of collapse n Socialism represents victory read the Weekly Worker for several JT) and £55 via PayPal - thank numerous talks with Lenin, presumably at home. The peasants in Russia are in the battle for democracy. It is months, having heard of it through you, MN (£40), SV (£10) and TL in late 1920 (certainly before the end of not alone in wanting incompatible the rule of the working class. a friend’s recommendation of Mike (£5), who were among 2,535 online war communism and the introduction of things (p200). Socialism is either democratic or, Macnair’s Revolutionary strategy - readers this week. Then there was the NEP). Despite everything, Lenin, like as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it the second edition of which we are BD’s generous £50 cheque. all good Marxists, tries to be optimistic: Although Ransome did not know it (how turns into its opposite. both eagerly awaiting.” I’ll pass on Thanks to all these comrades’ could he, as an eye witness of history in your hint, comrade! generosity, we pulled in an extra Lenin talking to me about the general the making?), the tide had turned against n Socialism is the first stage Anyway, JC has finally decided £360 over the last seven days, attitude of the peasants [whom he the October revolution l of the worldwide transition to to take out a subscription - and taking our running total up to sees as] people who are “part of Rex Dunn communism - a system which decided to add £3 to each standing £1,839. But if anyone wants to the nation which does not know knows neither wars, exploitation, order payment. Most welcome, but chip in, you’ve still got time if you what it wants ... it applies equally Notes money, classes, states nor nations. not as generous as NH, who, just as use PayPal or - better still - make a well to your Arthur Hendersons 1. J Henley, ‘I spy Arthur Ransome’ The Guardian Communism is general freedom I was about to write this column, transfer from your online account l and Sidney Webbs in England, and August 12 2009. and the real beginning of human 2. L Trotsky Their morals and ours New York history. handed a cool £100 to one of our Robbie Rix all people like yourself who want 1975, p38. supporters! Or BB, who made a £50 incompatible things. The peasantry 3. A Ransome Open letter to America; part of The Weekly Worker is licensed by bank transfer to try and ensure we Fill in a standing order form are individualists, but they support Three accounts of revolutionary Russia Liverpool November Publications under a Creative reach our £1,750 June target. (back page), donate via our us. We have, in some degree, to 2017, p29. My emphasis. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4. ‘Witnesses of the revolution’ Weekly Worker 4.0 International Licence: http:// Well, there’s still another day to website, or send cheques, thank Kolchak and Denikin [White June 22. creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ go, but I’m pleased to say we’ve payable to Weekly Worker warlords] for that. They are in favour 5. I Deutscher The prophet unarmed: Trotsky legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. of the Soviet government, but hanker 1921-1929 chapter one, London 2003. No 1161 June 29 2017 weekly Tories suddenly discover loads worker of money May is not irreplaceable More is needed than a removal van outside Number 10, argues Paul Demarty ll around us, the deafening cry subjected to crisis and coups. is raised: Theresa May must go! From the left’s perspective, things A Ever since her electoral are perhaps counterintuitive. At present, gamble (which initially seemed barely the Tories, and indeed her majesty’s worthy of the word) backfired so government, are headed by a politician spectacularly, the message from the denuded of moral and political authority, Labour front bench has been consistent: known to be defeated and a lame duck. May went to the country for a mandate, If she resigns, or is got rid of by means and the country has answered. She is of a vote of confidence or suchlike, then unable to govern with any authority, we should expect the next Tory leader and clinging on damages the ‘national to be in a stronger position, to begin interest’. She should resign immediately, rebuilding the trust of a hostile media and if no Tory can build a government and sections of the public, to assume without her, Labour is a government in more convincingly the mantle of the waiting. This narrative enjoys, for the national interest. By no means would time being, the support of even the right such a leader be invulnerable - May of the Parliamentary Labour Party, since certainly turned out not to be. But they can hardly be seen to dissent from it operating conditions for the left would with their party riding higher in general be worse. We do not want a Tory public approximation than for years. government, with any leader, from any Those to the left of Labour are hardly faction of that party. If there is to be a less ebullient. “We need to ramp up Tory government, however, its attacks the fightback to drive the Tories from are more easily repelled, and indeed office,” declares a Socialist Worker even positive reforms won, when it is front-pager of the usual type, and, bedevilled with internal divisions, than though our predictive powers have when it is united. suffered a few bruises recently, we We are already onto Socialist confidently expect that this weekend’s Worker’s territory, then, when it is People’s Assembly demonstration will more a matter of ‘Tories out’ than ‘May be awash with SW-branded placards out’. We could ask the question - sure, demanding that May leaves office and the Tories could organise a clean coup that the Tories are