The official report of the Credentials Committee for the Fourth Comintern Congress held in Moscow at the end of 1922 provides much information of value. The status of Parties, organizations, and auxiliaries from the sixty-one countries invited to Congress are defined. Accommodations are made for organizationally divided (the U.S.), and nationally indeterminate (Turkey) delegations. While just a few groups (Iceland) were rejected on political grounds. Qualifying minorities are represented and observers seated. In a challenge to U.S. Parties, whose 30,000 combined members bestowed 13 delegates, the Comintern delegated two Black comrades, Otto Huiswoud and Claude McKay, representing the 500-person African Blood Brotherhood with deliberative votes and reporting responsibilities. Two facts leap out; after the Russians, the greatest number of dues-payers of any Communist Party that year were the 125,000 members of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, edging out the 102,400 German dues-paying Communists. The other, the recently formed C.P. of China counted just 300 members, with only 180 paying dues. Less than five years later at the C.C.P.’s Fifth National Congress, the Party counted 57,967 militants.

‘Report on the Credentials Committee of the Fourth Congress of the Communist International’ by Comrade Eberlein from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 2 No. 112. December 14, 1922.

Comrades, after the World Congress had been decided upon, the Presidium sent to the various sections of the Communist International a distribution plan according to which the delegates to the World Congress were to be elected. According to this plan, 350 delegates from 61 countries were invited to the Congress of the Communist International. According to a decision of the Presidium a sub-committee, which was appointed on November 16, 1922, consisting of comrades Trilliser, Piatnitsky and Eberlein, was entrusted with the preliminary examination of the credentials. Subsequently the Enlarged Executive appointed a final Commission for the examination of the credentials, and comrades Thalheimer (Germany), Kabakchiev (Bulgaria), Soheffie (Norway), and Gramsci (Italy), were added to the three other comrades.

This Commission examined the credentials of the comrades who had arrived, and found them to be on the whole correct. The Presidium had previously issued instructions at every delegate was to provide himself with a special credential signed and stamped by the Central Committee of his respective Party. These instructions were in most cases strictly adhered to.

I shall now report to you on the number of delegates who have already arrived, and the number of credentials which have been found correct, and will ask you at the conclusion to endorse the work of the credentials commission. At the same time I will try to give you, as far as this is possible, the number of members of the respective parties. I should like to draw your attention to the fact that not all the parties were able to state the exact number of their members, as a considerable number of parties have been forced to carry on an illegal existence, and are therefore unable to produce definite statistics.

Moreover, I should like also to draw your attention to the fact that the number of the invitations was based not merely on the actual membership of the parties. The distribution of credentials also took into account the political importance of the respective parties in the present stage of the revolutionary struggle, the special political and economic situation of the given country, and finally, the degree of illegality of the Party and the extent of its suppression by the enemy.

Twenty comrades were invited from the German Party which has at present a membership of 226,200, out of which 102,400 paid their membership dues regularly during the last quarter (according to the lists of contributions). Twenty-three comrades have arrived. The Credentials Commissions seated the twenty-three comrades with a decisive vote. Their credentials were found to be in proper condition.

The French Party declared its membership to be 78,828. Twenty comrades were invited, and twenty-four have arrived. Twenty-three delegates were recognized as entitled to a decisive vote, and one was granted deliberative vote.

The Italian Party stated its membership to be 24,638. Twenty comrades were invited, and 21 comrades have arrived, all of whom were recognised as entitled to a decisive vote.

The Russian Party stated its membership to be 324,522 in Russia proper. There is a separate membership list for the Ukraine, White Russia, and the Near and Far East. Seventy-five comrades were invited, all of whom have arrived and were given a decisive vote.

The Czecho-Slovakian Party stated its membership to be 170,000. 125,000 members having paid their fees during the last quarter. Twenty comrades were invited, and 17 have arrived and were given a decisive vote.

In addition to these big parties, the Young Communist League with a membership of 760,000, and the Profintern were allotted 20 decisive votes each. Each of these organisations has sent 20 delegates. Their credentials were found correct.

The British Party stated its membership to be 5,116, only 2,300 having paid their membership fees, according to information received by us. Twenty delegates were invited, and 7 have arrived. Their credentials were recognized as correct.  

The American Communist Party stated its membership to be 8,000. Ten delegates were invited, 9 have arrived. The Workers Party of America has also sent representatives. It has a membership of 20,003. Three delegates have arrived and were given deliberative vote. Two representatives of the Negro Organization, with a membership of about 500, have also arrived from America, and were admitted to the Congress with a deliberative vote.

The Polish Party stated its membership to be 10,000, 7000 having paid their membership fees. It should be stated that the Polish party is carrying on an illegal existence. Ten comrades were invited, 20 have arrived and were admitted to the Congress with a decisive vote.

The Ukrainian Communist Party stated its membership to be 80,000, ten comrades were invited, fifteen comrades have arrived, out of whom 10 were given a decisive and 5 a deliberative vote.

The Norwegian Party stated its membership to be 60,000 six comrades were invited, of whom 5 have arrived and were admitted with a decisive vote.

