17.08.1995

Towards the revolution: our policy

From The Communist, paper of the Communist Party of Great Britain, August 19 1920

THE DECISION of last week’s special National Labour Congress ... to endorse the formation of a ‘Council of Action’ and the granting to this council of “full powers” to organise a general strike call for a statement from the Communist Party ...

The challenge to capitalist institutions is the first real ringing declaration of war against the power of our exploiters and oppressors which has gone up from Labour’s ranks.

... We see in the threatened war with Russia not only another military holocaust, but a deeply conspired imperialist attempt to crush the working class Republic of Russia.

Official Labour can rest assured of our support in this crisis, because the Communist Party is to the Republic of Russia flesh of its flesh, and bone of its bone.

We have sought for representation both at the Congress and on the Council, but so far our efforts have met with refusal. We intend to insist upon such representation, not as a successfully absorbed body, but as an independent and free unit, with equal right to advise and urge both as to policy and action.

The councils may be called upon to function not only in controlling a strike, but constructively in efforts to maintain the strike.

Any local construction must bear the hallmarks of communism, and only the communists can stamp such an imprint. Labour will, and must, obviously in the interests of its own policy, endeavour to effect a consummation to the present decisions by the establishment of a Labour government. This is in their minds and the councils of action but the means to this end.

Our work is not for a political revolution with a Labour government, but a social revolution with administration by soviets or workers’ councils. Your local councils of action have potentialities which should be nourished and developed.