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Struggle in the Fourth International: International Secretariat Documents, 1951-1954, Volume 3 of 4 volumes

Towards a History of the Fourth International, Part 4, vol. 3 · March 1974 · edited by Fred Feldman

From Towards a History of the Fourth International, Part 4, vol. 3: Struggle in the Fourth International: International Secretariat Documents, 1951-1954, Volume 3 of 4 volumes (Education for Socialists, Socialist Workers Party, New York, March 1974). Reproduced with the permission of Pathfinder Press. Scan: Encyclopedia of Trotskyism On-Line.

Introductory note

[p. 101]

In 1953, sharp differences over Stalinism and organizational matters divided the Fourth International into two public factions, the International Committee of the Fourth International and the International Secretariat of the Fourth International. This division lasted until the Reunification Congress of the Fourth International held in 1963.

The articles, documents, correspondence, and circulars published in these Education for Socialists bulletins are presented as an aid in tracing the evolution of this dispute. The material is divided into two parts. The first (Part Three of Towards a History of the Fourth International) is composed of four bulletins and contains materials from the International Committee. The second (Part Four of Towards a History of the Fourth International) consists of four bulletins containing material from the International Secretariat faction.

Both sets of bulletins begin with the discussion prior to the Third World Congress of the Fourth International held in 1951. They are divided into sections dealing with key stages in the development of the dispute. Each section opens with a brief introductory note. To the extent that these notes include historical interpretations or conclusions, the views expressed are my own.

The documents, correspondence, articles, and circulars have been subjected to minimal editing. In general the style, grammar, etc., have been retained as in the originals. Additions to the text for explanatory purposes appear in brackets.

The term "section" appears frequently in these documents. This word was used in two different senses within the world Trotskyist movement. On the one hand, it refers to those groups which are affiliated to the Fourth International. Secondly, it is used in reference to organizations that are barred from membership in the Fourth International by reactionary legislation, such as the SWP, but are in full political solidarity with the world Trotskyist movement and represent the continuity of Trotskyism in their countries.

The faction struggle in the world Trotskyist movement occurred when the McCarthyite witch-hunt was at its height in the United States. Similar manifestations of political repression appeared in other capitalist countries, as the ruling class sought to whip up anticommunist hysteria. In view of these sharp attacks on democratic rights, many radicals found it necessary to use pseudonyms or pen-names in carrying out their political activity. This was true of the Trotskyist movement as well. In line with a policy of printing this material as it originally appeared, these have generally not been changed. Instead, a glossary of these pen-names is included in each volume. Note that some individuals used more than one pen-name on occasion.

The 1953-54 dispute was worldwide in its scope and repercussions. Many parts of the Trotskyist movement that participated in the struggle are not represented in this collection. An instance of this is the lack of documentation from Latin America. Material from the dispute in the Latin American Trotskyist organizations is now being translated and will appear in a future volume.

This selection is based on the documents and correspondence presently available to the National Education Department of the Socialist Workers Party. Because of the speed with which the dispute developed, once the differences had become apparent to both sides, many aspects of the struggle are not fully dealt with in official documents. Therefore, it was necessary to include a considerable amount of correspondence to allow maximum clarity for the reader.

Hopefully, the publication of these bulletins will inspire others who were involved in the dispute to make available the relevant materials in their possession. Special thanks are owed to James P. Cannon, National Chairman Emeritus of the Socialist Workers Party, and Tom Kerry and Karolyn Kerry for making their personal archives available for this project.

