BOLSHEVIK CONGRESS
PERIODICAL “PURGES” TO BE ABOLISHED
LONDON, February 19.
The new statutes of the Communist Party, to be submitted to the AllUnion Bolshevik Congress in Moscow abolish all social distinctions formerly made between candidates applying for membership. Whether the candidate is of working class, peasant, or intellectual origin, his period of probation will be the same, namely, one year. The new rule is explained by the fact that those joining the party today have mainly grown up since the Revolution, and never belonged to any non-toiling class in a Marxian sense. The new statutes also promise various rights of criticism and free discussion —the right to elect and be elected to party bodies, the right for any party member to be present and participate when resolutions are voted on his own work and conduct; and the right to appeal against such decisions. The system of periodical mass “cleansings” or “purges” is to be abolished. This does not refer to the punishment by the State of citizens, whether members of the party or not, but only to discipline in the party itself.
In the past, mass expulsions from the party have taken place following general denunciations. In future, members will be dealt with individually, and misdemeanours will not necessarily involve expulsion.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 23794, 17 April 1939, Page 8
Word Count
211BOLSHEVIK CONGRESS Southland Times, Issue 23794, 17 April 1939, Page 8
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