International Socialist Conference at Zimmerwald
First Published: Sotsial-Demokrat, No. 47, October 13, 1915;
Source: Bolsheviks and War,
Lessons for today's anti-war movement, by Sam Macey 1985;
Translated: by Sam Macey.
The undersigned declare as follows:
The manifesto adopted by the Conference does not give us complete satisfaction. It contains no pronouncement on either open opportunism or opportunism that is hiding under radical phraseology -- the opportunism which is not only the chief cause of the collapse of the International, but which strives to perpetuate that collapse. The manifesto contains no clear pronouncement as to the methods of fighting against the war.
We shall continue, as we have done heretofore, to advocate in the Socialist press and at the meetings of the International, a clear-cut Marxist position in regard to the tasks with which the epoch of imperialism has confronted the proletariat.
We vote for the manifesto because we regard it as a call to struggle and in this struggle we are anxious to march side by side with the other sections of the International.
We request that our present declaration be included in the official proceedings.
(Signed): N. Lenin, G. Zinoviev, Radek, Nerman, Hoglund, Winter.
The other declaration, which was signed, in addition to the group that had introduced the resolution of the Left by Roland-Holst and Trotsky, read as follows:
“Inasmuch as the adoption of our amendment (to the manifesto) demanding the vote against war appropriations might in a way endanger the success of the Conference, we do, under protest, withdraw our amendment and accept Ledebour's statement in the commission to the effect that the manifesto contains all that is implied in our proposition.”
It may be added that Ledebour, as an ultimatum, demanded the rejection of the amendment, refusing to sign the manifesto otherwise.