RETURN OF THE SCAPEGOAT

New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 720, 1 May 1953, Page 5

RETURN OF THE SCAPEGOAT

eir,---Mr. scott accuses me of quoting at second-hand. The pamphlet Foundation of Leninism, from which my quotation, was taken, was published in 1929 in my mether tongue as part of a larger volume entitled Principles of Leninism, and is available in English in a volume entitled Leninism, which is an authorised translation of the Russian Problems of Leninism. I need no instruction from Mr. Scott as to my sources, He also claims that my omission of the phrase "of the proletariat .. ." vitally alters the meaning of the quotation "the dictatorship of the proletariat is the rule-unrestricted by law and based on force-of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie. . ." I did not realise that there would. be people in the free world who would consider that the approval of one class justifies the abandonment of law and the unrestricted use of force. But if this quetation is not sufficient for Mr. Scott, perhaps he will explain this one: "The scientific concept of dictatorship means nothing more or less than unrestricted power, absolutely unimpeded by laws or regulations and resting directly upon force. . . Dictatorship means unlimited power, based on force and not on law." (Stalin, Leninism, p. 129). ; As a district chairman of a democratie party which, in a semi-free election, obtained an overwhelming majority, I had personal experience of this force which liquidated all non-Commun-ist parties, peasantry and even masses of reliable Communists. I await with interest evidence to show that when the proletariat is exercising its dictatorship it is only dictating to a "tiny minority." In fact, Stalin denounced the idea that "the proletariat cannot and ought not to seize power if it has not the majority in the country" by saying that "this absurd thesis cannot be justified either theoretically or practically." (Theory and Practice of Leninism, p. 23). I am as interested as Mr. Scott. in truth and "fair and accurate reporting," but I cannot help thinking that his, show of interest in these things is only a smokescreen to cover his inability to refute the main contention: that the dictatorship of the proletariat is "state power based directly on force." (Stalin, . Leninism, p. 139).

PADEREWSKI

(Hamilton).