The Communist Party of Yugoslavia claims a membership of 80,000. Six comrades were invited. Considerable difference of opinion has arisen in connection with the distribution of the credentials among these delegates. The Central had allotted 6 credentials, but only 4 of the appointed comrades have arrived. In their stead, 2 other members have arrived on invitation by the Presidium owing to the fact the Party differences were to be settled here at the Congress. A Commission for the Yugo-Slavian question was also appointed here. The two comrades, who in their capacity, of visitors were admitted to the Congress with a deliberate vote, protest against this, demanding to be admitted with a decisive vote. The credentials Commission re fused to comply with their demand. But the comrades claim that at the election by the Central Committee, one of the comrades who has arrived; was rejected by 4:4 votes, and the other by 3:5 votes. The credentials Commission, after careful examination of the credentials, has come to the conclusion that the comrades were not elected. However, as this question is of great importance to the Yugo-Slavian Party, and as the Party differences are very acute, the credentials Commissions left the decision of the question to the Presidium. The Presidium decided to give a decisive vote to both of these comrades, with the clear understanding that this decision has no bearing on the Party differences within the Yugo-Slavian Party, which are tot be settled by the Political Commission. The comrades were informed of this matter in a special resolution. For the foregoing reasons we ask, therefore, that this comrade’s mandate should like-wise be recognized.

The Bulgarian Party has 40,000 members. It was invited to send six delegates, and that number has come.

The Finnish Party has 25,000 members on the books; of these 20,000 are full paying members, six delegates were asked for, seven have come. Their credentials have been ratified.

The C.P. of Spain has about 5000 members. Three delegates were invited, four have come. Three have been given mandates with the right to vote, one has been given a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Roumania has about 2000 members. Four delegates were invited, three have come. These three have been admitted to the Congress with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Sweden has 12,143 members on the books. During the last quarter, 7,843 members paid full dues. Six delegates were invited and six have come. All have been admitted to the Congress with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Latvia has 1500 members. Six delegates were invited, eight have come. Six have been admitted with the right to vote, and two with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Switzerland has 5,200 members. Three delegates were invited, three have come, and have been admitted to The Congress with the right to vote.

The Austrian Party has about 16,000 members. Three delegates were invited, six came. Four delegates were admitted with the right to vote and two with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Holland has 2,500 members. One delegate was invited, four have come. One received the right to vote, three admitted with consultative voice.

The C.P. of Belgium has 517 members. One delegate was invited, one has come, and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of China has 300 members, of whom 180 are full paying members. Three delegates were invited, one came, and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of India cannot represent a definite membership, since its work is entirely illegal. Four delegates were invited, one has come, and has been admitted to the Congress with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Ireland. Three delegates were invited, four have come. Three admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. Azerbaijan. Two delegates were invited, three have come. Two admitted with the right to vote, one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Georgia has 18,811 members. Two delegates were invited, three have come. Two delegates have been admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Lithuania has 1000 members on the books, 500 being full paying members. One delegate was invited, two have come. Both have been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Esthonia has 2,800 members. Two delegates were invited, three have come. Two were admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Denmark has 1,200 members on the books, of whom 780 are full paying members. Two delegates were invited, three have come. One admitted with the right to vote, two with consultative voice.

The C.P. of Persia has 1000 members, 500 of these being full paying members. Two delegates were invited, with the right to vote, one with a consultative voice.

In Turkey there are now two Parties, that of Constantinople and that of Angora. The Angora Party has about 300 members; two delegates were invited, six have come; two have been admitted with the right to vote, two were given visitors’ cards, and two were refused admission. The membership of the Constantinople Party cannot be stated; two delegates were invited, three came; two were admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Australia has 900 members, of whom 750 are full paying members. Two delegates were invited, four have come. Two were admitted with the right to vote, and two with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Argentina has about 3,500 members. Two delegates were invited, two have come and have been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Africa has 200 members on the books, 100 of these being full paying members. One delegate was invited, two have come. One has been admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Java. The exact membership cannot be given, but the Party has probably about 1,300 members. One delegate was invited, one came and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Canada has. 4,810 members. One delegate was invited, three have come. One delegate was admitted with the right to vote, and two with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Portugal has 2,900 members on the books, 1,702 being full paying members. One delegate was invited, two have come. One was admitted with the right to vote, and one with a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Chili has about 2,000 members. One delegate was invited. This comrade did not arrive until yesterday evening, and his credentials have not yet been examined.

The C.P. of Uruguay has about 1,000 members. One delegate was invited, one came, and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Brazil has about 500 members. One delegate was invited, one has come, and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Mexico has about 1,500 members. One delegate has been invited, one has come, and was admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Armenia. One delegate was invited, two have come. One has been given a consultative voice.

The C.P. of Khiva. One delegate was invited, but has not yet arrived.

The C.P. of Bukhara. One delegate was invited. One came, and has been admitted with the right to vote.

