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HE TWENTY-THIRD Congress of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union, which lasted for 10
: days, had close to 5,000 delegates participating
in its work, including fraternal delegates from 86
countries. Among the latter were representatives of
Left Socialist parties from Western Europe and of na-
tional democratic forces from many newly-liberated
countries.

This large and many-sided representation from all
Continents expressed not only confidence in the CPSU,
but mirrored also the profound international charac-
ter of the congress and its significance to mankind.

Prior to the congress the capitalist press speculated
that it would change its general line and adopt a new
One. How nonsensical this proved to be was made
quickly evident in the report of the central commit
tee and in the resolution adopted by the congress. ~

These reiterated the determination of the CPSU to
Continue its principled struggle for peace and for
Peaceful coexistence between different social systems,
At the same time the congress made it unmistakably
Clear that peaceful coexistence did not apply where
Matters concern “the internal processes of the class
and national liberation struggle in the capitalist coun-
tries and in the colonies. Peaceful coexistence is not
applicable to relations between oppressors and the
Oppressed, the colonialists and the victims of colonial
Oppression.”

This approach to peace and peaceful coexistence,
national freedom and against imperialist- aggression
Was made quite evident around the issue of Vietnam.

€ ovations given to the fraternal delegates from’

1€ Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National
Liberation Front of South Vietnam, underscored what
Brezhnev said earlier, in his report to the congress:

“If the imperialists escalate the shameful war in
Vietnam they will have to contend with mounting
Support for Vietnam from the Soviet Union and the
Socialist countries.”

That this support js not inconsequential was em-
Phasized in the remarks of Le Duan, secretary cf the

orkers Party of the Democratic Republic of Viet-
ham, who expressed “deep gratitude to the CPSU, the
80vernment and the Soviet people for their huge and
Many-sided assistance to the struggle of the Viet-
Namese people.”

This note was likewise struck by Nguyen Thi Binh,
4n outstanding woman, head of the delegation of the
ational Liberation Front, when she expressed the
deep thanks for “the spiritual, political and material
Support” of the CPSU and Soviet people in the strug-
gle against U.S. aggression and for national freedom.

__ The struggle for peace and all-out support to the
People striving for national freedom was one of the
“entral features of the congress.

The Capitalist press speculated that the 23rd Con-
ress would open up polemics with the Communist
tty of China and sharpen relations in the interna-
‘tonal Communist movement. Here too, they miscal-
“uated. The congress was one of struggle for unity.

his bermeated al! its work and found expression in
the freetings of all fraternal delegates. ”

_ Faced with a sharpening of the international situa-
“en arising from the increasing aggressiveness of U.S.
iMPperialism, the congress showed a high sense of re-
‘SPonsibility in not allowing itself to be side-tracked

Y critics of the CPSU. It did not engage in polemics.

CONGRESS
of CPSU

principled struggle -
for peaceful co-existence

William Kashtan

What it did do was emphasize the need to “close
ranks against the common enemy of mankind — im-
perialism” and declared that “the CPSU will continue
to promote joint actions by the Communist Parties of
the world in the struggle against imperialism and for
the great goals of peace, democracy, national inde-
pendence and socialism.”

, In different languages, with differing emphases, all
‘fraternal delegates expressed their determination and
that of their parties, to help overcome the difficulties
in the world Communist movement and to find the

path to unity.

This was generally recognized as most crucial to
check and defeat imperialist aggression and advance
the cause of peace, national freedom and socialism.

Considerable attention was paid by the congress to
the further development of socialist democracy. The
capitalist press speculated about the restoration of
“Stalinism,” about a return to the personality cult at
this congress. This was answered bluntly by the first
two speakers after the main report.

Nikolai Yegorychev, secretary of the Moscow city
committee, said, “It has Jately become a fashion
abroad to seek some elements of so-called ‘Stalinism’

in the political life of our country. The cult of the.

personality, violations of Leninist norms and _prin-
ciples of party life and socialist legality, all that hin-
dered our advance, has been decisively thrown away
py our party and there will never be a return to this

past.”

This was re-emphasized by Nikolai Podgorny, pre-
‘sident of the presidium of the USSR, when he de-
clared that “the construction of Communism was in-
separable from the development of democracy,” and
went on to say, “the CPSU had done great work to
strengthen the rule of law and to eliminate the harm-

ful overgrowths associated with the personality cult,
and to improve Soviet legislation.”

This theme was developed by various speakers
who made clear the unalterable opposition of the
CPSU to any return to the cult and also spoke about
what is being done to extend socialist democracy.

Particular attention was paid to further strengthen-
ing the role and authority. of the Soviets and trade
union movement in their particular spheres as an in-
tegral part of the advance of socialist democracy.

As an argument to buttress its case on a return to
Stalinism the western press made much of the con-
gress decision to re-establish a political bureau, a sec-
retariat and the election of a general secretary. This
decision, together with others adopted at the con-
gress, was quite normal and based on the need to
further enhance the authority and role of the Com-
munist Party and make it an ever more effective fac-
tor in Soviet life.

Having misjudged what the congress would do, the
capitalist press following the congress tried to play
down its significance not only to the people of the
Soviet Union, but to the world socialist system and
the peoples of the world.

Some of the capitalist press said there was “nothing
new” coming out of the congress. Other sections said
it was “inward looking.”

If by “inward looking” is meant that the congress
devoted considerable time to a discussion on the next
phase of communist construction, it is correct. It did,
in fact, devote considerable time, in a sober, realistic

and critical fashion, to a discussion of the new five

year plan of economic development.

This plan is directed to creating the material and
technical base of communism. While the congress was
debating it, news came of the successful orbiting of
the moon satellite, itself a vivid expression of the
great scientific achievements of socialism and of the
great technical skills which made it possible. In a
sense, it was part of the guarantee that the five-year
plan would be realized.

When the plan is completed it will result in a sub-
stantial increase in the living standards of the people.
This is one of its main features, as can be seen in the
following: wages will have risen by 30 percent; wel-
fare and pension benefits will have risen by 40 per-
cent; real living standards of the people in city and
countryside by 30 percent; prices on consumer goods
will have been reduced.

This contrasts rather sharply with the trend toward
rising prices, rising taxes, inflation and growing debts
which afflict the working people in the capitalist
world.

There is nothing “inward” about the five-year plan
of economic development and democratic manage-
ment. It is the contribution of the Soviet Union to the
cause of peace and socialism on a world scale. This is
its great international significance.

The congress was imbued with confidence, con-
scious of the fact that, notwithstanding temporary
difficulties and even setbacks, there is but one direc-
tion — forward — to a life of abundance.

This contrasts, rather sharply with a growing crisis
of imperialism arising from the fact that there is only
one direction for it — eventual extinction.

May 6, 1966—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 5°