Kaganovich, Molotov to Stalin September 23, 1935

Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931–1936 Moscow: (ROSSPEN), 2001 Pp. 583-584

RGASPI F. 558. Op. 11. D. 90. L. 59–60. Script. Typescript.

Encryption.

From Moscow on September 23, 1935, at 23:00. 50 min. In. No. 71.

Sochi. To. Stalin.

The Cominternists want to turn to the two Internationals with a letter. We send you this letter and ask for your opinion. We doubt the practicability 1.

Kaganovich. Molotov.

Text of the letter.

To the secretariat of the Socialist Workers' International.

Comrades! 

War in Abyssinia could break out at any moment. The German fascists are just waiting to pounce on weak Lithuania and take Memel. The military measures of Italian and German fascism would have had incalculable consequences. They can lead to a world war.

The 7th Congress of the Comintern instructed the Executive Committee of the Comintern to address the leadership of the Socialist Workers' International with a proposal to establish international unity of action for the proletariat.

We know that your Executive Committee has decided to study first the decisions of the Seventh Congress of the Comintern before speaking out on the question of unity of action.

In order to give you this opportunity, we wanted to wait with a specific proposal to enter into negotiations on this issue.

But the international situation is so tense, the danger of a new imperialist war breaking out is so menacing and imminent, that not an hour can be lost.

The last meeting of the Socialist Workers' International and the International Association of Trade Unions outlined several measures against the impending war. The Comintern welcomes this step.

But everything that has been done so far on your and our part is still not enough in the face of formidable danger.

The efforts of both Internationals to save the world must be united, both Internationals must act jointly and by joint efforts ward off the hand of the fascist warmongers.

The joint action of the two Internationals will raise the working class to its feet, which would carry with it the supporters of peace also among the other classes of the population. It would rouse entire peoples to the struggle for peace.

It would give rise to such a powerful movement against the war that, under its onslaught, the League of Nations would be compelled to resort to a more effective action against the aggression of Italian and German fascism.

It is not too late to avert the terrible catastrophe to which the fascist criminals are pushing mankind. Tomorrow it may not be possible.

Therefore, we appeal to the Secretariat of the Socialist Workers' International with a proposal to immediately discuss at a joint conference of representatives of both Internationals how best to put into practice by joint efforts the measures outlined by your and our Internationals for the preservation of peace.

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Comintern, we are delegating to this conference comrades Cachin and Duclos from France, comrade Podlit from England, and comrade Schwerm from Czechoslovakia.

Please reply as soon as possible.

With greetings on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Comintern, General Secretary G. Dimitrov. HP 96, 97, 98.

_____________________

1 Stalin replied “I don’t mind” on September 24 in cipher from Sochi at 10 a.m. 19 min. (Ibid. L. 58).