The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-25
THE THIRD WORLD
CONGRESS- ADOPTS
RELIEF POLICY


which was adopted by the Third
World Congress of the Workers In
ternational Russian Famine Relief
Committee and which will rally the
workers of other countries to pledge
their labor and money to the work
of rebuilding Russian industries and
agriculture.
The Third World Congress of the
w. |. r. F. R. C. adopted a new
economic policy for relief in Russia
which indeed conforms to the new
economic policy of the Soviet gov
ernment. In the main. this new
policy consists of doing away with
the superficial, philanthropic means
of relief and attacking the whole
problem and troubles of hunger and
starvation by reviving the produc-
tive forces of Soviet Russia. The
worst phases of the famine are now
past, but not its economic conse-
quences. Inasmuch as the new har-
vest will not wipe out the famine as
is claimed in some quarters, 1t Will
certainly not do away with the con-
sequences of the famine-the decay
of agriculture and industry and the
exhaustion of the population. 1t can
only give a breathing spell in which
the friends of Soviet Russia, all over
the world, can work out program to
furnish real economic aid for the re-
construction of Soviet Russia's pro-
ductiVe forces.
Through an international workers
loan, funds will be provided whereby
agricultural and industrial conces-
sions in Soviet Russia can be taken
over and operated under the direc-
ton of the Workers International
Russian Famine Relief committee,
For the first time in history, the
greatest economic opportunities are
thrown open to the workers of the
world by a workers state.
A new epoch is beginning in the
matter of relief work for Soviet
Russia. The economic reconstruc-
ton of the famine districts, particu-
larly the Volga region, must be
undertaken, without, however, dis
continuing the distribution of food,
which should go on until the next
harvest. Hoernle. a German dele
gate to the convention, pointed out
that there is nothing fantastic in the
transition from workers aid in
famine relief to an entirely new form
of practical internationalism in pro-
ductive economic assistance to the
first workers government. eve may
begin with small MEANS" he said,
but we must keep before our eyes
the possibilities of growth and direct
our efforts to that end. So the
workers relief, which began as purely
charitable famine relief, is the germ
from which will develop real inter
national cooperation of the workers. }"
Munzenberg, secretary of the Work
ers' International Russian Famine
Relief committee, and one of the
delegates, stated that the interest in
the economic reconstruction of Soviet
Russia among the workers of all
countries is already strong. and the
idea of co-operatives of production,
financed through workers loans, is
one which has arisen spontaneously
in number of countries. To unite
these isolated efforts of the workers
everywhere is now the task of the
w. |. r. f. R. c.
The convention carried a very I'M
portant decision with regard to lay
ing stress upon the erection of chill
dren's homes and the care of desti-
tute children. The congress under
took to care for 10000 children, who
have been deprived of their parents
by the famine. For the further re-
lief of adults, especially workers IN
the famine districts, a package or
ganization will be established by the
w. |. R. F. R. c., which will enable
workers, or groups of workers, IN
other countries to send packages OF
food to workers. or groups OF work
ers, in Soviet Russia. The unem,
ployed in the famine districts will
be the special object of this form
of relief.
Comrade Smidovich, representing
the All-Russian Central Relief COM
mittee, and one of the Russian dele
gates to the convention, briefly
sketched the extent to which the
soviet government aided the famine
sufferers. He revealed that the
soviet government applied all its re-
sources to fighting the famine. In
addition to 170,000,000 gold rubles
directly appropriated by the govern,
ment, enormous quantities of seed
grain were shipped to the Volga dis
trict One million tons of seed gram
were brought into the famine dis
trict in addition to foodstuffs, and
this contributed greatly to the relief
of the famine. At the present time
the soviet government is emphasiz-
ing constructive relief for the fam
inc districts and again it is making
available it's economic resources for
the upbuilding of agriculture and in
dustry in this stricken area.
The Third World Congress of the
Workers International Russian Fam
inc Relief committee was held in
Berlin. on the 5th of July, at the
call of the international secretary,
Willy Nuremberg. Delegates were
present from all the affiliated coun-
tries. which number about 20, with
the exception of those from Argen-
tine. South Africa and Spain, from
which countries the delegates could
not obtain visas. Many delegates
from international labor unions and
relief organizations were also pres
ent. Much has been accomplished
by the w. |. r. F. R. c.
1t is doubtful whether Soviet Rus
STA could have survived the many
civil wars that were forced upon her,
without the help and support of the
workers of other countries, without
the movement which they initiated
for Soviet Russia, and their assist
ance in the field of economic revival
The work of the w. l. R. F. R. c. is
of peculiar character, which dis
tinguishes it from that of bourgeois
philanthropic organizations, in that
l. caalyc to SI1DnOrt those elements
and groups who are especially I'M
portant for production, not only
with the necessities of life but like