Fourth International Publications

The International’s English-language periodicals: World Outlook, Inprecor and their companions, 1958–1994

Austrian Social Democrats Go into Opposition

World Outlook Vol. 4, No. 15, 13 May 1966 · pp 27-35 · 3,536 words

This article was cut at the top of the page the printed contents gives it, because its headline could not be found in the machine-read text. Its opening may carry the end of the article before it.

Latin America Cuba Soviet Union Vietnam and Indochina

[(1) The Tricontinental Conference stressed the right of a people to make a revolution:and to oppose imperialist violence with revolutionary violence. Dr. Hart did not°say ‘a word about "peaceful coexistence." The point:is:of interest::because of the ultraleft view that the conference was a "betrayal":.to the "peaceful coexistence" line of class collaboration. Adolfo Gilly, reflecting the views of the Latin-American group headed by Juan Posadas, held, for instance, that it was "a conference without glory and without program." Michael Banda, a leader of the British Socialist Labour League, declared that the main purpose” of the conference was "to provide a safety-valve for middle-class charlatans‘ like'Cheddi Jagan and upper-class demagogues like Allende to blow off steam against imperialism, neocolonialism and what-have-you."

[(2). It is crucially important, Dr. Hart declared‘, to provide material aid to the National ‘Liberation: Front and to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on such scale as to inflict a decisivé defeat on American imperialism. The head of the Cuban delegation at the twenty-third congress clearly recognized that this is the key situation in the world right: now.

((4) Action in helping Vietnam should be coordinated. "No one has the right to withhold that. cooperation." The reference here is to the sectarian refusal of ‘the Mao leadership to-engage ina. united front with their political opponents in Moscow on a governmental level in collecting and Speeding material aid to the Vietnamese.

(4) Besides this, Gtiis also necessary that the revolution be ‘pushed forward in all regions and. under the most diverse © conditions." This appeal ‘for a genuinely revolutionary policy on’ an international.:scale did: not strike an echoing chord among most of . the delegates: at-a congress of the CPSU; but it helped publicize. the fact that the Cuban leadership holds positions differing from ‘those of both Moscow and Peking.

(5) The. "patriotic ‘actions of the Vietnamese people and the intensification of their right for liberation have brought about an antiwar protest movement within the U.S. itself." This recognition | of the interrelationship between the colonial revolution and

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revolutionary struggle in: the imperialist centers should be particularly well received by revolutionary socialists in the United States.

{(6) A-genuine revolution in areas like Latin America leads rapidly to socialism. The struggle for national liberation is an: "inseparable part of the struggle for socialism." Citing the example of Cuba, Hart. emphasizes that "the question iof the power of the working class and the triumph of the socialist revolution depends in great part. upon subjective factors, on the vanguard's decisiveness, on the will to win or die." This goes directly counter to the Stalinist line of kowtowing to bourgeois leaders of the “bourgeoisdemocratic revolution" out of fear of. "isolation" from the masses.

[Dr. Hart's speech was given a cold reception by the assemblage of bureaucrats. (See World Outlook April 15.) The Moscow correspondent of Le, .Drapeau Rouge, the official publication of the pro-Moscow Belgian. Communist party, reported that the delegates maintained such an icy reserve that "it was. necessary for Brezhnev himself to give the signal several times for, applause" so as not to give the Cuban. representative the feeling of, being: isolated.

LAs for the resetion of. the: Hao | Leadership, bhey appear to. have decided to remain aitent. J. ha

[The subheadings: in the. text below appear in. the original, J

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.. In, the name of the Central Committee of the Communist. Party of Cuba we send fraternal. and. revolutionary greetings to: the XXIII. Congress of the Communist;,Party of the Soviet Union, and we wish the Congress every success in the execution of its: great tasks.

For our a@elegation, it isa happy. experience to attend: this Congress. It offers us the opportunity to know at first hand the triumphs achieved by the Soviet people in their victorious march toward. Communism, and: to’ declare ta the representatives of this people that the Cuban workers and farmers deeply acknowledge add that has _ been done:, by: the Soviet Union to help our: Revolution. . =

“When the Russian Bolsheviks euidea by the brilliant and audacious action of. Lenin took power in the name of the workers and peasants, the reactionary classes and imperialism confronted that great event with all their force. Nevertheless, contrary to what... the. reactionaries: wished, the October: Revolution and Leninism: triumphed in Russia and attained a universal historical ‘Significance.

