ZINOVIEFF LETTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 December 1924, Page 9

ZINOVIEFF LETTER.

AUTHENTICITY UNDISPUTED. IN GOVERNMENT RANKS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Dec. 17, 1.55 p..m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. Mr Austen Chamberlain, on his first appearance as Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons, chiefly replied to the Labourite amendment to the Address, attacking the Government’s policy in Egypt and Russia. Mr Chamberlain said he saw r no opportunity for the League of Nations to lie useful in the Egyptian situation. He reaffirmed- Cabinet’s belief that the Zinovieff letter was authentic, and he thought the 'present time was not opportune to reopen negotiations with Russia.

The Labourite • amendment was defeated liy 363 to 132 votes. The cabled reports of the now famous Zinovieff letter were somewhat meagre, and w’hile giving a general indication, its contents left the reader in a fog as to the details. In fact, the contents of the letter seemed to be lost in the political storm which followed its publication. The following is the text of the letter addressed by Zinovieff to the Central Committee of the British Conimunits Party: “Dear Comrades. —The time is approaching for the Parliament of England to consider the Treaty concluded between the Governments of Great Britain and the. S-SJSkR. for the .purpose of ratification. The fiefee campaign raised by the British bourgeoisie around the question shows that the majority of the same, together with reactionary circles, are against theTreaty , for the purpose of breaking off an agreement consolidating the ties between the proletariats. of the two countries leading to the restoration ,of normal relations between England and the S. SIS. It.

The proletariat of Great Britain, which, pronounced- its: weighty word when; danger threatened of a break-off of the past negotiations and compelled the- Government of MacDonald to conclude the Treaty, must show the greatest possible energy in the. further struggle for ratification and against the endeavour of British capitalists to compel Parliament to annul it. It is indispensable to stir up the masses of the British proletariat, to bring into movement the army of unemployed pi'oletariaiifi, whose position can be improved only after a loan has been granted to the S.S.S.R. for the restoration of her economics and when business collaboration between, the British and Russian proletariats has been put in order. It is imperative that the group in the Labour Party sympathising with the Treaty should bring increased' pressure to bear . upoh the Government and Parliamentary circles in favour of the ratification of the Treaty. ! .Keep close observation over the leaders of the Labour Party, because these may easily be found in the leadingstrings of the bourgeoisie. The foreign policy of. the Labour Party as it is already represents an inferior copy of the policy of the Curzoh Government. Organise a campaign of disclosure of the foreign .policy of. MacDonald. The lkki (Executive Committee, Third Communist International) will willingly place at your disposal the wide material im its [possession, regardring the activities of : British Imperialism in the Middle and Far East. In the meantime, however, strain every nerve in the struggle for the ratification of the Treaty, in favour of a continuation of negotiations regarding the regulation of relations between the S.S.S.R. and England. A settlement of. relations between the two countries will assist in the revolutionising of the international and British proletariat not less- than a successful rising in any of the working districts .of; England, as tfie establishment of close contact between the British, and Russian proletariat, the exchange of delegations and workers, etc., will make it possible for us to extend and develop the propaganda of ideas of Leninism in England- and the colonies-. Armed warfare must be preceded by a struggle against the inclinations to compromise which are embedded/ among, tne majority of British workmen, against the ideas of evolution and peaceful extermination of capitalism. Only then will it. be possible to count upon complete success of an armed insurrection. In. Ireland and the colonies the case is different;. there there is a . national question, and this represents too great a factor for success for us to waste time on a prolonged preparation of the working class.

But even in England, a# in other countries where the workers are politically developed', events themselves may more rapidly revolutionise the working masses than propaganda. For instance, a strike movement, repressions by the Government, etc. From your last report it is evident that agitation-propaganda work in the Army is weak, in the Navy a very little better. Your explanation that the quality of the members attracted justifies the quantity is right in principle ; nevertheless, it would; be desirable to have cells in all the units of the troops, particularly among those quai'tered in the large centres of the country, and also among factories •working on munitions and at military store depots. We request that the most particular attention be paid to these latter.”