THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP83-01042R000600100008-8
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
12
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
January 5, 2010
Sequence Number:
8
Case Number:
Publication Date:
November 15, 1956
Content Type:
MEMO
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Body:
aewvta tg;.. 1, ?aW , . t i
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'd"y,..
VlTITI-7,:D i ~ T
TO
FROM : Id en # 5
stMJECT : The r ou-International
The Fourth International movement. represents those dissident f-rouac
within the follcrers of i.ia_rxi st soli tical and economic theory who arc not
subject to the discipline of the Communist Party, UL3Si and sympathetic
or allied Communist Parties in other nations. They form the "splinter"
or Trotskyite crours, similar to the Communists in their denunciation: of
Capitalism, but marked in t'h-.ir oprosition to the pros ent Russian =-overn-
m ent.
Prior to the actual esteblis'hnent of the = ourt?~ International-, the
^:eels for its ._:'istenc? I---s created by she rift amO' the leaders -n
evolut-i on of 1917. f 'e-r::volutj-on mcnuever- , snor_ the -.L,.s:=
.. ar_=1St.:- had nrcc.uced the ri rht r-- _ T'nnshs ~' and
the left ';.~'?' `_'C~
viks, the latter headed, by l eni.-:. Trots. -T, in had nle-ced,
a bos?tion bets--hen th!. se extre,mies. in 1917 he alined .ii msel ^ _ .
Rol3:eV;_-eit'-ou7h it offici 1 Russian history he is knorn no C.
..n-
shavik "counter-revolut-,_onary."
In the period from 1917 to 1924, rh,i le Lenir_ .7as --'r_ too: e , ~: o=.:'
ras in frocuenr- disagreement ,--i th official ?policies ^nc.
self as beir m in i deologic,-l omm,ositior_ to the . iuo i u:~ an: ro.e^ to ?-_
develor,;::ent of intori aticnal ar:-i r,. 1 or Lon-nts * = ir_ 1' !r, ihh
assumed control. Trotsky renicinedd in oproeition end r"'a_d.e a cost-
stru77le o. ainst ---hat Eta!--.n claimed to be the e.-.-:tension of T:-__`.1~ -. ,
gr an. 1.:.i "ove.-:ber, 1 r r+, .t._1__~1 tr.... i::r mhr)d the e -nu c:-ci- of r c t:. from the -ussian government. In 19'2C" he . - _ e--filed froe the eount.r7
Th 'ce-;-- t
Otsi:;T C^nCr7"_'??'_, the .. .. ....^'..
of the trio men to the spread of 3'ar ~r " ys -y b'211 -.vr-7 - c f
_e should be ._
t ...
~._ ected. to =n eeri 7r r or1;. fore ?~.ti^.r~ Y c'
rer,u':~,.ic te1-r t'ook ?t,_i . v ;-r- t'-fiat
*h. ti ? Of _Lu?"7' =01.;10. -;~rC' t" - ~...._: .
t~ e cior' s ti c M. represent: etd
the . .'e-rent ;~ n:a~_ _nt .i o r to the Vr-'_"_T :2r O- -?Ll::::i -
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M
',Vino-, Tro -c'- 1_7 --?il -i... f-~?- the i'ISsic~S: Co f'lunist Party h is syr'pe-
thizers r-ithin the v' .rious national Communist Parties at -first cave no
indication of an open break. forever, as early s 1927 there = cl^-~,;
stine contact among the Trots'-y disciples, and there ber?an to arnear
faction.; r,-!thin the national parties and the Comintern. This occasioned
expulsion fror: the Communist Party proper, a fact which w.as resister' oy
the :1iSonters, 7:.C considered themselves CS leftist oi- iti rln 7rcii-s of
the narent body. -For exa^nle, Th, pier1Car ,S ' CG al_.~c. 7e' t' rr
~~
Com_=_- :;t League of ;.nerica, Left CAnosition of tide Cop: wrist Part3-.n
The
-.-oscory trials of 1936 and 1937 ruled out :'any chance of ----
- T reconcilia-
tion betr;een the Coenunists and the then d.isor?anized Trotskyites.
sky, branded as a traitor, fled to ?.'exi co in January, 1937, there e
maintained contact pith the various groups in agreement rich him. In
Septe :her, 1938, the Fourth international tas proclaimed at a European
Congress.