The Soviet people, by liquidating ‘the capitalist, : semi- feudal and colonial system of czarism, by defeating the reactionary classes of Europe and imperialisn, and by advancing along the road to socialism, opened . a new epoch in universal history and won far-reaching: wie to— ries for the cause of: workers (all over. the worlds fb

The construction of socialism in the Soviet Union and its splendid victories over fascism, constitute historic events of |. universal transcenden¢e. All of humanity will be eternally grateful to the Soviet workers and farmers under the direction of ‘their Communist Party for having carried out such extraordinary feats.

These victories opened, as'a consequence, new and fuller possibilities and have brought nearer the day of the (collapse — of the colonial, neo- -colonial and - ‘diiperialist systems. iS po,

- At present the revolutionary torrent of the. three continents which suffer colonial, neo-colonial and imperialist exploitation flows forward impetuously. BS The Tricontinental Conference: a_line of combat and revolutionary strategy

The revolutionary parties and organizations of Asia, Africa and Latin America which met in the Tricontinental Conference held in Havana undérstood this situation completely and proclaimed a line of combat and” —s ‘revolutionary strategy.

The | Conference. ‘reflected a’ “Hew: reality in the ‘revolutionary movement , ‘a-reality which is qualitatively different from that of the ‘post-war period. ‘Idéas, tacticsvand methods arisen from the | conditions of 20 years ago have ‘become obsolete:: —°

We of the communist and workers parties must: analyze the experience’ of the’ Conference as ah indication of: what. is. happening. in the world: today. | ist 3 nr re: :

The Conference was the most ; representative international assembly of the anti-imperialist forces and attained the amplest and most combative unity of the peoples which has been reached up to the present. This is a noteworthy fact which deserves to be studied! The Conference adopted resolutions of far- reaching importance for the revolutionary movement. we a . :

The following were. adopted with the. support. of every delegation: "the right of the people to make revolution,": to "oppose imperialist violence with revolutionary violence," to “support armed insurrection as a tactic of struggle," and "the: right and. the: duty of progressive governments to support’ those people who are fighting for their liberation." These declarations were substantiated by actions. The Organization of Solidarity with Asia, Africa and Latin America, came into being as well as the'.Committee for Aid to the National Liberation movements. and the Committee for Aid to the : People of Viet Nam and; as a result of: the Conference, the Latin-~. American delegations agreed to constitute the Latin-American -Organization of Solidarity. The Tricontinental Conference: evaluated. the importance of the national liberation movement. in Asia, Africa-and Latin America, the struggles of the working class:.and the progressive sector in the capitalist countries and of the role of -the socialist camp. A universal criterion of revolution triumphed in the Conference.

_ The: liberation movement. will accelerate the revolutionary efforts of the working class and. the progressive elements of the | capitalist nations. In the same manner, the struggles of the ieee class in the capitalist countries will aid the, national liberation ., fight in Asia, Africa and Latin America. :

There is a recent example that can serve to illustrate to us..the importance. of uniting revolutionary activities in the |. different regions of the world: the patriotic actions of the Vietnamese people and the intensification of their right for ‘liber-— ation,’ have brought about an antiwar protest movement. within the U.S. ‘itself. This demonstrates very clearly. how the. revolution in. _ Asia, Africa and Latin America can be related to the just struggles © of the people of the United States. The need exists, as an urgent ~ demand of this historic moment, to seek, through combined action on crucial problems, a common strategy for all. these forces. in. the™ struggle against imperialism.

In the coordination - of united action at key points against _ imperialisi, ‘no one can have the least doubt that in Southeast - Asia a decisive battle is being waged-for the socialist camp and for the anti-imperialist cause in general. In the near future we shall ~ see Similar. situations in other parts of the world... That is why what is. happening -in Southeast Asia.is not just a problem ofthat . area but a:-problem for ‘the revolutionary movement. in Latin. America. and for the revolutionary cause in- the entire world. :

‘In the Southeast Asian situation, what. is most..urgent and pressing iis, ofcourse, to offer decisive aid-to the patriotic ,fight being waged by the National Liberation Front of South Viet Nam and to the heroic resistance of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. We can defeat im) erialism in Viet Nam —

The government. of the Soviet Union. is lending important “thaterial and political aid to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. This represents important support for the struggle of, the ‘Vietnamese people. This is an example, as the leaders of this people have pointed out, of proietarian internationalism..No one has the right to withhold that cooperation. ' The problem now. is to study how we can defeat imperialism in Viet-Nam. The analysis of.that concrete. situation and the adoption of all: necessary measures to resolve it, could be: a most. important contribution -- possibly the most important possible ‘at this: time -- to ‘bhe: cause of Marxism-Leninism.

