Why are millions of people the world
_ Over absorbed in knowing the significance
Of the 1917 revolution in old Russia? Why
is it seen by many as a relentless force for
Peace in the world? What has been its
effects on developing countries? The
accompanying article is based on a work
_ by Soviet historian Stepan Titarenko, The
Vital Power of Socialist Ideas, which
_ Marks the 64th anniversary of the October
_ 1917 socialist revolution in Russia.

Known throughout the world.

_Its victory was proclaimed when a ses-
Sion of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’
_ 4nd Soldiers’ Deputies, on October 25,
_ 1917 (November 7 on the present-day
Calendar), stated: ‘‘The workers’ and
Peasants’ revolution, about the necessity
_ Of which the Bolsheviks have always
Spoken, has been accomplished.”’
(Petrograd was the earlier name of
Leningrad.)

_ Bourgevis professors, lawyers, poli-
Ucians and also reformers calling them-
Selves socialists met this statement either
With an ironic smile or with indignation.
ere were numerous predictions that

the ‘*Bolshevik experiment’? would
Quickly fail.

But when the workers and peasants of

Ussia showed that they had seized
Power seriously and not temporarily, all
_ the forces of the old world of exploitation
_ 4nd oppression attacked, arms in hand.
_ Acivil war lasting nearly four years, and
» ‘ntervention by the armed forces of more
@ ‘hana dozen imperialist powers ensued.
ie Never was a-country subjected to such

State won; and a profound distinction
-| Was drawn between the old capitalist
| World, and the rising new world of
Socialism.
Sheer Lies

i . Seeing in socialism a threat to their
s} ©wn world domination, capitalist
fe deologists began spreading sheer lies.
One was that the Soviet state planned
ah to export revolution to other countries
fl With the help of war. The truth is that

late Secretary Alexander Haig press, he said. Evidently, the
#0 put up or shut up regarding his . purpose was to justify U.S. inter-

| 8cusation of 500 Cuban “‘elite vention in El Salvador, and its
- Yoops” being sent to Nicaragua. gross threats against Cuba.
The Government of Cuba has
M8 at the closing ceremony of the denied sending a single soldier of
y \<Ongress of the Committees in elite troops or any other troops to
: Defence of the Revolution, Oct. Nicaragua, and states that “‘Cuba

0 . President Fidel Castro, speak-

y 24

ared in a Washington Post arti-

1
i they were destined for El Sal-

p Marxist government in the east of
p ‘Ne country.

The 1917 revolution in old Russia is.

gi hardships and sufferings. But the new _

Prove your charges’
Cubans challenge Haig

el) HAVANA (PL) — The Goyv- minimum evidence) had shame-
| €mment of Cuba challenged U.S. lessly manipulated the U.S.

ZS Called it ‘‘the most recent big has never sent troops to Nica-
—™*, Contn ait ragua.” :
| Poca eae tRanee Cuba has verified
| Cle of Oct. 19, under the by-lines evidence that Haig has commu--
) °f Rowland Evans and Robert _nicated to other governments the
Novak, who said, in what Castro slanders previously published by
| “alled a “‘truculent, insidious and the press, stating that the U.S.
0 Shameless way,”’ that Cuba has Government has detected the
¢ Sent “between 500 and 600 elite landing of 500 soldiers in
_ Soldiers” to Nicaragua. The Nicaragua, ee pee it has
St ee ~ at the corresponding proot.
oF Re See tara But Cuba has caught the USA
y- Yador with the aim of creating a _ in another big lie. ee
Cuba demands of Haig, if he
continues to defend this tale about
¢ Castro noted that the article the Cuban troops, *‘that he give
y asin line with anew tactic ofthe the day, the time, that planes
it A. Washington, embarrassed landed those men,’ which
! °Y Cuba’s categorical denials of information he says he has; and
_ Previous false statements of some ‘“‘that he present the proof,” he
i °F its spokespersons (built on claims to possess.

1917 — 1981

revolutions grow from acute class
contradictions in capitalist countries. No
revolution is possible if a country lacks
real forces capable of settling a crisis of
the old system in a revolutionary way —
that is making a fundamental change in
social structure.