'_'_.e Four',-, International exists as the only exanole for a federation
of Y' do ai a '" ~t states, ^. ^. C^.7
C :I for by .. F and ~?7 -e 5. she
International, or Co in'?2rn, fro :'hick the Fourth bor'_'ov-ed - 7ch o::' its
fcrr::al 'tter_"' of Q_' ^
ani7at- o'.^, 11w' 1.;~-: ed by Soviet Lls: i?-, in .. a`r
1 .y
1ST3. iril?ri et?een the or=--.?icati%,n of the rival -"rouos be
can L
seen in a rf.vier of the Con-mist international struct?l re, as nresentcd
by J. ?eters in -. CC - U='I _~r 4 I"' 4TH , I" ? A,r
The follor:inr bodies cor.-~ri se the Fourth Internation^1:
{ orld. Co_i ees
,.orld Conference
Intern ti o: a1 . ;Ceti,live Cour?ittee
International "ecretariat
Continental Conferences
Continental -xecutive Corsi?i ttees
national Croups
The 7or1 d Con_c Tess cons' Sts of at "--art
one ,del o-^'tlte from each
n=''t!on?l -croup, the e. ems of the : nterraticnel = ecl.tlve tc i .1tt:~e, ncl
other rl"r'b-rzi 'tl l r-c :-ho .._.~:: to attarmJ. :''_'3sldln~ officers for the
, t t'_'-e. cr?". ''n,., L,i.c'! werv^ only dj rip,- its c.u' t4 on.
Its P:.;?C' ions a --e to' --ft. t'i?~-, wn
C^.~- ^?YO~r^ rret t `-o ":.ee'-n to -ffvct it, ~~ wet' erbc r. o4f
Cori- tt:ce,... n c"_'r_vo t r.zC:.c in ir_t rnal riots e'"o.
C > r -~~,', "?I ~ nd
Conrress?S h ve hco_ hole? 1(-40) i
all in on ~~ ~ t.'T l C' 0 nT C'r' e ^~'~. cn rn~ l
in exit' .
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Number ofRelegates to the Congress i s deters fined by a system of
grouping of individual countries, depending on importance. In the first
category is allowed three delegates. The second category, alloyed two
delegates, includes Spain, Italy,ustri a,e1 ~-iura, the i'etherlands,
Greece, Canada, 7'exico, -nazi 1, Argentina, Chile. 8olivi ^, and In do--
China. The thrid cC do ory, a?_lo. or te, includes, ?,ors~Qy,
11,
t
li
ra
Aus
a and the anion of Sth Afi
, -ourca.
The 'orld Confer nce is si - l=r. to the r7nr".r
ex c07-~t t' or,
tinent in rhich the conference: is held. is
ob :o__ ~.of t :~_
...._.
national ' cecttti:ve Corr: ittee F.nd the Internati.or^? . Secreta iat rids .:be
nrese t. The nurnose of the conference is tq.uC-mister end nnle^Ient
the program adopted by the r'orld Cor_ mess.
The International Executive Committee administers the affairs of the
Fourth International between international meetings, and is accountable
to the -orld Congress or the s"orld Conference. i-umber of members
varies with the stw ength of the entire movement. The hic:hest rositi on of
the co-nittee is the Secretary-General, forcorl.r held ',y Trotsky him-
self. Headnuarters of the groun is believed to be in Paris. They meet
about once every six months to discuss problems nd actions, within tie
instructions of the international bodies.