driven out. On this and get themselves a new leader, so point, the left is united with much of why don’t they? Precisely because the right, with Tory journos in large it could fail, and under the current numbers horrified at the liability that circumstances, with Islington’s most their erstwhile saviour has become. famous allotment-keeper sniffing at Among the more Machiavellian of this the door of number 10, stumbling into caste, there is George Osborne, who may Theresa May: borrowed time a losable general election is not high on not have much in the way of journalistic any sensible Tory’s agenda. acumen, but has a Dacre-esque instinct even a pope could be bribed for less. look forward with not a little morbid that the Tories are stronger than May, Here we meet the lack of ambition. for exploiting his media power to settle Outside of the dysfunctional six anticipation to the thankless task of party and indeed any one of their leaders; It is not the case, unfortunately, that his political grudges. Sure enough, counties statelet, the many unpleasant whips in getting anything like a ‘great and, secondly, that the goal of toppling only the Tories can find themselves the Evening Standard is a volcano of features of the DUP - the Ulster repeal bill’, under circumstances of the Tories is insufficiently ambitious. stranded in government. Say, then, we anti-May score-settling. Defence Association links, the religious sustained national humiliation, through The Conservative Party - nay, the got rid of the Tories tout court, and fundamentalism - are usually ignorable two houses of parliament, with the Conservative and Unionist Party, as its Labour came to power on the manifesto Revenant corpse (out of sight and out of mind). Now, numbers as they are. full name reads and as May has begun it put to the electorate on June 8. Among the many reasons for such our ‘strong and stable’ prime minister This cannot end well. A mere seven again to call it as a gesture to her new Widespread mockery has accrued to unanimity, there is the fact that toppling has made a hostage of the smooth rebel votes can deprive May of her Scottish colleagues and Northern Irish May’s talk about the ‘magic money May has the real sense of an objective that functioning of government to these effective majority. The Scots Tories mercenaries - is a party of power, of the tree’, now that she herself has found a might actually be achieved very soon, lunatics. Who could resist a shot at this alone, whose caginess about Brexit state. Its calculus is based, above all, by cool billion in the shade of its boughs; with enough of a push. All about her wide-open goal? is widely noted, can muster double its role as the defender of the honour, however, there certainly is a ‘magic hangs the smell of the revenant corpse. Merely keeping tabs on such that - add to their number the remaining power and dignity of the crown. A weak money funnel’, through which capital One crisis begets the next; every day, it ‘confidence suppliers’ would be trouble members of David Cameron’s braying Tory leader, indeed, is more or less a will pour out of Britain in the event of seems, a new frontbencher is forced to enough, but there is the additional source yuppie clique, and set against them the contradiction in terms - one does not (likely) even modest incursions on the demur, coyly, from the suggestion that the of chaos that May chose as the reason dozens of Eurosceptic headbangers have to be very much weakened as Tory property of the ruling class. Preventing coming weeks might find them lurking for her disastrous snap election - the who did for her predecessor, and there leader for the party’s immune system to such sabotage requires a willingness to in the gloom outside Downing Street, Brexit negotiations. No doubt certain are countless routes to deadlock and kick in to one’s great disadvantage. The use coercion and expropriation, and dagger in hand. If they were all being Greek leftish ministers will smile in grim parliamentary defeat. grubby ambitions of actually-existing indeed to fight for a new international honest, then they would be most atypical recognition, as they watch Jean-Claude Tory politicians, as they devour each regime, whereby capital is disciplined of the general population of Tories. Juncker, Donald Tusk, Guy Verhofstadt Ambition other on the way to the top job, is part by democratic power. None of this was She has her ‘confidence and supply’ and co licking their lips at the morsel Given all this, the clamour for May’s of how it works; no better illustration in Corbyn’s manifesto; he would no arrangement with the Democratic before them. Their pleasure at telling departure is quite understandable. Indeed, can be found, in fact, than the fact that more have a mandate for it than May Unionist Party, which ought just about May to go back and try again over the there cannot be a more obviously illegitimate last year’s Brexit vote saw May herself has for ... whatever it is she thinks she to keep the wolves from the door for a rights of EU nationals in Britain was leader of government outside the green rapidly established as the anointed is doing l little while; but the latter’s Presbyterian almost libidinous. The results of any zone of Kabul. We must introduce a note successor, while the Labour Party, Poujadism is as much a liability as an such process must be legislated. We of caution here for two reasons: firstly, whose fault it all certainly was not, was [email protected] asset. In Ulster, the DUP can survive almost in the same way as Hamas, or Subscribe Name:______Standing order an American prison gang - picking up 6m 1yr Inst. 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