The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-13


the manifesto Of the Executive Com
mittee Of the Comintern, dated March
30
MANIFESTO PROVIDES
FOR POSSIBILITY
OF UPRISING
This manifesto has nothing in it
about a direct struggle for power.
Neither the German Communist
Party nor the Communist Interna-
tional raised this question. But it
can be argued that the Communist
internationals manifesto provides for
the possibility Of an armed uprising.
The conclusion was drawn here
in court that as the Communist
Party has the Communist uprising
as its ultimate aim, this implies
that the uprising was being direct
ly prepared and was bound to break
out. This, however, is neither logi-
cal nor correct. to put it mildly.
Yes, of course. to fight for the die
tatorship of the Droletariat is the
task of the Communist Party
throughout the world. II Is our
principle, our aim. But this is a
definite process, the development of
which requires the forces not only
of the working class but of other
groups of the toilers as well.
That the German Communist Party
was in favor of the Proletarian Revo-
luton is well known to all, but that
has nothing to do with the question
which this trial has set out to solve.
The question is, had a revolt for the
seizure of power actually been plan
ned to take place on Feb. 81?
What have the court proceedings
shown, Gentlemen Of the Court? I
do not intend to cite all the evidence
of the various witnesses as the de-
Tense has done. But there is one
point that can be considered estab-
lishcd for any person of normal
reason. The burning of the Reich
stag has no connection whatsoever
with any of the activities of the Gem
mun!st Party. Not only has it nothing
to do with an uprising, but even with
a demonstration, a strike or anything
else. This has been sufficiently clear
ly brought out by the proceedings.
The Reichstag fire was not taken By
anyone-I am not speaking of crimi-
mails or psychopathic cases-as sig
nal for revolt. 1t has been irrefutably
proved that responsible government
officials did not even dream that a
Communist uprising was to take place
on Feb. 81 or %.
NO WITNESS PROVED PREPARA-
TION FOR UPRISING
I have put great many qu ..ons
on this point to the various witnesses
who have given evidence here. For
instance, I cross-examined Heller, the
famous Karwane Qaughter), Frey,
and a number of police officials. Not
withstanding the different versions
given by each, all Of them replied
that they knew nothing, had heard
nothing about an impending Com
munist uprising. This would indi-
cate that no measures whatsoever had
been taken by the ruling powers. 1.-THE
President pointed out that q docu-
ment on this subject from the chief
Of the Western Department Of the
Berlin police had been read in court.
The chief of police stated in that
document, continued Dirnitroff, that
Goering had spoken to him about the
necessity Of fighting the Communist
Party, lie, the necessity of fighting
against Communist meetings. strikes,
demonstrations and so on. But even
this document does not indicate that
measures had been taken directly to
prevent an impending Communist up
rising.
The lawyer Seuffert, who spoke yes
terday, came to the conclusion that
no one in governing circles had ex-
pected an uprising at that moment
and stated that Goering and Goeb-
bells could not believe the Rcichstag
had been burned when they first
heard the news.
Proof of this is the emergency de-
cree issued by the German Govern
ment on Feb. %, 1898, Immediately
after the fire. Read the decree AID
see what it says. The decree revoked