The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive

Stalin School of Falsification -- Chapter 15
Secretaries: Comrades G.E. Boki and F. I. Drabkina.
The session opens with a discussion on the question of prolonging the Conference. The comrades from
the provinces speak in favor of their earliest possible departure, since matters locally "have been left to
the whim of fate." The decision as expressed by the vote is to continue the Conference until the close of
the Soviet Conference.
The agenda is next discussed: Which should be considered first, the questions involving the agenda as
published in Pravda,or the questions which are being taken up at the Conference of Soviet of Workers'
and Soldiers' Deputies, and in particular the question of the coalition government.
STASSOVA: Reports that Buryanov had sent telegrams far and wide with a proposal to demand the
inclusion of Plekhanov in the ministry.
SRLIAPNIXOV: There is no need for us to occupy ourselves with a question raised by Buryanov.
The agenda is put to a vote.
Decided to take up first the questions that are being discussed at the Soviet Conference.
I. The Organization Question.
The Organization of the Revolutionary Forces and the Struggle Against Counter-Revolution.
MANDELSTAM: The section has narrowed down the scope of its work and has taken up the question of
the organization of the Soviets and of calling the Congress [of the Soviets].
In the section, the question was posed in the following man ner: At the second sitting, Voitinsky
reviewed the discussion and proposed the following plan for the organization of the Soviet of Workers'
and Soldiers' Deputies.
1) A merged organization of soldiers and workers in the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
(Yoitinsky insisted on changing the name from "Soldiers' " to "Military" because the latter name
corresponds more closely to the actual make-up of the Soviets, but the majority was not in agree ment
with this.) The merger must take place all along the line of activities. The separation of activities can be
made only on special questions of soldiers' and workers' life. But their political work must be carried out
only jointly.
2) Regional organizations through Regional Congresses, and the creation of a Regional Bureau of the
Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.
8) The All-Russian Congress.
The first Congress to be called on April 25.
Voitinsky has proposed joint representation for workers and soldiers. As regards the officer staff, the
question was raised whether a separate officers' organization ought to exist alongside of the workers' and
soldiers' organization. This question was settled negatively: the progressive officers must enter into the
existing Soviets, as is already being done locally. The Army organizations will have representation as
small district organizations, and then as central organiza tions, but in the large working class centers a
close tie-up between them and the workers' organizations is desirable. The peasant organizations are to
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