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Stalin School of Falsification - Chapter 14 us. The fate of disputed regions, the fate of oppressed nationalities in all belligerent countries and in the entire world must be left to the free decision of the subject nationalities. No annexations, no contributions, and the free self-determination of all nations-that is our plat form of peace! "3) Considering that the European war, which has con vulsed the socio-economic life of the entire terrestrial globe, has been engendered by the predatory urge of the rulers in all countries; and that the earliest possible termination of this war which is ruining the best forces and the culture of the states involved in it will be in the interests of the prole tariat and the democracy of the whole world, we urge the Provisional Government to turn both to the Allies as well as their foes with a proclamation to open peace negotiations on the above-stated basis. "4) But so long as peace is not concluded we must stand fully armed; and in guarding the interests of new democratic Russia we must increase tenfo!d our efforts, for we are now defending our budding liberties. The revolutionary army must be powerful and unconquerable. It must be provided by the workers and by the Provisional Government with everything necessary to strengthen its forces. Discipline in the ranks, being the necessary condition of an army's strength, must be sustained not out of fear but out of free will, and based upon mutual confidence between the demo cratic officer staff and the revolutionary soldiers. "5) If the summons of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, and our revolution find an echo in the midst of the European proletariat and democracy, if in Western Europe a revolution breaks out against predatory capitalism, we will support our international comrades with all our might, and we will struggle for a social revo!ution." SKRYPNIK: What is understood by the term "support"? So far as I was able to gather, everybody said that the Provi sional Government has been undertaking these or those revo lutionary measures under the pressure of the revolutionary proletariat. But this is not the support of the Government but of those measures which we ourselves demanded and which it has been putting into effect. On the other hand, the question of support obviously has another meaning, namely not the support of measures, but a declaration of confidence in it [the Government] before the eyes of Russia, and the rest of the world. We cannot extend such confidence to it. The Government is not fortifying but checking the course of the revolution. For instance, let us take the replacement of the old power. The Government has replaced it, but in a half hearted manner in order to restrain the further development of the revolution. It has transferred power to the local city administrations and the representatives of Zemstvos, entrust ing power not to the revolution but to those elements that were mobilizing for counter-revolution. On the war question, it has prepared a loop-hole for itself; on the agrarian ques tion-it has not solved it, but declares that it is preparing measures for its solution. In view of this, we will support the measures introduced by the Government in the interests of the revolution, hut we will not declare confidence in it. YAKHONTOY: In speaking of the Provisional Government, it is necessary to bear in mind the Government as it exists at the present moment. We should not prejudge what it will become. Comrade Stalin is correct in saying that the Provi sional Government fortifies the conquests of the revolution. We are accustomed to look at events objectively. From the objective standpoint-it [the Government] is revolutionary. It is the captive of the revolution. While being counter revolutionary in essence, it convokes the Constituent Assem bly, it replaces the old ruling power, in short, it clears the path for the revolution. Everybody speaks of the counter revolutionary nature of the Government but nobody adduces http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1937-st2/sf14.htm (12 of 25) [06/06/2002 15:07:27]
Stalin School of Falsification - Chapter 14 facts to prove its counter-revolutionary activity. In speaking of the attitude to the Government, we are concerned not with an expression of confidence but with the support of measures aimed to fortify the conquests of the revolution. Those who talk about the immediate replacement of the Government forget one thing. The war has called forth devas tation, and there are no objective forces able to direct the mechanism. Had the democracy taken power in its own hands, it would have meant the defeat of the revolution. The democ racy must strive to this, that it prepare itself for the moment when it will take power into its own hands. But striving toward this new power, it must support the Provisional Government. SEVRUK: Comrade Miliutin has correctly pointed out that the divergence between the resolutions presented by the Bureau and by comrade Voitinsky is conditioned upon dif ferent principled postulates. In the resolution of the Bureau no mention is made of the support of the Provisional Govern ment. But what does it generally say about the attitude to the Provisional Government? It speaks of what not to do; the conclusions must be read between the lines; but that is not enough for a political program. Some say: How to sup port the Government? The answer to that is contained in our party program: "To support every oppositionist step directed to . . . etc." I agree with Miliutin that Voitinsky has overlooked the socio-political side. The final point in Voitin sky's resolution must be amplified in two directions: (1) to mobilize the forces around the Soviet, unfolding the agitation for the struggle against the counter-revolutionary propa ganda aimed at the Soviet; (2) to organize the agitation among the troops on the agrarian question. KANATCHIKOV: If, as comrade Voitinsky says, the prov inces lagged behind at the moment when the Government was formed in Petrograd, then it follows logically that when the provinces have become organized, the executive power which does not correspond to the demands of the country must withdraw. In such a moment as demands the maximum exer tion of forces, the power not only fails to organize but it even puts a brake on the development of the revolution. The execu tive power must be brought into harmony with the mood of the country. In the further development of the revolution the power must pass to the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies which must be precisely the one to put forth the executive power. KRESTINSKY: As to practical action there is no disagree ment between Stalin and Voitinsky. We will not immediately overthrow the Provisional Government. How do I envisage the current situation of the Provisional Government? The Provisional Government is the clerk of the Soviet. At the apex of the revolution the supreme organ of power will be the Soviet of Workers' Deputies and Peasants' or Army Deputies. As yet-the Soviets are only embryos of power. So long as that power is not organized we will tolerate the Pro visional Government, even if it parts company with us. What will happen then? It is schematically possible, that the Provisional Government by renewing its personnel will faithfully serve us. Then we will not replace it. The most probable initiator of the clash between the present Government and the revolutionary people will not be ourselves but the Provisional Government itself, and then we shall have to take power into our own hands. Finally, there is a third possible course. When our strength grows and we know that the provinces are with us and that they remain uninfluenced by the lure of names, we will ourselves assume the offensive. And it is for that moment that we must prepare ourselves. The resolution of Voitinsky is far too mild, it does not point out the inevita bility of a clash. It is strange to talk of supporting one's own clerk. We must underscore in our resolution that the Provisional Government and ourselves represent two hostile forces. http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1937-st2/sf14.htm (13 of 25) [06/06/2002 15:07:27]
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