Page:The Lessons of the German Events (1924).djvu/45

 not be difficult to find an elastic formula: we are all masters of this craft; "on the one hand," "not only," "but," &c. But we do not see this. When we are a minority on the Executive, we fight gradually to become a majority. We hope we will not become a minority. We must speak right out. A stage of so-called democracy in coalition with the Social-Democracy is out of the question. He who desires this already has one foot in the camp of the Social-Democracy, perhaps he has both feet there already. If so all the better. He who believes that an alliance is possible between the Communists and the Social-Democrats, holds the viewpoint of the Social-Democracy. Really he is a centrist.

Well, comrades, we have had some bad experiences in Germany. The only good thing will be if we can bring clarity into this matter.

I come now to the question of Social-Democracy in Germany and in connection with it to the questions of Fascism, who has won, &c.

Yesterday, comrade Radek rightly said that the first question a political leader asks himself is: who rules in the particular country? Who rules in Germany? But this question must not be put in too simple a form. He replies: the Fascists. I ask: Who share in the government of Germany? And I reply: the Social-Democracy.

(: Quite true.)

Oh, this is quite true, is it? We will soon see the logic of it.

Since 1918 a "bloc" rules in Germany. It is too simple to say the Fascists rule. A "bloc" rules. The bourgeois revolution came against the will of the Social-Democracy. Until the very last moment they stood for the monarchy. The bourgeois revolution took place in Germany in spite of the Social-Democracy. Germany described itself as a Socialist Republic. Now they wish to adopt the term November Republic. I ask the German comrades whether this term was really popular. I think we are interested in introducing the old Marxian terminology. When we speak of scientific definitions we should use Marxian terminology.

What have we in Germany? A bourgeois democracy. It is somewhat different from the French, American and Swiss Democracies, but the type is similar. During the five years of the existence of this bourgeois democracy the Social-Democrats have done everything they could gradually to transfer the whole of the power, or at any rate, the greater part of it, to the bourgeoisie. A "bloc" rules in Germany. In this "bloc" the relations of forces has somewhat changed recently. This is a fact. Somewhat changed. How easily you forget. You say the situation now is different, the Communist Party is prohibited now, whereas Noske did not prohibit the Communist Party.

(: It is much better now.)

Good. We must clearly scrutinise those who share power in Germany. The Social-Democracy. Is not Severing a minister? Severing is an accomplice.