Page:Solomon Abramovich Lozovsky - The World's Trade Union Movement (1924).pdf/113

 Rh What is most typical in this conference of Transport Workers? It is the complete unity, if not with all representatives of the International Federation, at least with a majority. Again, on what questions did we unite? On the questions of the struggle against Fascism, on the struggle against war and the methods for that struggle. And again, which is a very great gain—on the question of reconstruction of unity in the world's trade union movement.

The resolutions and appeals adopted do not contain anything specifically communist. But they do have a definite program of action, that is, the thing which any reformist international or any reformist organization did not and cannot give. Why were these resolutions filled with definite, concrete things? Because we can talk to the representatives of the Amsterdam International only about concrete questions. Would we ever be able to come to an understanding with them about events and perspectives? We may agree on the struggle against Fascism, on the struggle against capitalism, and as long as there is a will on their side to fight we could adopt definite resolutions. And again the wide masses can see how foolish are the statements of our opponents that the United Front is only a maneuver, that in reality we do not want any United Front and that we ourselves have broken it.

We say to our opponents: If you think it is only demagogy on our part, then make a United Front with us and prove that we are breaking it. But they cannot prove it, because the creation of a United Front with us would break their United Front with the bourgeoisie. And this is the whole essence of the question. It is a question of breaking the coalition with the bourgeoisie, for they do not expect to drag us into any coalition with the bourgeoisie. Therefore, the Amsterdamers are opposed to the United Front.

But even by the left wing the United Front was not adopted without difficulty. In some of the opposition we met in our ranks there was something extraordinary. The labor organizations are not used to the international taking upon itself any initiative on an international scale. Only with the creation of the Comintern and Profintern did they begin to accustom themselves to the idea that the experience of all countries should belong to each and every one. The opposition that we met was centered in the syndicalist organizations of the Latin countries.

It is known that the most active opponents of the United Front were in France, Italy and Spain—even in the Communist parties of those countries. Why was the apposition to the United Front centered in the Latin countries? This has a definite explanation. The Communist parties of the Latin countries have been composed of different elements. We have there few Communist parties which have grown up organically and gradually through the years. In this respect only the Russian