| ALVA eH

fea a | ||

i.) Were prevented from
Mg their full role in so-
construction and in safe-
Ming socialist democracy.

Nor is it sufficiently clear
., tie Vanguard of the work-
»Hass in the Soviet Union,
poitically’ most advanced
tS organized into the
» Were deprived of that
te of inner party democ-
» Without which democra-
“tralism is emptied of its
“Static content.
ther the CPSU. resolu-
lg June 20, 1956; nor the
ions in which our dele-
a Participated produced
answers to these
Ng questions.

te National executive com-
iy CUS therefore that the

“erious study of the com-
hey Questions which go to
foot Of the cult of the indi-
wil and the bitter fruit
nin it produced must be
i et It is necessary that
| by ’n the full lesson of
ine vation of Marxism-
a and the indefensible
ty te from Soviet demioc-
ery he Must boldly examine
=acet of this problem,
ent ‘very step of its develop-
is. "4 draw the full con-
S from such a study.

pete the statements by
tee 'S of the central com-
1 Noes of the CPSU that the
the sit Marxist analysis of
cont; and its consequences
Mey ing and will be
Consistently.

re questions the dele-
tiny Fe ‘Scussed with the mem-

the CPSU should oc-
. important place in
hvention discussion
[me Party commencing in

i
l

<_<

Bile nis
j ‘ie, tional executive com-
thibiteg doves that an un-
ston @pproach to | these
ean Vl help us in our
any nation of our pro-
in Constitution in the
tang, Ur immediate and
tis ne Policies, in our ef-

dqui¥ with labor, far-
‘ Bust organizations
Mine, UBtry and in the at-

in of a Socialist democ-
Canada

RAS nat: .

tye tional executive com-
MWren comes the delega-
‘Hey (fPort of the long steps
€ Soviet party and
Re towards rectify-
ees and offences

a8ainst various na-

leap also encouraged
ating thot the steps taken
“ty ctity Past year, to begin
Josi’s Coma, Lustices and
ish Deoited against the
dun ee In the Soviet
ali § the latter years
1 leadership,

om

«les fred to the middle
7B Jone cxisted a flour-
‘sh cultural life,

P DELEGATION REPORTS-2

tees

ull answers yet to

tions and nationalities in the
Soviet Union. In this sphere
of Soviet life under the cult
of Stalin, policies were pursued
which were entirely foreign
to and incompatible with dem-
ocratic socialist principles and
were in juxtaposition to the
policies advocated, practiced
and fought for by Lenin up fo
the last minute of his life.

As far back as December
20-31, 1922, Lenin wrote his
now famous unpublished let-
ter to the central committee
because of some “heavy fist”
methods used in Georgia. In it
he said: “I think that here a
fatal role was played by
Stalin’s haste and his fascina-
tion ‘for administration - and
also his bitterness towards ill-
famed social nationalism.”

In that letter Lenin pro-
posed to“... retain the Un-
ion of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lics only in departments of
war and diplomacy, but in ae
other relations to restore fuily
independent, separate peo-
ple’s commissariats.

Lenin also made the UE
: 2 ‘
ing profound observa ion
that letter: “.. . nothing

blocks the development and,

strengthening of proletarian
class solidarity so much as
national injustice, and to noth-
ing are ‘offended’ nationals so
sensitive as to the infringe-
ment of national equality,
even though due to careless-
ness, even though in the nature
of a joke, and especially to ae
infringement of nationa
equality by one’s proletarian
comrades. That is why in the
present instance, it is better ne
overdo it on the side of wil-
lingness to make concessions
and mild treatment of the 218
tional minority than not to
go far enough.” >

‘It is, therefore, heartening to
learn of the steps taken by
the Soviet government to de-
centralize some of its adminis-
trative powers by returning: to
the national republics which
make up the Soviet Union, an
increasing number of minis-
tries and administrative ae
partments, including that 0
justice. ;

The return of these rights
and powers to the national i
publics is fundamental to 3
full development of mavignel
equality and national “yeh
in a multi-national state i
the Soviet Union.

i many -sided ul
i et educational RenvAs
ties and despite dislocation sae
curring during the See ee
conditions continued unti .

At that time all Jewish cul-

tural and social autbe
were arbitrarily closed by
dminis-

crude and punitive a nee
trative measures; extens Az
rests and impriSonments e
prominent Jewish-Soviet citi-

:

J. B. SALSBERG

zens on false charges took
place; the infamous doctors’
case was engineered and some
of the most prominent Soviet
Jewish writers and other men
of great importance were exe-
cuted.

