A Vain Sacrifice

In February last the Austrian Social Democrats, faced with the destruction of their organisations and with the loss of their control of Vienna and other municipalities, tried to resist by armed force and a general strike the onslaught of the forces directed by the Government. In a brief but ferocious period of civil war, and in spite oi their heroic resistance they were crushed. In addition to the loss of life in the fighting itself, they are now paying the penalty of defeat in prison, concentration camp and exile.

In the SOCIALIST STANDARD for March we paid our tribute to the Austrian workers for their courage and tenacity, while pointing out that they were fighting an unnecessary battle. In that and the following issue of the SOCIALIST STANDARD attention was drawn to the fact that various groups of workers in Spain were marching on the same road to a similar destruction. Early in October the Spanish revolt began. Within a few days it was apparent to those who led the workers into it that the attempt had failed, although towards the end of the month some isolated bands were still holding out, without any hope but that of selling their lives dearly. The bravery of the Spanish workers has availed them nothing.

Blind to what happened in Vienna and has happened almost invariably when this method has been tried, Spanish workers’ organisations attempted to overthrow the Spanish Government by armed revolt and a general strike. The failure was as pitiful as in Austria, although the cost in human life is likely to be far greater. The rigid Press censorship makes it impossible so far to give full figures, but reports from Orviedo indicate that in that province alone—the centre of the coal and iron industries—upwards of 3,000 people have been killed. (See Sunday Express, October 21st.). Some estimates place the figure as high as 10,000. Large numbers of rebels have been shot after capture, and other executions are threatened. The general strike was broken and the armed workers were everywhere smashed by the overwhelming might of the State forces. All the most modern and destructive weapons were used by the Government, including artillery, tanks, gas, and bombing planes. As was inevitable, the number and power of the arms of the rebel forces were small in comparison with those of the Government.

The occasion of the revolt was the inclusion of three Catholics in a reconstructed Cabinet. Representing reactionary political groups, they were widely believed, like similar groups in Austria, to be heading for the restoration of the exiled monarchy, the creation of a Fascist State, the destruction of the Trade Unions, etc. Rather than wait for this, the Spanish Socialist Party (a reformist body, similar to the typical Labour Party) joined hands with Syndicalists and Communists to defend the Republic. Parallel with this working-class movement was a strong regionalist opposition to the centralising policy of the Madrid Government. Some of the provinces, particularly the industrial and commercial province of Catalonia, strongly objected to the Central Government’s policy, which aimed at depriving them of the measure of regional autonomy they had achieved under the Republic.

From a working class and Socialist standpoint the revolt was a piece of criminal irresponsibility. The overwhelming majority of Spanish electors are not Socialist, and do not understand or desire Socialism. What is more, they have shown with increasing force at each election since the overthrow of Alfonso that they do not want Labourites, Syndicalists or Communists. Allowing for every possibility of faked election figures, the votes given to these groups represent only a small minority of the votes given to openly capitalist parties, republican and royalist. For the leaders of these minority groups to try to seize power in such circumstances is sheer folly, irresponsible gambling with workers’ lives. If, as is usual, such an attempt fails, there follows a period—possibly extending to many years—of savage repression. In the unlikely event of success in seizing control of the machinery of Government the outcome in the long run is even more disastrous for the working class and for the Socialist movement. No minority, whether in Spain, Russia, Austria or anywhere else, can impose Socialism on a hostile or apathetic majority. Forced, therefore, to abandon the idea of introducing Socialism, the new rulers sooner or later accommodate themselves to the job of administering capitalism. Finding power sweet they develop the century-old technique of intrigue, deception, bribery, and arbitrary violence in order to keep themselves in power. Unable to give the reality of Socialism they learn a new propaganda, which consists, crudely put, of calling the unregenerate capitalism by a new name—Socialism.

Knowing this the Socialist Party of Great Britain refuses in any circumstances to countenance the policy of minority armed revolt. That road does not lead to Socialism. In truth it leads nowhere, for workers who head that way must sooner or later retrace their steps if they are to play their part in achieving Socialism.
H.