Socialism Will Social Revolution F the Proletariat

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BE ACHIEVED LENIN At Georg to thi the Communist Party. defence of its privileges.

FOREIGN TR.

On October 6th 1922 the Bolshevik Central Committee passed a resolution in the absence of both Lenin and Trotsky conceding the right of individuals in Russia to. trade abroad across "specific frontiers" _ on _ a "temporary" basis.

The resolution was supported by Stalin. It would have meant the beginning of the peasantry establishing a relationship within foreign capitalists - endangering the Lenin was too sick to attend the next Central Committee. He asked Trotsky to defend their "common standpoint" . As it was the resolution was withdrawn.

It should be noted that differences that had existed between Lenin and Trotsky had been on tactical issues - such as the treaty of Brest-Litovsk or the trade union question. On such issues Stalin had backed Lenin.

But on this issue of principle -the defence of the workers state itself - Lenin and Trotsky found themselves in agreement against Stalin.

LENIN'S TESTAMENT

It was at the end of 1922 and early 1923 that Lenin wrote what is known as his Testament, in which he said:

"Stalin is too rude, and this defect, although quite tolerable in our midst and in dealings among us Communists, becomes intolerable in a General Secretary. That is why I suggest that the comrades think about a way of removing Stalin from that post ..

Of course rudeness was the trait of the bureaucrat, and in 1923 Lenin broke relations with Stalin over his treatment of Krupskaya, Lenin's wife.

GEORGIA AFFAIR

the same time a leading an Communist who objected bureaucratic and chauvinist Iney adapted to lotsky, passing his New Course I€ ution in December 1923-insis on the need for inner-party de cracy-but then refusing to im ment it.

Stalin, now the foremost rep entative of the forces of conse tism and nationalism, rested u material forces too strong Trotsky and his supporters defeat.

Already in 1923 this bur cracy had helped the defeat ( possible revolution in Germany which Stalin commented:

"In my opinion the Germ must be curbed and not spu: on."

INTERNATIONAL POLIC It was in 1924 that St formulated his conservative view an international policy. He chan a section of his book Foundati of Leninism to reverse a cor statement.

Instead of saying that it "impossible" to achieve socialisr. one country, the wording changed to say that it was possi Such a "theory" flowed not fi ideas in Stalin's mind, but from response of the bureaucracy to material problems of the So Union.

This "theory" was then m central to the work of the Con tern. All those who oppo Stalin's view that their sole task to assist the building of "socialis in the Soviet Union were expe or removed.

Trotsky fought this "theory" , and fought its polit implications. Though sceptics to argue that Trotsky was poor Manoeuvring against Stalin, ti tail to see that Trotsky's objec was to change the leadership b within Russia and in Comintern.

'LEFT OPPOSITION This was why Trotsky e chose to deny, for tactical reass the existence of Lenin's Testam -so that he could stay within CPSU and develop the basis for Left Opposition to Stalin.

And the main manifestation the bureaucracy's policies fou by Irotsky was the concept 'Socialism in One Country' It was this position wh brought the Stalinists to transfo the Comintern parties into m pressute groups agitating for requirements of the Soviet bure cracy within each capita country.

And such policies could o lead to a turn away from the cru. fight for an independent revolur: ary leadership for the working cl They led for example in Bri in 1926 to the failure of the Bri: Communist Party to put ic-z. any independent policy ir General Strike. Instead their sic! was "All Power to the TLC even as the seli-out took place.

When we come today examine the 1977 split in British Communist Party it mus: remembered that both factions the Communist Party bear all : political hallmarks of this ea Neither wing contests o: : considered contesting Stalin's re tionary "theory" of "socialise one country' And neither wing gave or w3: give now the slightest suppon