The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-24
BY R. PAINE DUTT.


within it, to endeavor to reply. Re
plies have appeared from such repre-
sentatives as the editor of the Daily
Herald, Brailsford, Bertrand Russell,
George Lansbury and others. The
prominence given to these replies in
the official labor press, and the space
accorded, indicates the influence
which the book is undoubtedly having
in the movement. 1t is significant that
no trade union leader has yet come
out in opposition to the arguments Of
the book. The replies have been con-
fined to the l. L. P. intelligentsia, the
religious-pacifst group, etc. The La
Dor Party leaders have also maintain
ed silence, leaving to these "theoret-
ical" champions to maintain their
case.
These replies are extremely instruc-
tive. In future edition of Trotsky' 5
book they should be reprinted as an
appendix: for they bear out with COM
ical exactness (and absolute unconsci-
ousness) all the heaviest charges that
TrOtsky brings against this theology
of English Socialism" The horizon
of these writers is governed by per-
sonal questions and a subjective
("idealist'') outlook. They complain,
to begin with, that Trotsky has ''at-
tackled" them, that he is Offensive"
that he is superior" that he has no
nice parliamentary manners and that
he actually seems to have nothing but
contempt for their beautiful theories.
In the next place, they complain that
Trotsky is a Russian" and not an
Englishman, and therefore cannot
understand Englishmen" or the SUI
periority of English institutions (they
do not attempt to show their superior
understanding of England by meeting
Trotsky on any of the historic or OBJ
jective ground he covers). Finally
they complain that the outlook sug-
gested is gloomy" and that they pre-
fer to "hope" and trust" and "be-
lieve" that all will be for the best,
and nothing unpleasant will need to
be faced.
The Daily Herald devotes a prin-
cipal editorial to Trotsky's book, un-
der the heading 1.-TWO Years of Life
in Conflict" The editor seizes on a
quotation (misquoted, and actually re-
ferring to CromwelD that "the recog-
milton by a great historic mission con-
fers the right to annihilate all OBJ
stacles in the way" This he erects
into Trotsky's first principle. He then
announces that Mussolini and British
imperialism also hold this view. On
this basis he proudly afirms the
breakdown" of Trotsky's reasoning.
He prefers "the hope of persuading
people that force is futile and despo-
tism always detestable, that persuas-
ion and generosity are for more pow
erful Influences" etc. Needless to say,
the Daily Herald advocates a very
different policy when it comes to
maintaining British Imperialism
against the subject peoples.
The clyde Group" of Scottish l.
L. p. members of parliament is rep
resented by Johnston in the Forward.
This reply takes up a strongly ma
tional point of view against Trotsky's
intrusion into British politics: "As
Trotsky Sees Us" is the heading: and
the writer complains that Trotsky
should dare to make assertions about
"a country other than his own, of
whichaat the best he must only have a
secondhand knowledge" Johnston's
example of Trostky's supposed ignor-
ance is, however unfortunate: he
challenges the statement that MAC
Donald operated in the realm of d.
plomacy with the aid of false docu-
ments" and endeavors in reply to
gloss over MacDonald's direct share
in the issue OF the zinoviev forgery
with the childish plea that "MacDon-
aid did not operate the zinoviev let
far.. - WAS onerafpd apainaf him -