The International "pc--etarilat, with headcuarters in Paris and a sub-
.head _uarters in London, handles the da-r-to-d_a., business of the internation^-
~
with a_ ''roup of full-tire salaried employees. Here details of ads.:finis-
tr ti on.; f sa p., press policy, and education are organized.
The Continental Con_erence consists of reoresentativc- s of the I etio_=a?
Groups of the particular continent concurred, the members of the Conti-
nental 11yocutive Com d.ttee, and one r.enber of the Inter-rational `:xeGC'tive
Comm: ittee. The group convenes to orr-s nine icnle:rentation of the deci _ion s
of the . orld Congress and to Corsi der domestic pro'ale' s.
The Continental = :cecuti ve Co^- i.ttee is said to exist only where the
International Tecutive Comr ittee is unable to exert full control over a
particular continent or is not eouipped to meet the need of the area.
It is possible that the International Y.xecutive Cog rryittee concentrates
-n Asia and the ::eerier - end l e--: os a local grout, such as the ro-oen
T xecuti ve Committee to handle its or.-n o ffei rs, with guidance.
The affiliates of the Fourth international. is-ith n the jrdivid.ual
court ?rie GO:'.i]r' se the -at, -oral Crc-up - In scr e ca sos roe _t:'ri^r ore a-.
tio_y -l Grnu'~ e:sts in one count- - The TC a.s.. or l'' ..:_ . o? . "
?
-:instances, mastics r C' c COl' fries 'V, -..
ca-^or
: i?rs
_c
T e control. over the ~-rouu s in t--_o ze coun.tri e s.
-:eudin- the rational Groups i a a unit ?_nc -'n Variously as t__e rayi
Or
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Central, or Pol5cal Committee, elected at datzw~.l_ Cons resses or
Conferences.
The National Group may consist of a . ai, on ty and a . inority, the
latter revre3en ti n:- exr-ressed dig-ap:aroval of the policy set uo by the
International Executive Committee. Their ninori.ty status is deterciined
not by numbers, but by their opposition to official policy. Statutes of
the Fourth International require that the T.'inority have at least one re-
presentative in 7ational Headquarters.
1'717'777 r1T ?t -- -,- -.,-
J
As of 1947, the Fourth international,' by-its. or.rr.. statc ^ent, 'had-,
affil is tes in r-ore than thri ty countries. Li Eurons- Asi a, 'r_u rnerica.
In 1949, there r as evidence or claims of activity in 46 countries.
Foll crr.ng is a list of countries there a revolutionary party has been
ide, t;Iied as an affiliate of the 'Fourth international; =grentina, _u-
stralia, elgiun, Bolivia, Brazil, British G._- ea, Canada, Ceylon,
Chile, China, Den::ark, Ecuador, Font, France, French Pakistan, Palestine
(prior to creation of Israel), Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sv:itzerland, Union
of South Africa, LS , Uruguay.
Countries r?here affiliates are k not'n to ....i s t but here only
incor--;fete i' c:-'ati on regard-!-r t;,r-4 r o_' ry_-_iza.ti en is avail able include:
Z
-
'lger;a, Bulgaria, Tanan, asap .:e; Genl~!r_d.
Countries there the Fourth ! nt r ^ bona claims affiliates but
r'here no information is available include: Luztria, Colombia, Cub,-,
ort ay, Panama, Faraguay, Poinna, and the US:-'.
PCYITCy
The single, most significa t eler_ont of the policy of the Fourth
International is its comnlete ar_c Lmsrerv?.r.g _.evo pion to eventual revolu-
tionnry+~overtl.roT'- of eani tc ! is'^. Its intentions are fully as on'_inous,
it notential, as t "Hose of the Con oLnist t arIty proper. Danger to the car" -
tali s' society as n n=_oized free this uarti culcr ounrter because of the
rel_ ti ,.,e into terse of th ~7-rcn-a in its cennetition --ith its
e{istin,-- as it does tho~J.t the '??fort of th--e Soviet ion. ' ?e
l n-T ted size of the affi lute a r^ G ri_ .l r n= t?.cs -.!so teals to ci sccl,.irt
the l ??_f ,n crop ' er the in i`_n
tT]c~ _ti Ca . ~ LL^nC0 of 'O-_.. nt. ~:O'- .nV , u -1 w_
cance does not prevent the Trot sh ites fro! cper?tin. as S. g
f? _'"enco, both? to c crj .sli t and o_'t-'Odox `?c'; "?!i t, far out of pro ors?
to t':ei had count.
