The C.N.T. Speaks G.Oliver and Montsenyf
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Nor happiness, nor majesty, nor fame. Nor peace, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts, Shepherd those herds whom tyranny makes tame — P. B. Shelley (Political Greatness) VOLUME 1, NUMBER 15. JULY 2nd, 1937. PRICE 2d.— U.S.A. 5 CENTS. The C.N.T. Speaks G.Oliver and MontsenyF. In Paris Yk7E have translated, almost in their entirety the speeches delivered by our Comrades Garcia Oliver and Federica Montseny at a big meeting, held in Paris at the Velodrome d’Hiver, at which 12,000 people were present. By so doing we do not in any way mean that we subscribe whole heartedly to our comrades’ actions. We shall express our personal opinions at length in the next issue. But we do not agree with those French com rades, who openly declared that they would not attend the meeting, as they could no longer consider Garcia Oliver and Federica Montseny as Comrades. Until last week it had been impossible to have an open declara tion by them as to their actions and the reasons for certain statements which seemed to jar with the general views of Anarchists. The occasion presented itself in Paris, when the very two Comrades who had been declared “ traitors” by the Federation Anarchiste Frangaise, were to explain their attitudes. Even if their explanation were unsatisfactory, it was the duty of those Comrades who have so outspokenly condemned them, to listen and judge in an impartial manner. We have on several occasions criticized our Spanish comrades. We are therefore giving them ample space in our columns to explain their Arms! Anns, and not telegrams of sympathy for the Spanish attitude and justify their somewhat violent deviations from Anarchist people fighting International Fascism! principles. It is our duty to place before our readers their “ case,” and we trust that the Comrades of “ Terre Libre ” will do likewise in an equally impartial manner. — The Editors. Callousness Or Indifference ? Garcia Oliver, who was the first Because of the cowardice and Prof. Carlo Rosselli’s speaker saitf that he considered it sitation of the bourgeois govern- T H E advent of Dictatorship and Fascism has resulted in appalling indif- necessary, if one was to understand :rt, the Fascists were able to 1 ference to the most harrowing crimes. Time was when political abuses the present situation of the Anar te advantage of the situation, Opinion On in any country were met with immediate response from all liberals and cho-Syndicalist movement in Spain, :eting no serious opposition. revolutionaries. Especially was this the case with the victims of Csarism: On the 17th, 18th and 19th July, to trace the history of the CNT Catalan Anarchists more than one heroic fighter in Russia was saved from death or banish right up to the fascist uprising. i vigilant masses demanded in | AM not an anarchist; but I deem ment by the concerted action and protest undertaken everywhere outside Until 1911, when the CNT was in arms from the “ civil govern- 1 it my duty in the face of justice formed, Spain was without a poli 3 of arms.” As a set-off the to state quite frankly my opinion of Russia. All this wonderful spirit of solidarity and fellowship has gone tical or syndical movement. The ijority were openly helping the on the true nature of Catalan an by the board since dictatorship and fascism have infested all ranks. No U.G.T. was merely an ensemble scists, which thus explained the archism, too often represented as matter how heinous the crime committed in their names, hardly a voice ison why many provinces fell in- of small workers’ societies of a a purely critical, destructive, ever is being raised in indignation against them. Indeed they are accepted as strictly corporative nature. Spain their power. The same happened criminal force. Catalan anarchism a matter of course and quite in keeping with dictatorship as a redeemer was a backward country, whilst Catalonia. But the CNT orga- is, apart from everything else, a of the human race. the monarchy though constitution sed the struggle, and after three strong current in the western work al governed with the support of ys during which they lost 500 ers’ movement. The Libertarian- The astounding accord between land Professor C. Rosselli told me the military and clergy. The clique ad and more than 1,000 wounded, Communists of Catalonia are the Fascism and Dictatorship has of a plan he had perfected for the of Generals who surrounded the 3cism was conquered in Catalo- “voluntaries” to whom social life again been demonstrated in two co-ordination of the militia with king, were the real rulers of Spain. i. As a result