As for the allegation about war, the
October Revolution proclaimed not war,
but peace among nations. The Decree on
Peace has been, and remains, a corner-
stone of the foreign policies of the Soviet
Communist Party and the Soviet
Government. This Decree was the first
Act signed by Soviet leader V.I. Lenin,
following the 1917 revolution.

Socialism does not need wars for its
development and prosperity. The danger

of war comes from imperialist ruling

quarters and the military industrial com-
plex. They stir up war hysteria, carry on
an unprecedented arms race, invent new
weapons and call into question the very
existence of mankind. They maintain
that there are more important things than
peace, and call for a crusade against
communism and everything connected
with the freedom and independence of

peoples.

Peace Is Paramount

The paramount task of the socialist
nations and the Communist and Work-
ers’ Parties is to prevent a-nuclear holo-

_.caust..and.. preserve. and_..consolidate
‘peace.

Besides its long-lasting influence on
the struggle for peace, the October Rev-
olution gave mighty impetus to the na-
tional liberation struggle. At the time of
the October Revolution, colonies ac-
counted for over 70% of the world
population. Since then national demo-
cratic and liberation revolutions in many
countries have led to the elimination of
colonial empires in their old classical

THE WORLD |

B4 years of workers

* power

ailities

Lenin at the Smoiny, 1920. Drawing by P. Vasiliev.

form. Liberated nations began their
independent historical development, a
number of them with a socialist orienta-
tion.

Capitalism, which formerly exerted
unlimited domination over these
peoples, now faces a world system of
socialism uniting a number of European,
Asian, American and African nations,
who vigorously oppose colonialism and
neo-colonialism. ; '

Moreover, from that beginning in
1917, there has developed an inter-
national communist movement which is
the most influential political force against
all forms of reaction and class and na-
tional oppression.

The strength of the October Revolu-
tion lay in its working-class inter-
nationalism, which made it the focus of
attention of working people around the

; world.

Sixty-four years later in February and
March of 1981, the 26th Congress of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
reaffirmed Lenin’s 1917 peace priority. It
advanced a broad and realistic program
of the struggle for peace, deepening
international détente and curbing the
arms race. The details of these are read-
ily available.

“To safeguard peace — no task is
more important now on the international
scene for our party, for our people and,
for that matter, for all the peoples of the
world,’ that Congress declared.

It pledged every effort to prevent the
wasting of war preparations of material
and cultural wealth created over genera-
tions, and to work for a peaceful and
happy life of the people. That, the Soviet
Communist Party, Government and
people believe is the behest of their Great
October Socialist Revolution.

Pa <<

aor

France nationalizes nine large groups

PARIS — By 332-154 the French parliament approved the nationalization of five large industrial
groups, 36 banks and two consortiums following 118 hours of debate. The five industrial group are
leaders in their respective sectors and, together with another four consortiums that will come under
government control, represent 16% of French industrial capacity. The nine groups last year had
sales of 350 thousand million francs. ze

Vigilance is key to Greek progress

ATHENS — Ina post-election statement, the Communist Party of Greece, welcoming the left
unity that resulted in the defeat of the right-wing New Democracy Party, said that ‘‘to fortify the
people's victory, to make democracy firm, what is necessary is vigilance and the unity and struggle
of the people. The CPG warned that right forces still control or influence keypositions in the state
aparatus. ‘* They will raise every obstacle to frustrate or restrict changeS which the country needs
and the people want,’’ the CPG says. :

Solidarity shuts down office

NEW YORK — The new ‘‘Press and Information Office in the USA’’, opened by the Polish

union Solidarity in September, is closed. The following formal statement was the first and last

~ communique it issued. Sent Oct. 30 by ‘‘Directors of the Friends of the Polish Trade Union

Solidarity, Inc.”’, it reads: “‘We have been informed by Solidarity that, in the present situation, it

does not consider it advisable to have a New York information office. The office will therefore be
discontinued as of today, October 30.”

-

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOV. 13, 1981—Page 9