The ^.r".::m.~n~ v- the 717.3i r_ ...PiG lua._rar.-_~ ? .J -, the embers of the = ntorr.aticn 1 i ~c - t tsc, end
tiec~.t
ve i
ca'_ '. Cyr-re - the "e s to
a _. ' e
-in
P11 iZI 1--i th `-a e- c, -t -
t C r C ?C^ 7
1n l ex5 c^.
Con'resses have been hey d, in 1:.~~ i ~n 1r l9 , `r" ~nd
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Its rll Idioms are to . _ ~~t ~?_, e~ "i~rt" _ a : u-_ _~,? _._ _.i ?' _i __-
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iurber of Wegates to the congress is detWined by a systert of
grouping of individual countries, depending on importance. In the fir_ t
category is allowed three delegates. The second c~_!:itegory, allowed two
delegates, includes Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgiur:7, the A?etherlands,
Greece, Canada, ?.!exico, -?r? zi 1, Argentina , Chile, Bolivia, and Indo-
China. The thrid category, allowed one delegate, includes, I:ort-ay,
Australia, and the Union of South 2 rica.
The world Conn erence is similar to the world Con^ress in me~+bershin,
except that only the representatives of the National. Groups of the con-
tinent in which the conference is held is mandatory.' ?."crbers of the int.
. natione? Executive Corm-ittee and the- International Secretariat thirst. he
present. The purpose of the conference is- to. administer and;.implem nt
The International Executive Committee administers the affairs of the
Fourth International between international r.eetin?s, and is accountable
to the "-orld Congress or the 1 orld Conference. dumber of members
varies t-ith the strength of the entire movement. The highest position of
the corns i ttee is the Secretary-General, formerly held by Trots'_y Min-
self. Headouarters of the groun is believed to be in Paris. They meet
about once every six months to discuss rroblems and actions, within the
instructions of the international bodies.
The International Secs etar_at, with headquarters in Paris and a sub-
head._uurters in London, hang les the dav-to-_^'.ay bus .ness of the International
': i th a group of full-time salaried employees. Here details of adr. inis-
trstior_, finance, press.policy, and education are organized.
The Continental Conference consists of representatives of the I:Gtio?_a?
Groups o? the particular continent concerned, the members of the Conti-
nental Executive Committee, and one member of the International Executive
Committee. The `roue convenes to or:-e i ze imoler.entation of the deci ?i c^ s
of the Torl d Congress and to consider domestic problems.
The Continental Executive Committee is sal c to exist only Tybere the
International . ecutive Committee is unable to exert full control over a
particular continent or is not equipped to meet the needs of the area.
It is possible that the International Executive Committee concentrates
cn Asia and the Arier'ces and le`ves a local Croup, such as the 7-urooean
executive Committee to 'c'andle its o'er affairs, with guidance.
The affiliates of the Fourth Inter rational vi thin the individual
=countries comprise the --atic.nal:Creups. In some cases ore then one '.-a--
-tionel Groum. exists in one country. The u S is an example. In of er
instances, ro.rties in ever^.l.-col-ntrzes. _ave a co__mor_. he _d.c,.ua nters which
s control over the F,rouas-an.:.t- io ae coup cries. ----------:
ead_n the ':atioral Groups ; s a uni t '_ horn variously ^ s the i--ation_ 1.
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Central, or Pol*cal Committee, elected at Nat1.l Congresses or
Conferences.
