The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-23

Ab1dLlC COuuITlOB uuonLAOuSus AOSo
alliances would be "interimperial-
list" alliances. Let US assume that
the imperialist states form an alli-
ance for the peaceful" partition OF
these Asiatic countries. This would
be "the international combination Of
finance capital" Practical examples
Of such alliances are to be found in
the history of the Goth century, for
example in the attitude of the pow
ers towards China. The question
arises is it conceivable, while pre-
serving the capitalist system (and
this is the assumption Kautsky
makes) that such alliances can be
anything but shortlived? That they
could exclude friction, conflicts and
struggles in a multitude Of forms?
CIT is sufficient to present the
L question clearly, to make it i'm
possible for any other reply to be
given to this question except in the
negative; for under capitalism, no
other basis for the partition of
spheres of influence, interests, col
onies, etc. exists except the calcu-
lation of forces Of those taking part
in the division, viz, economic, finan-
cial, military, etc. and the forces of
those taking part in the division, do
not change equally, for an even rate
of development Of individual enter
prises, trusts, branches of industry
and countries under capitalism is
impossible. Half a century ago,
Germany was insignificant in COM
parison with the capitalist power of
England at that time. The same
comparison can be made between
Japan and Russia. Is it conceivable
that within the next decade or two,
the present relations between the
imperialist states will remain I'M
changed? 1t is absolutely inconce-
ivable.
Consequently, inter-imperialistic'
or 'ultra-imperialistic' alliances, ir-
respective of the form in which they
may be concluded: either the form
of the coalition of one group of i'm
perialist powers against the coali-
ton of another group, or in the form
of general alliance of all the i'm
perialist powers, must inevitably be
only 'respites' between wars.
Peaceful alliances prepare for
wars and in their turn grow out of
wars. They mutually determine each
other give rise to changes in the
peaceful and non-peaceful struggles
arising out of one and the same
cause of the imperialist ties and in
ter-relations of world economy and
world politics"
". I. Lenin. Collected Works. Vol.
XIII, pp. 32S, 329, Russian Edition..
COMRADES, we could use the same
~ words today in reply to ur pro.
phets'' who so over-estimate the i'm
portance of the rapprochement be-
tween England and America which in
their opinion should almost abolish re
volution.
Radek asserts that the democratic
pacifist EZRA" has not yet passed away
1t is true that Macdonald has left the
stage, but, in the opinion of Radek
pacifism still remains. How does Ra
dek arrive at this conclusion? Simply
by regarding every situation in which
war is not being actually conducted
as pacifism. But Imperialism requires
respites between wars during which
to prepare for fresh wars. Although
war is not actually being conducted
at the present moment, nevertheless
We see masked preparations for future
wars. We must have the greatest
clarity on this question. In Decem
Der 1922, Comrade Lenin wrote:
I'VE must take the present con-
fiicts, even the most insignificant,
and use them as illustrations to
show how war may break out, any
day as consequence of the differ
ences between England and France
concerning some detail in their
treaty with Turkey or between
America and Japan, concerning
some trifling difference, over a Pa
cific question, or between any large
powers over colonial disputes, GUS
toms policy, commercial policy, etc.
ETC."
("Bolshevik," journal of the Cen
trail Committee of the Russian Com
munist Party, No. 2, 1924, p. 49,
THIS is how Lenin estimated the
situation even before the end o.
1922, when the situation general,
seemed perfectly clear. He assumed
that fresh wars might arise not only
as consequence of the important an
tagonisms between England anC
America, but even over such quest
ions as customs and commercial DO
Icy. This is precisely the character
Of "pacifist" Imperialism as whole
Fresh wars may break out over mos
insignificant question. That is VIII,
we must resolutely repudiate even tn,
most cautious and masked attempt /,
revise the feminist theory of imperial