An overview of the work of the Y.C.I. between 1922 and 1924.

‘The Political Activity of the Young Communist International and its Sections’ from Activities of the Y.С.I. Since Its Third World Congress. Executive Committee of the Young Communist International, 1924.

As with various other problems, that of the political activity of the Young Communist mass organizations was not quite clear previous to the Third Congress, and therefore the well-known mistakes and digressions occurred. In some countries political activity was very limited, the interest in political questions very small. The Third Congress pointed definitely to the fact that a communist mass organization of the youth in the sense of the decisions of the Second World Congress must have its political activity as, basis of its work. Thus, the Third Congress decided upon the intensification and the improvement of the political work of the Young Communist International and its various sections. This decision was carried through by the Y.C.I., and in general it was very well carried out.

But even today in many places the opinion exists that the political work is only a part of our work, only one of its departments. This is incorrect and a mistake. The political activity is not merely a part of our League activity, but it is the basis of our whole League work, and the method of all our activities. This means that our whole organization and activity must be in the closest contact with the Party life and the problems and struggles of the working class.

Thus it was also incorrect when comrades termed the political work the main task of the Leagues. To say this is either senseless or incorrect. For we cannot call the political activity our main task if it is the basis and the method of all our activity, that is of all our tasks. Our main task, particularly after the Third Congress, is the conquest of the masses of the working class youth for communism and the development of the League into mass organizations. If the comrades mean, however, when saying that the political work is the main task, that the general political work should be the center of our activity, then they committee a serious mistake and return to the antiquated conceptions of the time before the Second Congress.

The Third Congress was very far from this conception when it demanded the increase in the political activity. It had very clearly in mind that the most important task of the Young Communist Leagues was the work for the development into mass organizations. Concretely said, the demand for the increase in the political work meant the following:

a) An increasing participation in the Party life and in the Party political and tactical problems on the part of the Leagues.

b) A close contact on the part of all the branches of the Leagues with the daily life and struggle of the working class (which naturally means with the life and the struggles of the Communist Party) and a swift reaction to these struggles.

c) An improvement in the political training of the membership and the officials.

It can be said that the first item has in general been carried out satisfactorily. With regard to the second a considerable improvement is to be recorded, through it is still deficient. As to the third, but little progress has been made.

II.

The participation in the Party life was determined by the general problems and the struggles of the Communist International and the working class, and by the internal problems of the Parties. The most important events since the Fourth Congress of the Communist International were, shortly summarized, the following:

The Ruhr occupation and as its consequences, the extreme intensification of the class struggles and the beginning of the struggle for power in Germany and the intensification and acceleration of the class struggles in France. The new and strong offensive of capital. The fascist revolt in Bulgaria and the subsequent rebellion of the Bulgarian workers and peasants. The rising of the revolutionary wave in Poland. The formation of the Labour Government in Great Britain. The increasing resistance of the proletariat against Fascism in Italy. The intensification of the class struggle in Norway. The increasing dangers of war. The progressing transformation of the social democracy into the left wing of Fascism. The increase of the struggle in the colonies.

All these events demanded much from the Communist Parties and confronted the Young Communist International and the Communist Leagues with many tasks. On the one hand they had to carry out those tasks apportioned to them as parts of the Communist Parties, on the other hand they had to carry out their own special tasks. In most of the above mentioned events the Y.C.I. and the Young Communist Leagues have fulfilled their duties and done good work.

This is best evident in the struggle against the Ruhr occupation, in the work of the Young Communist League and the Y.C.I. in Germany, in the events and struggles in Bulgaria, in the developments of the labour movements and the class struggle in Norway, in the struggle against the war dangers, in the activity within the organizations of the social democratic youth. Less significant and intense, but nevertheless worthy of mention was the work in Great Britain and Italy. In the economic-trade union struggle against the offensive of capital the activity of the Young Communist International and its sections was weak. In this respect only the French League and during last winter the Norwegian League have worked satisfactorily (the Y.C.L. of Germany also to a small degree.).

Apart from these general problems there were a number of internal problems of the Communist International and of the Communist Parties which played a very great role, and which in some cases constituted vital problems for our movement.

As a consequence of the October defeat and the serious mistakes committed by the Party, a serious crisis developed within the Communist Party of Germany which led to an internal conflict lasting till the Party convention in April of this year. Immediately after the Fourth Congress of the Communist International the right wing leaders in the Communist Party of France revolted against the leadership of the Communist International and attempted to split the Party, which, however, they did not succeed in doing. In the course of the last five months new and sharp conflicts developed in the French Party on the Russian, German and English problems. On account of wrong and opportunistic conceptions on the conquest of power by the fascists, the Party leadership in Bulgaria failed at the decisive moment. A Party crisis developed which became very intense, particularly after the September defeat. In Russia opposition formed against the leadership, and a great Party discussion developed. The right opportunists and enemies of the Communist International in Scandinavia intensified their struggle against the Communist International, and at the same time against the Young Communist League and the Y.C.I. In Norway a Party split took place, and in Sweden a sharp Party crisis. In Italy the Communist International was compelled to intervene organizationally, as the leadership of the Party was hindering the carrying out of the policy of the Communist International in that country.

