Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

IMAGINARY OR REAL MARSH?279p. 772: ...“Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft,* or the ZimmerwaldRight, of which Kautsky is the theoretician and Haase andLedebour the political leaders....” Can Grimm challenge thefact that Kautsky, Haase and Ledebour are typical men ofthe Centre?Second, can Grimm be unaware of the fact that in presentdaysocialism the Zimmerwald Right or Centre is opposedto an immediate break with the I.S.B., the InternationalSocialist Bureau in The Hague, the bureau of social-patriots?That the Left favours such a break? That at Kienthalrepresentatives of the Internationale group—the group towhich Liebknecht belongs—fought against convocation ofthe I.S.B. and insisted on a break with it?Third, has Grimm forgotten that social-pacifism, directlycondemned by the Kienthal resolution, has now becomethe platform of the Centre in France, Germany and Italy?That the whole Italian party, which did not protest eitheragainst the numerous social-pacifist resolutions and statementsof its parliamentary group, or against Turati’s disgracefulDecember 17 speech, subscribes to social-pacifism?That both Left groups in Germany, the I.S.D. (InternationalSocialists of Germany) and the Internationale (or Spartacusgroup to which Liebknecht belongs), have forthrightlyrejected the social-pacifism of the Centre? Nor should it beforgotten that the worst social-imperialists and social-patriotsin France, led by Sembat, Renaudel and Jouhaux, likewisevoted for social-pacifist resolutions, thereby strikinglydemonstrating and exposing the real, objective meaning ofsocial-pacifism.Fourth ... but enough! Grimm is expounding precisely theCentrist-view when he advises the Swiss party to “satisfyitself” with rejection of credits and civil peace, as the Italianparty has done. Grimm criticises the majority proposalprecisely from the Centrist standpoint, because the majoritywants to move nearer to Liebknecht’s standpoint.Grimm calls for clarity, frankness and honesty. Verywell! But don’t these virtuous qualities call for a clear,frank and honest distinction between the views and tactics* Commonwealth of Labour.—Ed.