Within the present ‘situation of the Vietnamese War y the . appropriate tactics at this: moment would be to employ military force expressly for .the purpose of paralyzing the bombardments of the _ Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. That is, to. put the Yankee planes _ which bomb the territory of that country out. of combat. To defeat. imperialism in Viet. Nam, it is of transcendental. importance that the criminal aggression ‘which the bombardment of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam represents be liquidated by: whatever means and at all. necessary risk. a er

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“It is: indispensable to. make definite efforts and to offer | decisive: aid.-in’.order to convert the territory of the Democratic . Republic of VietNam into "a cemetery of. Yankee planes." It is — indispensable to "sever the hands of imperialism in Viet Nam." It is necessary, if the circumstances so require, tobe prepared to. fight in Viet ‘Nam in defense of the integrity and life of this fellow | socialist couritry. The struggle in Viet Nam involves an essential : question: of principle for the entire Communist movement and especially for the Socialist camp.

~ io: this effect, the coordination of practical on-the- -spot efforts ‘should be considered, ‘as well as the convenience of the. socialist countries and the international communist movement publicly, unanimously and firmly supporting the adoption of such measures.

This is a point on which the unity of the international communist movement may well hinge. Should there be any who do not understand the need of coordinating efforts in. ‘this direction, ‘they ; will be left totally isolated. — . .

The adoption of these measures would not only be helpful to the Vietnamese people. It would also. bring about a wide climate of public opinion that would have universal support. The application of these measures, explaining publicly the reason for them, and | obtaining mass-action in support of them,: will be an extremely inportant contribution: to the strengthening. of the revolutionary move-. ment throughout the world, contributing at the same time to the political and moral weakening of imperialism.

'The bombing, with impunity, of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam is inacceptable to the people of the world. It is an intolerable | fact, repugnant to'all humanity. Therefore, the. condemnation of the. . bombings and the criminal acts of the imperialists in Viet Nan, by: . all means available, constitutes a right and a | duty for progressive. ao and socialist governments. boa!

This right is understood. perfectly by all humanity as the legitimate defense of the attacked in the face of, the attacker. Even some of the capitalist governments will not find it. easy to officially deny that it is a question of an attacked country. defending. itself. From no point of view can attack on another. country be admitted or recognized as a right. Such a.measure will..increase the prestige of the socialist camp in the eyes of the people of Asia, Africa, and. Latin America; it will accelerate the fight of the working class. and the European progressive sectors against the policy of war and aggression of the monopolies and the imperialists. Even within the ; U.S. its influence will be felt, as the intensification of the move-.| ment there against the war in Viet Nam shows, and will put the warmongers in open and flagrant contradiction with the interests of the people of the U.S. Unity of action concerning Viet Nam

That is to say, it-is-a measure - destined not only: to ‘protect the rights of a country, but also to strengthen the prestige of the

international communist movement.as a.whole and the: unity of antiimperialist ferces in all the‘ world. And not only of anti- -imperialist: forces, but of the antiwar forces:as well. This! is proven in unmis-. = takable terms, when oné takes into: account the growth of the anti--.: ; war. movement in the’ United States, which has sprung: from the: heroic = : actions. and the war of liberation in Viet Nam. It was for all of |=; these reasons that, in his speech of Marth 13, 1966,. comrade Fidel _.... Castro called for: united action against. imperialism in. Viet. Nam,: urging all the forces in the socialist camp to put aside their | theoretical discussion in order to aid a people that is fighting heroically for its liberation and against imperialist intervention. In that speech, Comrddé Fidel Castro said: "...And our position is. just one: we are in favor of giving Viet. Nam all: necessary aid! We. are in favor of that aid being: given in men amarms! We are infavor of. running all necessary risks for Viet Nami"

— Of course, this is not the. only. thing that we. should and ean. do. It is merely the most immediate and urgent thing in order to coordinate international efforts at this moment.

Besides unity of action in the most vital problems, it is also necessary that the revolution be pushed forward in all regions and under “the most: diverse: conditions. ate, 7

For: the socialist countries, accelerating ‘the. Revolution

technical base for the new society, and toward forging the new: ima y free of the ideological residues of class society. oo re

” For ‘the capitalist countries, to accélerate the revolution entails struggle against the warmongers and their system. of ex-.. ploitation, denunciation of the enemies of the peoples and mobili- . zation: of the great masses against the exploiters. For the non-. liberated: countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, to accelerate the revolution means pushing forward the most decisive struggle .against their domestic reactionary classes allied to Yankee imperialism, and against imperialism itself. To push forward the _mhost decisive struggle =- taking into account the present conditions. “of the greater part of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America.-means to confront aggression and violence by exploiters: and imperialists with resolute, combative, daring and violent action on the part of the revolutionary vanguard and the masses. Conformism and passivity before the violence of the oppressors who attempt to perpetuate their regime of exploitation and bloodshed: against the peoples by a constantly inereasing resort to the use and abuse of force, can never be a revolutionary policy. The imperialists and the exploiting classes in many countries of Latin America endeavour © to maintain their domination by resorting to the most repugnant and criminal use of force. |

