1. “Defence of the fatherland” on the part of Switzerland, both in the present imperialist war and in fresh imperialist wars that are being prepared, is nothing but a bourgeois deception of the people, for in reality Switzerland’s participation in the present war and in other similar wars would be no more than participation in a predatory and reactionary war on the side[52] of one of the imperialist coalitions, and by no means a war for “freedom”, “democracy”, “independence”, etc.

2. The attitude of the Swiss Social-Democratic Party to the Swiss bourgeois government and to all the bourgeois parties of Switzerland must be one of complete distrust. For this government (a) is most closely linked economically and financially with, and completely dependent on, the bourgeoisie of the “great” imperialist powers; (b) has long since swung over entirely to political reaction in international and domestic affairs (political police; servility before European reaction and European monarchies, etc.); (c) has proved by all its policy over a number of years (the military reorganisation of 1907, etc.; the Egli, de Lo and similar “affairs”) that it is increasingly becoming a pawn in the hands of the most reactionary Swiss military party and military clique.

3. For this reason the most vital task of the Social-Democratic Party in Switzerland is to expose the real character of the government which grovels before the imperialist bourgeoisie and the militarists, to reveal its deception of the people by means of phrases about democracy, etc., to make clear that there is every possibility of this government (with the consent of the entire bourgeoisie ruling Switzerland) selling the interests of the Swiss people to one or another imperialist coalition.

4. Therefore, should Switzerland be drawn into a war, the duty of the Social-Democrats is unconditionally to reject “defence of the fatherland” and to expose the deception of the people by this slogan. In such a war the workers and peasants would die not for their own interests, nor for democracy, but for the interests of the imperialist bourgeoisie. The socialists of Switzerland, like those of other advanced countries, can and must recognise military defence of the fatherland only when this fatherland has been reconstructed along socialist lines, i.e., the defence of a proletarian, socialist revolution against the bourgeoisie.

5. Neither in peacetime nor in wartime may the Social-Democratic Party and its deputies vote under any circumstances for war credits, no matter what deceptive speeches about “defence of neutrality”, etc., are used to justify such a vote.

6. The proletariat’s answer to war must be the propaganda for, preparation and implementation of revolutionary mass action with the aim of overthrowing the rule of the bourgeoisie, winning political power and bringing about the socialist system, which alone will deliver mankind from wars. The resolve to bring about that system is maturing in the minds of the workers of all countries with unprecedented rapidity.

7. Among the revolutionary actions there must be demonstrations and mass strikes, but in no circumstances a refusal to perform military service. On the contrary, not a refusal to take up arms, but solely a turning of the weapons against one’s own bourgeoisie can meet the tasks of the proletariat and accord with the slogans of the finest representatives of internationalism, for example, Karl Liebknecht.

8. The slightest steps by the government before or during the war towards the abolition or restriction of political liberties must lead to the formation by Social-Democratic workers of illegal organisations whose aim will be systematic, persistent propaganda of war against war, not stopping short of any sacrifices, and the explaining to the masses of the real character of the war.