[1920, earlier than October 28]

I. AMERICA AND SOVIET RUSSIA

The opinion about the imminent establishment of trade relations between the United States and Russia has no factual basis.

Mr. Vanderlip told us that he is confident that the new Republican government will establish trade relations with Soviet Russia, but I think he is mistaken, since he is not familiar with the international political situation. Mr. Vanderlip is a businessman, a financial magnate. He and many others of his class are sincerely interested in restoring trade relations with us, but they are interested in that personally, wanting to do business with us. However, he does not understand that the United States of America is not at all as independent in its international politics as it seems to him; Great Britain and France can exert pressure on the United States in the sense of renewing open war against us in the form of intervention, continuing the blockade, etc. Such are the true facts regarding our relations with the United States.

But we can soon expect some changes in international relations in connection with our military successes on the Wrangel front, which we anticipate. Our military conditions are now much better than a few months ago; Wrangel will certainly be defeated, and his defeat will undoubtedly change international relations with Soviet Russia.

II. ON THE WORKERS’ AND FARMERS’ PARTY

The emergence of a new workers’ and farmers’ party in the United States of America is of enormous significance for the American and European movement, because the new party represents the two dominant elements in America — the workers and poor farmers.

True, this new party is not a socialist party and does not yet recognize socialist principles, but it is unconsciously moving towards socialism...

The idea of creating a workers’ and farmers’ party is not new in American history. In the American labour movement there has always been a tendency to create such a party. The People’s Party (Populist Party) had the same character as the new worker-farmer party. In the process of creating such parties, the American workers will understand the mistakes they have made. They themselves will arrive at more revolutionary tactics and methods. They are moving towards socialism. They are moving towards communism.

III.
ON THE AMERICAN
COMMUNIST MOVEMENT
The tendency of our American comrades to ignore such mass movements as the worker-farmer party is a survival of the sectarianism which was so characteristic
of the socialist movement in the past. The American Communist Party must be a sharply defined Communist
party. It must embody the basic principles of the Communist International. It may have
a small minority in the American revolutionary movement, but it must strive to become a mass movement by supporting any action, any revolutionary movement, and participating in revolutionary activity. American communists must work in the left
wing of the American Federation of Labor, 6 must take part in the work of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) 7
and support such a movement as the worker-farmer party, even though it is not yet a communist movement.
We have received very reliable information that by 1923 the American navy will surpass the British. It is clear
that ships are not built for peaceful purposes. Undoubtedly, there will be
a war, and if a pacifist movement begins in the United States, then, although we do not believe in a narrow pacifist movement, it is nevertheless necessary for the communists to support it. Only in this way can the American communist movement become a major factor in public
life.