In all these Party problems and in their settlement the Y.C.I. and the Young Communist Leagues have actively participated. It is characteristic that they have everywhere stood for the Communist International and have proved to be its most faithful support. The co-operation of the Leagues with the Communist International was particularly active in the Norwegian, Swedish, Bulgarian, French and German Parties.

III.

The activity of the Young Communist International against the Ruhr occupation, which was extensively begun on the first day of the occupation and has been continued without interruption but with intensification, since that time, is well known to the Leagues. The Y.C.I. supported the political struggle against the Ruhr occupation both in Germany and France. A successful propaganda week against militarism and the danger of war carried out before the Frankfort Conference, served this purpose. The Y.C.I. developed a considerable propaganda amongst the workers of the occupied territory and in France, and it organized an intensive and untiring propaganda amongst the troops of occupation. This work was very successful, and its success has been vouched for time and again by the French bourgeoise with Poincare and the Minister of War Maginot, at the head, by furious persecutions against the communists and by statements of alarm. The work in the Ruhr stands among the best and most hopeful achievements of the Young Communist International.

Germany.

The more the class struggle in Germany intensified and developed into a revolutionary struggle for power, the more definitely did the Young Communist League of Germany participate in them. It everywhere proved itself to be the most lively element in the struggles of the Party. By its activity in this connection it developed more and more into a mass organization of the working class youth, and in September of last year it had more than 70,000 members. When the necessity for a quick preparation for the struggle for power became clear, the Young Communist International and the Young Communist League of Ger many together with the Communist International determined the tasks in these struggles. The Young Communist International concentrated all its forces upon Germany, and for months it devoted the greater part of its activity to the support of the revolutionary struggles in Germany and the activity of the German League.

Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria the Young Communist League was the most active part of the Party. It quickly realized the correctness of the criticism directed by the Communist International against the attitude of the Party and urged energetically for work according to the directions of the Communist International. In the September revolt the Young Communist League fought everywhere in the front ranks and proved its faith in the revolutionary struggles by bloody sacrifices.

Norway.

The Young Communist League fights in the front ranks in the gigantic struggles against the offensive of capital in which 60 per cent of the Norwegian industrial workers are engaged, either having been locked out or being on strike, for the last six months. The Young Communist League is therefore the object of a particularly furious persecutions by the government.

The Danger of War.

The Communist International has carried on its struggle against the danger of war mainly in connection with the Ruhr occupation, but it has also devoted its continuous attention to all military events and armaments and adopted its activity to them. When Italian imperialism made its attack against Greece in 1923, the Italian League worked actively amongst the masses against the war. The increase of this work amongst the Parties may be considered as the essential success of the work of the Young Communist International against militarism and the danger ol war.

The Campaign for the United Front and Against the Amalgamation of the Social Democratic Internationals of Youth.

The Young Communist International has carried on an active campaign among the masses of the working class youth and among the rank and file of the young communist movement for the united front internationally as well as nationally.

First of all it did this internationally, against the Ruhl occupation and the danger of war, and later on a special campaign for the struggle against the danger of war, Fascism, the offensive of capital, and against the Hamburg amalgamation. The united front tactic was applied in Germany, in Checko-Slovakia, in Austria, Holland and Belgium. Generally this work was crowned by important successes and has promoted the exposure of the social democratic youth leaders, it has decreased the influence of the latter on the masses of the working class youth and has greatly aided the decom position in their ranks.

Great Britain.

After the establishment of the Labour Government in Great Britain, the Young Communist International intensified its work in England. The Young Communist League of Great Britain started an extensive campaign among the masses of the working class youth and the working class, for its demands. This campaign, representing the economic, anti-militarist and political demands of the League, is still going on.

France.

The Young Communist League of France stood everywhere eagerly in the front ranks in the numerous smaller and larger struggles which went on in France against the offensive of capital, the reaction, the Ruhr occupation, militarism, etc. It naturally played an especially great role in the struggle against the Ruhr occupation, but also in the struggle against the offensive of capital, the rise of prices, and in the fights of the trade unions.

China.

The Young Communist League of China constitutes one of the most important political organizations of that country and participates actively in all political problems, in the organisation of the trade unions, and in the great railway strike it made many bloody sacrifices. It was the leader of the great anti-militarist and revolutionary students’ protest movement.

Let us now deal with the activity of the Young Communist International and its individual sections with regard to the Party problems:

After the October defeat in Germany the Young Communist International endeavored to carry through a great political enlightenment work in the League and to induce it to adopt the correct policy, that of the Communist International.

In this we succeeded. The overwhelming majority of the League took a definite attitude against the opportunistic digressions of the Right and the dangers connected with them.