The military intervention in Santo Domingo reveals the ferocity and aggressiveness with which the imperialists attempt to oppose the will of the Latin American peoples and makes evident the need to confront imperialism with the revolutionary violence of the

masses. Santo Domingo clearly demonstrated that, for the peoples of Latin America, the struggle for liberation is a dramatic encounter. Similar situations are developing in other areas of the underdeveloped world. One need.only consider the Yankee-Belgian intervention in :the Congo and the bloody hoax played upon the Negro majority of: South Rhodesia's population, as well as the, reactionary offensive: carried out by imperialism in Africa, directed toward . liquidating all progressive and independent governments. In Indonesia, we have just witnessed one of. vhhe bloodiest. massacres. of communists of present times. bye —

These facts are eloquently pointing out to the vanguard of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America the road to revolution. Upsurge in the revolutionary movement throughout Latin America

In: Latin America, imperialism has proclaimed that it will not | permit another revolution. The peoples of the continent have, accepted the challenge and are preparing for the encounter.: Decisive years, await us.°The Latin-American picture shows. an upsurge in the revolutionary movement throughout the continent. Our country has become an example for Latin America. And our. people, will. never renounce being an example. _

Seven years ago the Cuban Revolution defeated. a fierce and bloody military: tyranny at the service Of: exploiters. : and. the foreign > financial. oligarchies. os Lode ;

- The Revolution undertook an agrarian reform which profoundly affected the interests of that oligarchy and: imperialism. Imperialism owned the greater part of our land, the greater.part.of our industry . and the country's principal sources of wealth. The government of. the U.S. took drastic economic measures against the Revolution; it threatened military action and, finally, attacked, us.. The Cuban people made up ‘their minds to. fight to victory or. ‘die. They defeated the internal counterrevolution and crushed Yankee imperialism. at Playa Giron, the first military defeat of imperialism in America.

The Cuban Revolution moved. impetuously forward. Important victories were achieved in economy, education, health and public services. These victories have been ‘attained despite the criminal economic blockade by imperialism. The strengthening of our armed forces' combat capacity has reached notable heights.

The experience of the Cuban revolution

Yankee imperialism, the aggressor of peoples, intruder upon countries, was unable: to prevent Cuba's triumphal march towards socialism and communism. It could not stop Cuba from becoming a revolutionary example for Latin America. It could: not stop the flags of socialism from waving practically within sight of the imperialist coastline.

What does all this prove? It proves that there is no force capable of stopping the peoples in their struggle toward socialism

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and communism.

How was this made possible? Tt. was made possible by. the people's unity and decision to fight; by the daring, courage and firm determination of the people's vanguard and by the Soviet Union's fraternal aid, as well as the aid from the socialist camp in general. We particularly wish-to acknowledge the aid given us by the Soviet Union in the defense of our country. The experience of the Cuban : > Revolution demonstrates perhaps better than any other fact -- the -' correlation of forces in the world of today, and how important the support of the working classes of other countries is, in | the fight for iiberation of any people. True revolution leads to socialism

Cuba is the ‘unequivocal proof that true Revolution -- under present conditions in Latin America -- leads rapidly to socialisn. Cuba is palpable proof that the struggle for national liberation in our continent is an inseparable part of the struggle for socialism. Cuba has made it clear that in the Latin American continent, the question of the power of the working class. and the triumph.of the: socialist revolution depends in great part upon.subjective factors, on the vanguard's decisiveness, on the will to win or die.

The road opened by the October Revolution,.the road. to socialism, is the one our people have followed. And they are ready to follow it until the invincible banners of the revolutionary -_ proletariat wave over every country. Whatever the efforts, the sacrifices and the risks, the Cuban people with its Communist Party at the vanguard, will fight, using every means within-reach and with | all of its Strength, for’ the revolution, ‘for socialism and for | communism. So

Our fight is riot’ only for Cuba, “put for all the workers and.. exploited peoples of the world. Our frontiers are monet frontiers.- Our limits are class limits. a Bg

Our friends are those who defend the peoples. Our enemies are those who attack workers, peasants and the exploited masses. This is our policy!) These are our principles! These are the policy and principles of proletarian internationalism! -

LONG LIVE THE XXIII CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE

SOVIET UNION!

LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION IN ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA! |

LONG LIVE THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION!

| LONG LIVE MARXISM-LENINISM! |

HELP FREE THE

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