rapid victories in its entirety is not the result of flagrant recent crimes. I mean the out deadly military drill and com Unfortunately, the advent of the re gained in Taragona, Lerida a mechanised development of pro murder of Professor Camillo Ber- mand. At the time I was the guest Republic could be considered the d Gerona. ductive forces, but the result of cre neri and his comrade Barbieri, of our comrade D. A. de Santillan first step towards a fascist dicta “ The CNT— said Comrade Oliver ative willingness, and the struggle anarchists, by Communist police in who was at the head of the militia torship ten times more violent than immediately sent war material to of the masses. Their starting point Barcelona, and the equally foul in Barcelona. I arranged for Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship. ilencia in order to hasten the de- is the individual. According to them murder of Prof. Carlo Rosselli and Carlo Rosselli to see our comrade his brother by Fascist thugs. They The politicians of the dictatorship it of the fascists who were still the revolution must have the ser one evening that he may have a all use the identical methods in were to be found also under the 3isting; at the same time they or- vices of the individua' as the start chance to present his plan to him. destroying their political dissen- Republic; they stopped all revolu nized columns which were to try ing point, as the instrument and as The following day Carlo Rosselli tors. They not only take their tionary elan of the masses. These d free Aragon. Militiamen were the aim. No bureaucratic laws, but came to tell me that comrade San lives, they also defame their char men are now in the fascist ranks. ut to Andalusia, and help was free association of frie men. tillan was intensely interested in acters. Thus Stalin perpetuates It was then that the CNT begun /en to the Socialists in Madrid A kind of “ libertarian human his scheme and had promised help the infamous story that Russia has a revolutionary action which aimed d the Asturias. Until that time, ism,” such is the essence of Catalan and co-operation. Shortly after—- e CNT had not participated in become a cesspool of self-confessed at the cleaning up of the adminis anarchism which is a movement Professor Rosselli was wounded—— e Government of the Generality “ spies, traitors, Trotskyists ” and trative framework; but no one steeped in culture. Culture is its and had to leave the front. That— ' r in any central Government. But crooks of every sort. Mussolini on would understand. The leaders of passion. Its greatest martyr was no doubt has interfered with his— e nations passively looked on at the other hand proclaims the con determination to carry out his- in®- the Republic, rather than eliminate a teacher, a pedagogue: Francisco e events in Spain. We were alone version of anti-Fascists to his teresting plan. the reactionaries, attacked the CNT Ferrer. The “allegalist anarchists” ; the struggle despite the fact that Durruti, Ascaso, Jover, Oliver foun creed. He paints them as miser I am mentioning this merely as —thus the Right managed to take able weaklings and renegades who e Spanish people by virtue of its ded in Paris a library at the time a proof of the close unity and co control. The Left was surprised have come to see the error of their litical formations was allied to when they were being hunted in operation between the comrades of hut took no action. The CNT alone ways. They are just dying to em nilar forces in the world, both Catalonia like thieves. the CNT-FAI and Professor Carlo took up the struggle. It resulted brace Fascism and do the bidding the State and Politically. We I remained 75 days at the front Rosselli. But if there should be to the rising in the Asturias ten of its Master if he will only for- >re obliged to create and organ- with anarchists, and I admire them. anyone so dense as to believe the months later. Reaction as a result get-and-forgive. It is for this rea > our war industry; convert our The Catalan anarchists are the fantastic charge that Anarchists became even fiercer, and it was son that the murder of Professor ^tallurgical and chemical factor- heroic vanguard of the Western Re have taken the life of their close then that the proletariat became Rosselli and his brother must i into armaments factories, but, volution. With them has been born friend and comrade in arms aware of the necessity for revolu needs be laid at the door of the spite all our efforts, the manu- a new world, and it is a great joy against Fascism, Professor Ros tionary action. The leaders of the Anarchists. Unfortunately there cture of arms was slow and in- to be able to serve it.