The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive
The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive
The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive
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<strong>Stalin</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Falsification - Chapter 14<br />
facts to prove its counter-revolutionary activity. In speaking <strong>of</strong> the attitude to the Government, we are<br />
concerned not with an expression <strong>of</strong> confidence but with the support <strong>of</strong> measures aimed to fortify the<br />
conquests <strong>of</strong> the revolution.<br />
Those who talk about the immediate replacement <strong>of</strong> the Government forget one thing. <strong>The</strong> war has called<br />
forth devas tation, and there are no objective forces able to direct the mechanism. Had the democracy<br />
taken power in its own hands, it would have meant the defeat <strong>of</strong> the revolution. <strong>The</strong> democ racy must<br />
strive to this, that it prepare itself for the moment when it will take power into its own hands. But striving<br />
toward this new power, it must support the Provisional Government.<br />
SEVRUK: Comrade Miliutin has correctly pointed out that the divergence between the resolutions<br />
presented by the Bureau and by comrade Voitinsky is conditioned upon dif ferent principled postulates.<br />
In the resolution <strong>of</strong> the Bureau no mention is made <strong>of</strong> the support <strong>of</strong> the Provisional Govern ment. But<br />
what does it generally say about the attitude to the Provisional Government? It speaks <strong>of</strong> what not to do;<br />
the conclusions must be read between the lines; but that is not enough for a political program. Some say:<br />
How to sup port the Government? <strong>The</strong> answer to that is contained in our party program: "To support<br />
every oppositionist step directed to . . . etc." I agree with Miliutin that Voitinsky has overlooked the<br />
socio-political side. <strong>The</strong> final point in Voitin sky's resolution must be amplified in two directions: (1) to<br />
mobilize the forces around the Soviet, unfolding the agitation for the struggle against the<br />
counter-revolutionary propa ganda aimed at the Soviet; (2) to organize the agitation among the troops on<br />
the agrarian question.<br />
KANATCHIKOV: If, as comrade Voitinsky says, the prov inces lagged behind at the moment when the<br />
Government was formed in Petrograd, then it follows logically that when the provinces have become<br />
organized, the executive power which does not correspond to the demands <strong>of</strong> the country must withdraw.<br />
In such a moment as demands the maximum exer tion <strong>of</strong> forces, the power not only fails to organize but<br />
it even puts a brake on the development <strong>of</strong> the revolution. <strong>The</strong> execu tive power must be brought into<br />
harmony with the mood <strong>of</strong> the country. In the further development <strong>of</strong> the revolution the power must pass<br />
to the Soviet <strong>of</strong> Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies which must be precisely the one to put forth the<br />
executive power.<br />
KRESTINSKY: As to practical action there is no disagree ment between <strong>Stalin</strong> and Voitinsky. We will<br />
not immediately overthrow the Provisional Government. How do I envisage the current situation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Provisional Government? <strong>The</strong> Provisional Government is the clerk <strong>of</strong> the Soviet. At the apex <strong>of</strong> the<br />
revolution the supreme organ <strong>of</strong> power will be the Soviet <strong>of</strong> Workers' Deputies and Peasants' or Army<br />
Deputies. As yet-the Soviets are only embryos <strong>of</strong> power. So long as that power is not organized we will<br />
tolerate the Pro visional Government, even if it parts company with us. What will happen then? It is<br />
schematically possible, that the Provisional Government by renewing its personnel will faithfully serve<br />
us. <strong>The</strong>n we will not replace it. <strong>The</strong> most probable initiator <strong>of</strong> the clash between the present Government<br />
and the revolutionary people will not be ourselves but the Provisional Government itself, and then we<br />
shall have to take power into our own hands. Finally, there is a third possible course. When our strength<br />
grows and we know that the provinces are with us and that they remain uninfluenced by the lure <strong>of</strong><br />
names, we will ourselves assume the <strong>of</strong>fensive. And it is for that moment that we must prepare ourselves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> resolution <strong>of</strong> Voitinsky is far too mild, it does not point out the inevita bility <strong>of</strong> a clash. It is strange<br />
to talk <strong>of</strong> supporting one's own clerk. We must underscore in our resolution that the Provisional<br />
Government and ourselves represent two hostile forces.<br />
http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1937-st2/sf14.htm (13 <strong>of</strong> 25) [06/06/2002 15:07:27]