As was pointed out at the
20th congress, similar crimes
were also committed against
the people and leaders of oth-
er nations and nationalities in
the Soviet Union during that
period.

The enormity of the crime
committed in this particular
case lies in the fact that it
resulted: in a temporary 5up-
pression of Jewish cultural
activity in the Soviet Unien
outside the autonomous re-
gion of Birobijan.

The national executive com-
mittee was, therefore, pleased
to learn that, as with people
of other nations and national-
ities in the USSR, all Soviet
Jewish citizens -who were
wrongfully arrested were re-
leased and sue or are

i rk; that works ob.
Se este are translated
and published in the Russian
and other languages, that Jew-
ish concerts are being held in
scores of centres and with
increasing frequency; that a

Jewish literary periodical is,

r: that the re-
about to appear; t
establishment of the Jewish
theatre is being

considered |

in the Yiddish language is
scheduled.

It is, however, our opinion
that this progress, important
and welcome as it is, must be
considered only a beginning.

While not unmindful of the
grave losses

Jewry suffered during the anti-
Hitler war, the uprooting of
many old centres of Jewish
life and of the effects of the
process of integration which
has taken place, we believe that
there. exists a genume need
and desire for specific pro-
gressive Jewish social: and
cultural activities not only in
the border areas joined with
the Soviet Union during the
last war, but in many scores
of centres throughout the So-
viet Union in. which the 2,-
500,000 to 3,000,000 Soviet citi-
zens of Jewish descent live.

The overcoming of the cult
of the individual and the
struggle against all its prac-
tices by the CPSU includes
complete eradication of “heavy
fist” methods and the full ap-
plication of socialist democ-
racy to €very phase of Soviet
life.

It involves the unfolding of
a relentless struggle against
every vestige of coercion, anti-
Semitism, national inequality,
discrimination or national pre-
judice at every level of Soviet
society.

An authoritative pronounce-
ment at this time against all
such anti-socialist practises
and ideologies, and dealing
with the status and rights of
Jewish citizens and Jewish
communities, would clear the
air and would create the cli-
mate for bold, active develop-
ment in the cultural life of

which  Soviet*

be found’

and that the printing of books

all nationalities and groups.

Jewish Soviet citizens who
need and have the desire to
engage in all-sided progressive
Jewish cultural activity must
have full opportunity to do so
and facilities for it must be
provided by the Soviet state.

The national executive com-
mittee recognizes that in vari-
ous socialist-countries different
forms of organization of cul-
tural expression of the Jewish
people have evolved. One ex-
ample among these is the form
evolved in Poland where the
Jewish people elect an all-
Polish committee to organize

and. direct their activities. It:

is evident’ that a process is
going on of the development
of the organizational forms of
cultural activities of the Jew-
ish people.

Until now, contact could
only be established with the
religious section of Soviet
Jews through their synagogues
and religious leaders.

We believe that organized
cultural and educational activ-
ities in the Soviet Union would
in addition to its progressive
role within the Soviet Union,
lead to the establishment of
contact with Jewish organi-
zations in other countries and
would thereby play a tremen-
dous role in strengthening the
forces. of peace and progress
in all countries where Jewish
people live in substantial num-
bers.

Organizational forms may
vary from country to country
in accordance with the condi-
tions prevailing in these coun-
tries; what is decisive is that
the right to free cultural ex-
pression is fully recognized
and the means provided for
its exercise.

LPP perspectives

It is the resolve of the La-
bor-Prcgressive party to elab-
orate its own: course towards
a socialist democracy in Can-
ada.

In doing so it will draw
from the storehouse of know-
ledge acquired by the world
movenient of scientific soc:
ialism: as well as from the ex-
periences of the communist,
socialist and labor-movements
of the world, but it will make
use only of ‘those theoretical
and practical accomplishments
which will be in harmony
with the historic background
of our country and with the
tradition of the Canadian peo-
ple as it has developed through
the centuries.

While fully appreciative of
the historic importance of the
role and the accomplishments

OCTOBER 19, 1956 —

of the

People’s Democracies, the

Soviet Union, the

People’s Republic of China

and of socialist and commun-
ist movements elsewhere, we
shail, in the spirit of friendly
and fraternal relationship, in-
quire into theoretical. postu-
lates” and policies from the
Marxist, socialist and labor
camps everywhere which we
may consider as questionable
and reserve the right to of-
fer criticism whenever we
shall consider such criticism
justified.

we shall
make our own _ constructive
contribution to world socialist
thought and action and to. the
achievement of a_ peaceful
world, a fully independent
Canada and:a free socialist
future.

In this manner

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 5

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