Inspired by the events in Poland, the Hungarian people, arms in hand, have revolted against the native Stalinist bureaucracy and its Russian overlords. In the course of their heroic struggle, they have established workers' councils in several important industrial towns.
The International Committee, on behalf of the world Trotskyist movement, warmly salutes the workers' councils already operating in Miskolc, Gyor, and other places. By taking the leadership in the fight for their vital interests, the Hungarian working class nobly strives to fulfill its historical mission and establish genuine Socialism in their country.
The whole world can now fully appreciate the real content of the so-called "Peoples' Democracies." Owing to the intervention of the Soviet bureaucracy through its local Stalinist puppets and the [Sta]linism and the action of the Stalinist bureaucracy, in Hungary, the forces of reaction have been reinforced, so that today, under conditions much more difficult than 1945, the working class of Hungary faces the enormously difficult task of maintaining and defending itself against both the forces of reaction and counter-revolution and the stranglehold of the Stalinist bureaucracy.
The formation of Workers' Councils in Miskolc, Gyor, etc. is a powerful demonstration that the Hungarian proletariat has decisively rejected social-democratic and counter-revolutionary bourgeois propaganda. The experiences and ideals of the Russian Revolution of October 1917 and of the Hungarian revolution of 1919 have remained alive in the consciousness of the Hungarian masses—much to the dismay of the world bourgeoisie and their social democratic agents.
To destroy Stalinist bureaucratic oppression and counter-revolution, the Hungarian workers' Council (or soviet) method of organization, which as in Russia in '17, forms the basis of the dictatorship of the proletariat. By doing this they give the lie once again to the so-called theories of the "peaceful roads to socialism" which have now become the policies of the Stalinist parties outside Russia.
Social Democracy no less than Stalinism must shoulder a considerable portion of the blame for the events in Hungary. Whilst the "statement" of Social Democracy shed crocodile tears for the people of Hungary, they condone the foulest torture and murders committed by the imperialists, as for example, in Algeria.
By renouncing the fight for socialism in the West in favor of class collaboration with the native bourgeoisie, they have prevented the revolutionary proletariat from proceeding earlier to a reckoning with the Stalinist bureaucracy.
They must bear the guilt for the counter-revolutionary forces which are being mobilized against the proletariat of Hungary. The International Committee calls upon all Social Democratic workers to intensify the struggle against their opportunist leaders and force them to give full assistance in every way possible to the revolutionary people of Hungary.
We address ourselves especially to the membership of the Communist Parties who are undoubtedly very disturbed at the treacherous role of their leaders who long ago chose the Stalinist road instead of the genuine communist goal of Lenin and Trotsky. Comrades, strike a blow now for Leninist democracy. Clear out the guilty men of Stalinism—the Thorez, Duclos, Togliatti, Pollitt, etc. Demand that the armed forces of the imperialists as well as the Soviet Union's be immediately withdrawn from Europe.
Revolution Will Spread
To all members of the Soviet Armed Forces, we say—Remember the revolutionary traditions of the Red Army founded by Leon Trotsky. Solidarize yourselves immediately with the gallant Hungarian fighters for socialist freedom organized in their soviets.
Hungary is a call to action not only for the working class of Eastern Europe but of the entire world. Together with Poland it forms the starting point of the political revolution which is inspiring the workers and peasants to overthrow Stalinism. It must eventually spread not only to all countries in the Soviet bloc but to the Soviet Union itself.
Long live the democratic Soviet Republic of the workers and poor peasants of Hungary and Eastern Europe.
Long live the resurgence of Soviet democracy in Russia.
All power to the workers and peasants' soviets of Hungary.
For a united front of all Social Democratic and Communist Party workers to force their leaderships to give full assistance to the Hungarian people. Stop the threat of imperialist intervention.
Long live the proletarian internationalism of Lenin and Trotsky!
Long live the Fourth International which has never ceased to organize and lead the fight against imperialism no less than the Stalinist bureaucracy!