Date: 1919
Source: ru:PSS/v52
Source: CW vol 52

even a fool can manage for a short time under exceptionally favorable turns of events.

Hence: the tactic of the "open letter" is obligatory everywhere. This must be stated directly, precisely, and clearly, because vacillation regarding the "open letter" is extremely harmful, extremely shameful, and extremely widespread. There is no need to hide this. All those who have not understood the necessity of the "open letter" tactic should be expelled from the Communist International no later than one month after the Third Congress of the Communist International. I clearly see my mistake in voting for the admission of KAPD 391; it needs to be corrected more quickly and fully.

Instead of rambling like Radek, it would be better to translate the entire text (and in German: to present the entire text) of the "open letter" and to explain its significance and use it as an example.

I would limit the general resolution on tactics to this.

Only then will the tone be set. The central idea will be clear. There will be no vagueness. There will be no possibility for everyone to read into it what they want (as with Radek).

Then Radek's initial draft would be reduced by at least four times.

It is high time to stop writing and voting on brochures instead of theses. Even with undisputed agreement among all of us, individual mistakes are inevitable with this system. And in the absence of consensus and with disputes, we risk making major mistakes and ruining the whole affair.

Furthermore, if you still have a strong urge, you can add an addition: on the basis of such a tactic, in particular, as an example, not as a principle, but precisely as an example, we can add this and that.

Further.

To lump Serrati and Levi together under one "opportunism" is foolish. Serrati is guilty; of what? It must be stated precisely and clearly, on the Italian question, not on the question of general tactics. He is guilty of splitting with the communists, not excluding the reformists, Turati and Co. Until you do this, Italian comrades, you are outside the Communist International. We exclude you 392.

And to the Italian communists - a most serious advice and demand: until you have managed to persistently, patiently, and skillfully convince and attract the majority of Serrati's workers, do not strut, do not play at leftism. "Fall Levi"* is not in general tactics, but in the assessment of Marzaktion**, on the German question. Brandler says: it was defensive. The government provoked.

Let us assume that this is true, that the fact is so.

What conclusion follows from this?

1) That all the cries about the offensive were erroneous and absurd, and there were many of them;

2) that the tactic of calling for a general strike was a mistake, since the government was provoking, wanting to draw a small fortress of communism (that area of the center where the communists already had a majority) into the struggle.

3) Such mistakes must be avoided in the future, because Germany is in a special position, after the killing of 20,000 workers in the civil war through the skillful maneuvers of the right.

4) To call the defense of hundreds of thousands of workers (Brandler says: a million. Is he lying? Is he carried away? Why are there no data by regions, by cities???) a "putsch" and even a "Bakuninist putsch" is worse than a mistake, it is a violation of revolutionary discipline. Since Levi added: such and such violations (precisely, very carefully listed), he deserved punishment and was rightly expelled.

A term of expulsion should be set, say, six months. After that, he is allowed to reapply to the party, and the Communist International advises accepting him if he behaves loyally during this period.

I have not yet read anything except Brandler's brochure, and I write this only based on the brochures of Levi and Brandler. Brandler proved - if he proved - one thing: Marzaktion was not a "Bakuninist putsch" [for such abuse, Levi should have been expelled], but a heroic defense of revolutionary workers, hundreds of thousands; but no matter how heroic—

* - "The Case of Levi". Ed.

** - the March action. Ed.