THE MAGAZINE PAGE COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1943, Page 3

THE MAGAZINE PAGE

COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL

Issue'd by a Trades Union Editorial Board

The Executive of the Communist International has recommended. to all sections that comprise the Communist International the following motion: “That being unable in the conditions of the world war to call a congress.... the Communist International disband.’’ It is indicated that it is proposed that this measure be for the duration of the war. Communist Parties in-all countries are asked to make a decision endorsing or rejecting this recommendation. Therefore, if the Communist International is disbanded it will be a democratic decision, participated in by all sections.

The Communist International (or Third International, to distinguish it from the Second International of Social Democracy which sold out the Avorking-class in quite a npmber of Capitalist countries after the last war, viz. Germany, Hungary, etc.,) was formed in Id arch, 1919. The Communist Parties of the most important countries of Europe and America sent delegates to the first, congress held in Moscow, at which, the Communist. International was .formed. Many delegates were prevented from attending Giving to the blockade of Soviet Union, and to capitalist persecution in their own countries. Owing to this persecution and the discrimination shown against the Communist by the Capitalist class, only in a socialist country could a body like the Communist International function in safety. The Communist International consists of representatives from all the Communist Parties throughout, the world, its job hieing to co-ordinate the work of all these Parties. The Executive is elected by the delegates from the delegates present, and comprises the leading Marxists of the world.

Many misrepresentations have appeared in editorials and in the cable news regarding the recommendation to disband the Communist' International. As we have already pointed out, it is as yet only a recommendation, and cannot be otherwise until a majority decision' has been reached.

Typical of many distortions is the following extract from an editorial.: “The dissolution ot the third International docs not mean that all Communist' activity outside Russia will cease, but agitation will not be supported or financed from Soviet sources.lf the Communist International disbands, it can affect the various Communist Parties very little at the present time. Therefore, those people who hope for a disintegration of Communist organisation in capitalist countries. or°in Russia, will no doubt be sorely disappointed... .“but mutation will not be supported; or financed from’ Soviet sources.” /Moscow gold is a figment of the fertile imagination of capitalism. Perhaps it would better if the vGter that statement, instead of mentioning the mythical Red gold that Russia is supposed to send to all Communist Parties throughout the world, wrote and told us molt about the not-so-mythieal gold that was sent by certain Capitalist Governments to Hitler, to institute Nazism in Germany.

Another paper talks of “Stalin dissolving the Communist International.” This is just a perpetuation of the Capitalist fable that Stalin is an absolute dictator—not. only of the Russian people-but. of the world Communist Parties. Rut there is abundant evidence, (for those who want it), to pi-ovc that, Stalin’s personal authority lies in the fact that he holds his position of leadership by the will of the membership of the Communist Party, and by the desire of the people of the Soviet Union, whose idol he is.

There is every indication that the recommendation will meet with the approval of the Communist Parties throughout the world; it is unlikley under present circumstances, that any section of the Comintern will not endorse it.

The efforts of the Capitalist press to distort the circumstances surrounding the proposed disbanding of the Communist International will meet with little favour from discerningpeople.