The National Group may consist of a ; "a j ority and a -i nority, the
latter reD.resenti nr exeressed disapproval of the no' i cy set up by the
International -~zxecutive Committee. Their minority status is c:eter-mi r_ed
not by numbers, but by their onrosition to official policy. Statutes of
the Fourth International require that the ..'inority have at least on:- re-
prese r,tative in t'ational Headquarters.
11
s of 1947, the Fourth Internati on_ca. ,. b its a? !~ statement, hac
affiliates 2M ^ore. t^?n thrit countries am u::-0 e, his? a, and ,*_ erica.
In 1949, there as evidence or claims of' ?ct'vity- in- .o- coy?- tries, .
Follcr*ing is ? list of countries -here a revolutionary party has beer.
Identified as an affiliate of the fourth international: --grenti r_a, u-
stralia, Belgium, Bclivia, Brazil, British Guinea, Caxlada, Ceylon,
Chile, China, e'en.-gar'-;, Ecuador, ~*it, France, French Pakistan., Palestine
(prior to creation of Israel), Peru, Portugal, Spain, Svritzerland, Union
of South Africa, 0 Al Uruguay.
Co Sri e s F:'_' ere affiliates are to exist but : ? Are only
incom-l ete in-for iation regarding t,? r organization Is available include:
Algeria, Bulgaria, Japan, [ nd :err Zeal e nd.
Countries r._ere the Fourth International claims affiliates but
Lire,
r?here no information is available include: Lust-rice, Colombia, Cuba l
I: or a-T., Panara.,__Paraguay, Poland, and the U5:2.
POLICY
' ze single. most significant element of the policy of the Fourth
International is its comniete and unsrervin-? devotion to eventual revolu-
ti orr-ryr overti:rc-- of canitali sm. Its i ntenti,ons are fully as ominous,
in, not..`ntia _, mnr er. Danger to the c_.
tal i st society :L-" minimized from this p-articulrr ou--.rter because of the
relative impotence of tho r-roun i r. its comretiti on : i tt? i tv i st, j,: al
eri.stiiL- _t. does ritHout the sunnort of the Soviet -fr_ion. 'f'^e
limited, sine of the affiliated natinn_al p^_"ties also tends to discount
the political influence of the r aV art. Via', ever, their numerical insi"
canoe does not ^--event the Trotsl~.';itos from cnsratin=- as a dui nmtirz in
f r .. to ? e l .,' , th { .T~ fa n
A 1..e ca, ~^ a ..~, '-~o-,:n.. sue.st out of n re,.p Larl- ~ia_.
be
theil- "cad, connt.
he r _ ~?! ..~t1 .the lulls/1 L. as alr-adt t:to :, .co corn.
ed the 'an Pal? C r o ' v^C^_ n e a y concern f a .the r.-a'"7 i '.'"! Ce reiioln t on.. The Trots rte .,'.es c..7 oureoucr?t1c d:ct?LO:"3 . `0
ree on '3 oe1 i :'t'e3 t_ -, .itl - ss en rt.~1?l o a- s 'a ~O?1Sa vr[i.Ct _~C L._ S -- s _ L~? -- ~ n_t ~~ .__C-
tin , of a 6ict-ator _.in o7_-?r the nroleta.ri t, a sctii sr ec'n?ns1, the 1 st
tre itlon of t 1? ti Cr >?:1C or the nroletr riat.
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Despite thWot,'-yite bitterness against Russian gov:?-!rnment
it is a consistent element of their policy to de end the ;Soviet state.