The C.P. of Mongolia has about 1,500 members. One delegate was invited, one has come. He was admitted with a consultative voice only, for the Mongolian Party has not yet affiliated to the C.I.

The Communist Party of Korea. One delegate was invited, four have come. Since, however, there are fierce party struggles among the Communists in Korea, it is difficult to determine which of these delegates represents a genuine Communist Party. In these circumstances two of the delegates were admitted as visitors, and two were refused admission.

The Communist Party of Iceland has about 4,000 members, but the Party as a whole is still Menshevist in outlook. There is, however, a fraction comprising 450 communists, and this fraction has been admitted to the C.I. One delegate was invited, one came, and his credentials were recognized, with the right to vote.

The Communist of Fiume has about 150 members on the books. One delegate is on the way to Moscow, and on arrival will be admitted to the Congress with the right to vote.

The Communist Party of Palestine. One delegate was invited, and is now on the way to Moscow.

The C.P. of Greece. One delegate was invited, but has not yet come.

The C.P. of Hungary. Three delegates were invited, seven delegates were appointed by the Presidium of the C.I. and were admitted by the mandate commission with the right to vote, seeing that the C.P. is illegal in Hungary and has not yet been able to become established in that country.

One delegate was invited from Turkestan. He has come, and has been admitted with a consultative voice.

The Uigurian Section of the C.P. of Turkestan sent the delegates. One was admitted with a consultative voice; the other two have been given visitors’ cards.

The C.P. of Crimea has sent one delegate, who has been admitted with a consultative voice.

The Mountain Republic has sent one delegate who has been admitted with a consultative voice.

The Egyptian Party has also sent one delegate, who has been admitted with a consultative voice.

There have also been admitted with a consultative voice: one representative of the Women’s International; one representative of the Famine Relief.

This completes the list of the C.P.’s that were invited to send delegates to the Congress and that have done so.

In all, 350 delegates were invited to the Congress, and 394 have come. Of these 340 have been given the right to vote, and 48 have been given a consultative voice, while 5 delegates have been given visitors’ cards.

In addition, a special invitation was sent by the Presidium of the congress to the Italian Socialist Party, asking for 5 delegates. Five were sent, and have been admitted with a consultative voice.

The opposition in Czecho-Slovakia was invited to send 3 comrades. They have come, and have been admitted with a consultative voice.

Two comrades were invited to the sessions of the Program Commission and were admitted with a consultative voice.

Two comrades, Frossard and Cachin, were invited from France. They have not yet arrived, but according to the latest telegrams they are on the way.

A comrade has also been invited from Norway, but has not yet arrived.

Of these specially invited comrades, 10 have arrived up to now, and have all been admitted with a consultative voice. There has also come a representative from the U.S.A. to the Agrarian Commission, and he has been admitted with a consultative voice.

Now let me say a few words regarding certain cases in which the Mandate Commission found it necessary to refuse credentials.

Two delegates were sent by the Foreign Bureau of the C.P. of Persia. This F.B. was dissolved by the Comintern more than 6 months ago. Apparently, however, it continues to exist, since it has sent two delegates to Moscow. The Mandate Commission thought it necessary to refuse credentials.

The recognition of the mandates of the C.P. of Austria entailed difficulties. Three comrades came from Austria with credentials given in Vienna on October 17 and 19. One of them left Vienna as early as October 19. On October 22 we received a telegram from the Executive Committee of the Austrian Party cancelling three credentials, and consolidating all the credentials upon the Austrian representative on the executive, comrade Grün. The telegram stated that the Austrian Party could not afford to defray the travelling expenses of the three delegates to Moscow. Notwithstanding this telegram, the three delegates arrived. Thus, we had, on the one hand, Comrade Grün with three credentials; and on the other hand the three delegates with what they regarded as valid credentials from the Austrian Executive Committee. The Mandate Commission decided, on the proposal of the four Austrian comrades, to recognise the credentials of the three who had specially come from Vienna, and also to give the right to vote to the fourth comrade. Thus the Austrian Party has 4 duly accredited representatives.

The women’s Section of the Eastern Division, represented by their leader Kasparova, asked for a mandate with the right to vote. The application was refused.

Speaking generally the distribution of mandates conveying the right to vote and of mandates giving a consultative voice merely (when there were numerous delegates with valid credentials) has been effected on the following principles. As a rule those comrades who have come from their respective countries direct to the congress have been given the right to vote, whereas these comrades who had been for some time resident in Moscow and were no longer in direct touch with their respective countries, have been given a consultative voice only.

Furthermore, upon the instructions of the Presidium there were admitted to the Congress of the Comintern with a consultative voice all the delegates to the Profintern congress, and those delegates to the Young Communists Congress who had already arrived in Moscow were given visitors cards for the Comintern Congress. Admission with a consultative voices was also granted to two of the delegates to the Cooperative Congress seeing that the question of cooperation is under discussion at the Comintern Congress and these two comrades had, therefore, to work upon the commission.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly. Inprecorr is an invaluable English-language source on the history of the Communist International and its sections.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1922/v02n112-dec-14-1922-Inprecor.pdf