[p. 197]
The International Secretariat of the Fourth International addresses an urgent appeal to all political and union workers' organizations of all countries, socialist and communist, asking them to give full attention to the present international situation which is particularly grave and contains the very real danger of a rapid evolution toward a Third World War.
A most massive and direct intervention by American imperialism in Vietnam, aided by the other imperialisms, threatens to develop into a war against China which would quickly develop into a general war. The general conditions are entirely different from those that previously existed in the Korean war, the possibility of a localized conflict is less probable than ever. Imperialism is now seriously rearmed. It is on the other hand threatened by an economic crisis which it will avoid only by a new step-up of expenditures for armaments, keeping everything on the edge of war. The first result of this renewal of aggression has been the break out of the New York Stock Exchange from its stagnation of the last months.
It is an illusion to believe that Vietminh, China or the USSR will permit consolidation in Vietnam of a regime and base for imperialist aggression in a relation of forces more unfavorable than ever for imperialism.
Dulles went to Europe for the purpose of overcoming the last hesitations of the London and Paris governments and to obtain at the Geneva Conference, not peace which the people ardently desire, but a more direct and massive intervention of the imperialist coalition in Asia.
*This is a criminal project which must be halted at all costs.*
Action must be taken against this and with all possible vigor.
The question of peace or war, of a war that would be the most abominable in the history of the human race, is in reality in the hands of the major workers' organizations. Surmounting all sentiments of indecision, cowardice, routinism, mistrust and hostility resulting in division of the workers, they must take the initiative in convoking at the time of the Geneva Conference an "International Workers Conference," in Paris for example, open to all political and union organizations, communist and socialist, of all countries — a conference that will demand:
AN IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE IN VIETNAM.
FREE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN VIETNAM TO DECIDE ON THE STATUTES AND THE GOVERNMENT.
RECOGNITION OF PEOPLES CHINA AND ITS ADMISSION TO THE UN.
PROHIBITION OF ATOMIC WEAPONS.
WORKERS CONTROL OF THE ATOMIC INDUSTRIES IN EACH COUNTRY.
This conference, cementing an international workers united front against war, should further decide to create a permanent bureau of the international workers united front which should look for all means of proletarian action against the threat of war on the part of imperialism.
Its convocation at the same time as the Geneva Conference would in itself be an act that would paralyze the fomenters of war and would arouse the hopes and an immense energy among the working masses of the entire world.
*The hour is grave, time presses. The large workers organizations must quickly assume their responsibilities. They must quickly act in unison.*
The International Secretariat
April 9, 1954