Alttlo-.i~_L Russia exists ? s sor ethin~* less than their i c'. a of
soc Y?y, it still represents a =,,ain in the class struggle and must be de-
fended against the greed and ambition of reactionary canitalistic rei r_-
bor states.
the rr cur.l s no1icy exists in the toleration of
?-i nority factions. l~s the alleged true followers of maxi they believe in
the -?eltion of theory and action. First develop a theory, then follow
no deviation - in the action to achieve it. Despite--this purist approach,
~rt~ ~ astern tional does.^-..l.lorl dlsssr_u
the ro, ' a . . L,...:*yerha 3s because of Trotsky's
role as the factionalist in his days r?itnin the Soviet. hierarchy,
3 aefly, .the 'rota y~i to co, sitiers 1_r~elf as the only fol loi Yr cf
true ;"a-~.xist doctrine, the potential savior of the misled . :ussian people,
and the continuing exponent of the r:orldtiride worker's revolution.
HISTCh_Y ' ITEIIT TIE L71"-77D
STA T T
Trotsky had his symna.thi ers among American Communists prior to the
actual formation of a Trotskyite Party. James. G. Cannon in October,
1.c2-, p-:blicly announed his sunp,--rt of Trotsky, rid, alone rith his .--
ers ras expelled from the C7[75-'_. In January, 1.929, he orr--ar.i. ed the
first oven Trotek rite meetir n in the i~ ", 'le'd in Boston. In February,
1929, the First ationa? Congress of American Trotskyites r-as held in
Cr'i Cato. T is a .f_"aiI' Or-7ani/led t'i'le party nrevieus?y reforr 5 to as the
Com, !!;vrist Lea ue of a!-eriCa--Left corosition of the CO rurist srt1y.
In 1934,, the Trot s'`yites =a-ve up Cellinp them solver, an onrosiLion
faction of the Comintern and sunnortcd thie. call for a new Internatier_al .
in that year, Trotsky's -_rierican folloT~-ers merged rith the America;_
Party, y lead by A. j. .' 1:.ste. y: e ne om group -a~ _ _no -Ot .kcr?
..? 1 . l as the ? r ~.
Part-. In 1936, the ':.`orkers Party entered the Socialist ; e-rtj, on col=c_-
tion~ that it drop its sera:ra.te orrcni;atior and suspend oublicalion of
its press, These conditions r: ere itnored, and in 1637, the :'ocia' ist
Party exnei er the nc--comers only v after the Orc'ariliSat7-OlI of. _ the 7Frent
group had been sabotreed. The 'rotahyites reorvani zed as the ocir_' ist
T or'k~r s Fa-rty, a crouu rich c---,--':7 ts today and i.h-ch actually ran ea.rc? .ales
for the Presidency and y~ice-Fresi ce.~cy in the 1-c'56 elections.
Passage of the Voorhis :"ct, .:rich forbids narti es nith for_i~r_
ells once, '_.^ n< < vc tec the '.7'111 f"o- o ~cr,Iy identifying itself as an
affiliate of the Fourth -Internat? on al . T:o:': ever, the concern of, t e
International .'secretariat over. ti=e nt?==rr el affair of r?erican ro'; c
ancicateo a :^utual intore-t O trier S business,
?r 1c. *C x..Tax 0C1l;:ci:t^n n T"; t'_1 t'_c 7.,1 _.avvr: t-?h at he
con s=:~?.e;Rr~{.: -
LLn.7Bs., v ~. er- c7 stL')n0_ rt of t__ "e j'7" _?. T.1e O_ - .~..._,.-= , ~ 1 r. rrLt n _n:?tr M 0 ~- S ., n
C
i-c^. rty, ..a t7 -a _. er Jntl~'rna!cn_'_!- a
c indC'!~en:e"?~
s of 1 49, t
`;ccinli Ia --1'e. Posni.t? ef~ o t of to
effect nerper of these they -indeT-endcn_t ani"
to ^7'
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V
The S .P publishes The ?'~ 1itant, a rler.. sra per, and the Fourth- Inter-
national P. map
e. The l r nubli shes Labor c ti:on, are 1 r, arc~ e
:err International a monthly.
In 1949 it ryas estimated thnt the strength of the 3'F vas S00 members.
That of the ISL its believed to be a nro:.imately !#0,0.
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ILLEGIB
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