The Washington herald., 1921-01-05
US. SOCIALISTS :
REFUSE TO JOIN
MOSCOW PARTY
Denounce Lenine's Rules
For Membership as
Autocratic.
COUNTER SOCIETY
MAY BE FORMED
Russia Cannot Dictate to
Us, Says National Ex-
ecutive Body.

ecutive Body.
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 4.-The ma
tional Executive Committee Of the
Socialist party Of the United States
has challenged and denounced Len
ines famous twenty-one conditions
for affiliation in the communist
Third Iternationale. the Moscow or
ganization Of world revolutionists.
The Moscow program wants to
commit us to a policy of armed IN
surreceion. The Moscow comrades
have arrobated to themselves the
rivht to dictate tactics, program and
conditions Of propaganda in all
countries 1t is ridiculous, arbitrary
and autocratic, as ridiculous as if
we were to dictate to them how they
should carry on their propaganda"
The Socialist party Of the United
States uses these words Of Eugene
V. Debs in a forceful, 1000 word.
secret letter to the Third Interna-
tiOnale in both declining and con-
demning the conditions Of afflIation
laid down for membership in the
world society Of Bolshevism
This letter has caused a scnsa-
tion in Russia and Will create
the same astonishment in the
United States. Tn" text of it was
obtained by the Public Ledger
Foreign Service today. 1t is
signed by the following members
Of the National Executive Commit
tee of the Socialist Party Of
America: Edmond T Melmes,
George +. Roger, jr.. James
O'Neal Bertha II. MaiIIy, w. NJ.
Brandt, John HageI, William H.
Henry and Otto Branstetter, eX-
ecutive secretary. In addition to
the American Socialist reply to
Branstetter indicating that the
Americans are now considering an
invitation from the Swiss Socialist
p~rty, the independent Socialist
party of Gerrnany aad the Inde-
pendent Labor Party of Great
Britain ito attend an internR-
tionaI conference for the purpose
Of considering the conditions of
afiliation proposed by the com
munist internationale" so the re-
ply to Moscow is not final.
States Party Position.
According to the heading of this
American communication to Mos
COW. it is a letter from the ma
tiunal executive committee OF the
Socialist party in the United States
stating the position Of the Social
ist party towards the Communist
intcrnationale." The burden Of the
document is that the national com
mittee has decided that II has al
its discretion certain Iautuue
as to time and manner in eAecu-
tiun of adopted policies or deClara-
tions adopted at tse Socialist ma
tional convention in the United
States" which provided for direct
and immediate afhliatiOn with the
Communist internationale.
The national executive commit
tee has been requested to state clear
~ the attitude Of the party on the
question Of afnliatIun with the Com
munist internatiOnale. reads the
first paragraph OF the letter. n
doing so the committee desires TO
call attention to the fact that the
Soviet government of Russia ana
the Communist intrrnationale are
two entirely distinct and separate
organizations.
The Soviet government was IN eN-
istence eighteen months before the
formation of the communist inter-
rationale and its continued exist
ence does not necessarily depend
uI.on either the success or tallure
of the communist internauOnale.
ITO the Soviet government the
socialist party of America has gwen
its unwavering support, as eNl-
denced by resolutions OF sympathy
and Comradeship and by persistent
and reiterated demands unon our
own government for withdrawal OF
troops. lifting of the blockade. re-
sumption of trade and recognition
of the Soviet government.
The communist internationale on
the other hand has not to do with
the internal affairs of the Russian
peOple but with the interestse of
| revolutionary workers of the entire
world"
Reviews Activities Here.
! At this point the letter, which Is
too yoluminOus to quote in its en-
tiretv. reviews he socialist Conyen-
/ tions in the United States and the
resolutions submitted by the con
+ yentions to the members of the
/ marty for a referendum vote and
! the minority report favoring affilia'
! ticn with the Third lnternatiOnale
| which with three reservations, was
| approved by the party.
Outline Objections.
I'm the opinion OF the committee
IconCludes the letter, the conditions
/ of affiliation are absolutely incom.
patible with the position of oul
/ party as set forth in the majority
/ resolution adopted by the last ma
tional convention and approved by
| referendum The committee Consid'
ers these conditions impossible OF
acceptance by the Socialist Party Ot
| the United States. The Comrade:
1 of the communist International
have assumed the right to dictate
the internal affairs and policies oi
afiliated parties and to force upoJ
Ius declarations and methods o
propaganda which are inapplicabl'
| TO the conditions in this country
The conditions of affiliation laiC
! down by the communist interna
/ tionaIe are not only impossible o.
acceptance by our party, but in thu
opinion of the committee they ar
| detrimental to the Soviet govern
ment.
The promulgation of these dec
| larations at a time when opposition
| to the Soviet government was les