From International Press Correspondence, Vol. 3 No. 46, 28 June 1923, p. 451.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Marxists’ Internet Archive.
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2021). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.
June 16, 1923
Radek’s review of the situation left little to be desired, but he wished to develop certain aspects and new tendencies of British Imperialism. The action of the International had not been properly adjusted to these new tendencies.
The British Government knew that the time was not suitable for war, that the Border States could not be driven to fight Russia. The whole manoeuvre was a piece of camouflage to terrify Russia. The curious thing was that what purported to be an ultimatum was based not upon European issues primarily, but upon propaganda in the East.
The relation of the British Party to the colonial movement was involved. The British delegation unnecessarily took exception to Zinoviev’s remark. It was directed not against the British Party alone, but against the entire attitude of the International. Theory is not enough, we must define practical policy. The Communist Parties must help the revolutionary and nationalist movements in the colonies.
British Imperialism has changed its policy to the colonial and semi-colonial countries. It finds it advantageous to come to some agreement with the bourgeoisies of these countries: and this will counteract the influence of the Russian revolution in the eastern countries. A tremendous import of British capital into India is commencing. This coincides with the interests of the Indian bourgeoisie and they see no reason for a struggle against imperialism. The plan of British imperialism is to encourage the Indian bourgeoisie and to terrify them with the cry of Bolshevik propaganda.
But the masses of India are affected for the worse. We must therefore study what are the social classes who stand in conflict with imperialism. We must build big mass movements of workers and peasants against imperialism, and thus prove to the colonial bourgeoisie that they need not come to terms with imperialism and play the part of a secondary partner, but that with the help of the mass movement they can make a bid for power.
Last updated on 3 September 2022