Fred Feldman

February 1974

Contents

Section VI: Deepening Differences Over Stalinism

[The summer of 1953 saw a sharp widening of the political differences between the SWP and the supporters of Pablo. In "Stalin's Role — Stalinism's Future" (reprinted here from the issue of Fourth International dated January-February 1953 actually published, however, after the May 1953 Plenum of the SWP National Committee), George Clarke projected the possibility that the disappearance of Stalinism in the Soviet Union would take place through a "sharing of power" by the bureaucracy with the masses. Organizational heat was added to these political differences by the fact that Clarke placed his article in the magazine without first discussing it with the editorial board. In the issue of Fourth International dated March-April 1953, Michel Pablo's "The Post-Stalin 'New Course'" followed the general lines of Clarke's article. Pablo, however, placed more weight on the possibility that the liquidation of Stalinism might take place through sharp "intrabureaucratic struggles." In the same issue, Morris Stein took issue with Clarke's views and, implicitly, with Pablo's. The first outbreak of political revolution in the workers states — the Berlin uprising of June 1953 — produced further divergences, particularly over the role played by Soviet troops. The importance and dynamic of the concessions made by the bureaucracy in the course of suppressing the uprising was also the subject of political differences. The International Secretariat statement on the East German events is reprinted from the June 16, 1953, issue of The Militant. George Clarke's article in the issue of Fourth International dated March-April 1953 presents a parallel position. In the same issue of Fourth International, Clarke further developed his views on events in the Soviet Union since the death of Stalin. In the issue of Fourth International dated May-June 1953, the view of the SWP leadership on the East German events was presented in a lead editorial. A letter to the editors of Fourth International from an Australian cothinker is included in this section for the light it sheds on the conceptions that Pablo's views were inspiring in rank-and-file supporters of the Fourth International. The gulf that emerged in the evaluation of these important events eliminated all doubt that the differences over Stalinism that had divided the SWP also existed within the leadership of the Fourth International.]

1. 1. Stalin's Role — Stalinism's FutureGeorge Clarke · pp. 102-110
2. 2. The Post-Stalin "New Course"Michel Pablo [Michel Raptis] · July 1, 1953 · pp. 110-114
3. 3. Editorial Note to Correspondence in the March-April 1953 Issue of Fourth InternationalEditors of Fourth International · pp. 114-115
4. 4. Letter to Fourth InternationalMorris Stein · August 1, 1953 · pp. 115-116
5. 5. ReplyGeorge Clarke · pp. 116
6. 6. Note to Discussion Articles in March-April 1953 Issue of Fourth InternationalEditors of Fourth International · pp. 117
7. 7. Shake-up in the KremlinGeorge Clarke · pp. 117-119
8. 8. The June Days in ReviewGeorge Clarke · pp. 119-122
9. 9. International Secretariat Statement on the East German UprisingFI documentInternational Secretariat of the Fourth International · June 25, 1953 · pp. 122-124
10. 10. The East German UprisingEditors of Fourth International · pp. 125-128
11. 11. Letter to the Editor of Fourth InternationalWin Brad Jr. · October 29, 1953 · pp. 128-129

Section VII: Deepening Commitment to "Entryism of a Special Type"

["Our Integration in the Real Mass Movement, Our Experience and Perspectives" was submitted by the International Secretariat in June 1953 for a vote at the upcoming Fourth World Congress. It is reprinted from SWP International Information Bulletin, September, 1953. "From the Third to the Fourth World Congress," by Michel Pablo, written in October 1953, included a major attack on the policies of the SWP, which he accused of "yielding to hostile class pressure in the United States" because of its intransigeant attitude towards Stalinism. It was written as a contribution to the precongress discussion.]

1. 1. Our Integration in the Real Mass Movement, Our Experience and PerspectivesFI documentInternational Secretariat of the Fourth International · June 1953 · pp. 129-136
2. 2. From the Third to the Fourth World CongressMichel Pablo [Michel Raptis] · September 15, 1953 (headed 'October, 1953') · pp. 137-146

Glossary of pseudonyms

Harry Braverman:

Harry Frankel

James P. Cannon:

Walter, Martin

George Clarke:

Campbell, Livingstone, Livingston

Colvin R. DaSilva:

Roy

Farrell Dobbs:

Smith, Barr

Ross Dowson:

Kane

Leslie Goonewardene:

Tilak

Sam Gordon:

Tom, Harry, Burton, Joe

Joseph Hansen:

Herrick

Gerry Healy:

Burns, Mason, Jerry

John Lawrence:

Collins

Ernest Mandel:

Ernest Germain, Albert, Jeb

Sherry Mangan:

Patrice, Terrence Phelan, Patrick O'Daniel

George Novack:

Manuel, William F. Warde

Michel Raptis:

Michel Pablo, Gabe

David Weiss:

Stevens

Milton Zaslow:

Mike Bartell

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