The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-04-02
z|NOvIEF Challenges THE AMSIER-
dam INTERNATIONAL.
OPEN LETTER TO MESSRS. JOUHAUX, OF PARIS
FIMMEN AND OUDAGEEST, OF AMSTERDAM

one condition, which is that the
unions which want to take part in
our Congress should sincerely desire
to fight against World Imperialism
and, therefore, against the instru-
ment of World Imperialism, the
yellow" International of Amster-
dam; and you will see that this first
Congress of Red Workers Unions
win be triumph for the Third In
ternational, and will give the final
death-blow to the treacherous In
ternational of Amsterdam.
Every step you take you launch
against us; every service that you
render to Imperialism, and such
services have been your main task
for some time, will only strengthen
the Third International, and help to
ensure the success of the World Con-
gress Of Red Trade Unions on May
/, 1921.
Your letter contains one practical
proposal, that you should supply our
organization with more detailed IN
| formation as to your work. You seem
to be anxious to start a discussion
with us as to your principles and
ours. l, therefore, gentlemen, let
you know Of the following decision
of the Executive of the Communist
International
"The Executive of the Commun-
list International and the Jnterna-
tional Council Of Trade Unions
have resolved unanimously on the
motion of Zinovief, to accept a
public debate with the Amsterdam
international"
| We know quite well how little in
fluence you have over the masses of
the workers. On the other hand, your
Influence is considerable in the min
Iisterial circles Of the bourgeois gov
Iernment. So we have no doubt that
L M. Jouhaux will be able to persuade
I'M. Millerand without much trouble
that the President Of the Communist
International should be allowed, for
| the good of the cause, to visit Paris
for a public debate with M. Jou-
haux. And it is quite possible that
Mr.. Henderson will be able to OBJ
ltain the same result in England, and
I'M. Troelstra in Holland.
The Third International therefore
proposes to take steps to arrange
from February Of this year for pub
|lic discussion before the workers Of
London, Paris, Amsterdam, and other
European capitals, so that the yell
low International of Amsterdam can
take part.
| Gentlemen, it should not be diff
ficult for you to obtain government
tai consent to our proposal, through
the mediation of the League of Ma
tions, which is so favorably disposed
toward you and of the International
Labor Office, which serves as link
between the Amsterdam International
and the League Of Nations.
Please examine our proposal as
soon as you can among your own
circle-that is to say the circle Of
bureaucrats of the Amsterdam In
,ternational and the Home and For
eign Ministers Of your Governments,
and let US have reply one way or
the other as soon as possible.
| We eagerly await your reply. You
can be sure, gentlemen, that we quite
understand the difficulty of your
position, and that we realize what
unpleasant circumstances caused you
to write that letter to us, to which
we are now replying. Accept our
condolences for the rapid disintegra-.
tion of your forces, with the whole
world looking on; and accept our as
surance that the advance guard Of
the workers Of the world knows you
at true worth, and that it also
knows that. in order to overthrow the
power of capitalism, it is also neces-
sary to put an end to the treacher-
Gus organization called the Amster-
dam International Of Trade Unions.
! Yours very respectfully,
zINovIEF.