In connection with the developments in the Party, the Left comrades in the League gained a majority. In this respect there developed various ultra-left unbolshevist mistakes against which the Young Communist International took a stand, and which must be overcome. Generally the Young Communist League of Germany forms one of the most important factors in the development of the Communist Party of Germany into a truly Bolshevist Party and in the formation of a truly Bolshevist Party nucleus. The Young Communist International and its sections have declared themselves unanimously for the policy of the Communist International with regard to the German problem.

Russia.

In the Party discussion the League placed itself unanimously on the side of the National Executive Committee and thus of the Party majority; only a few nonproletarian sections of the youth following the opposition. The Young Communist International has clearly stood in favor of the Russian Party majority and against the opposition, and the same has been done by its most important sections, the Young Communist of Norway and Sweden, etc. The Russian League has now begun a policy of intensified participation in the Party life and an increased political activity.

Norway.

The Young Communist League of Norway formed the strongest support of the minority which was faithful to the Communist International and carries on an untiring and tenacious struggle against the opportunist-syndicalist Party majority and Party leadership. While the enemies of the Communist International succeeded in winning the majority of the Party, the Young Communist International won the overwhelming majority of the League and put the followers of the Party majority considerably in the minority within the League. When the split occurred, the Young Communist League of Norway proved again to be the firmest and most faithful support of the Communist International and of the new Communist Party of Norway. It affiliated with this Party with a majority of three to one. The minority split away and formed a new section of “Mot dag” under the beautiful title “Left Communist Youth”. The Young Communist League of Norway transferred many hundreds of active members and leading comrades to the Communist Party of Norway.

Sweden.

In connection with the developments in the long difficulties in the Communist Party of Sweden came to a crisis. The majority of the N.E.C. of the Party under the leadership of Höglund attempted to transform the necessary conflict into a struggle against the Young Communist League, which was carried on with the most ruthless means. But the League remained faithful to the decisions of the Communist International. In the sharp Party crisis, which broke out after the Norwegian split on account of Höglund’s attacks against the Communist International, the League stood firmly on the side of the Communist International and of the Party minority in Sweden, which followed the Communist International without reservation. On account of its own activity and that of the Young Communist Leagues in the two Scandinavian countries the Young Communist International was Leagues of Germany, France, Checho-Slovakia, Italy, sharply attacked by the Norwegian and the Swedish Party majorities, and the Enlarged Executive Committee of the Communist International had to devote a considerable part of its work to a defence against these attacks. The Communist International and the Young Communist International have rejected these attacks calmly but with determination, and the latter did not allow itself to be deterred from the continuation of its work in Sweden and Norway.

Bulgaria.

We have already reported upon the attitude of the Young Communist League of Bulgaria in the discussion on the attitude of the Party towards the white dictatorship. The Group Communist International has made special endeavors (particularly at the Bureau Session) to induce the League to adopt the correct policy. It is now an accepted fact in Bulgaria, and normal relations are established between the Young Communist League and the Communist Party of Bulgaria, such as were demanded by the World Congresses in 1921 but which had not previously existed in Bulgaria.

France.

In the Frossard crisis the League fought energetically against the Right clique of leaders, and in some districts it was particularly the League that re-established the Party organization.

In the Party discussion which took place this year on the German, Russian and English problems, the Young Communist International endeavored to win the Young Communist League for the policy of the Communist International, and in this it succeeded. The League placed itself upon the platform of the decisions and the policy of the Communist International, and took, together with the Party majority, a definite stand against the Right tendencies as they are represented mainly by Souvarine.

We wish further to report on the participation of the Young Communist International in the work of the Communist International in general.

The Young Communist International participated in all the activities of the Communist International even to a greater extent and in a more vivid manner than before the Hurd Congress, and it has contributed considerably to the work of the Communist International in all countries, and in very many important problems it has done work directly for the Communist International. The result is a very considerable improvement in the relations and the co-operation between the Young Communist International and the Communist International, and a great strengthening of the position of the Young Communist International within the Communist International.

IV.

The death of our great leader Lenin as well as the Russian and the German Party discussions have shown us and the whole Communist International clearly the necessity of guarding and promoting the inheritance of Lenin. Leninism must become flesh and bone in all Communist Parties and Young Communist Leagues. It must penetrate and determine all their activities, and we must strive to build up truly Leninist and Bolshevist organizations. A special task confronts the Young Communist International in this respect. We have the historic task of educating the younger generation of the working class, the whole young communist movement in the spirit of Leninism. This is a gigantic mission which we must fulfil not only for the special interests of the young communist movement, but above all because it is our duty to train the young reserves for the Communist International.

The principles of Leninism and the results of the work and struggles of our great leader and of the Russian Communist Party are still very little known in our various Leagues. This must change. They must become the joint property of all young communists. We must systematically and completely provide the results of true Leninism for the members and officials of our movement in the closest connection with the daily work and struggles. Amidst the storms of the revolutionary struggles we must train a truly Leninist generation.

The Young Communist International must become a Young Leninist International!

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