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Title: No More Compromise Author: Pierre Besnard Date: May 1939 Language: en Topics: no-compromise, anti-authoritarianism, anarcho-syndicalism, Spanish Civil War Source: Retrieved on 3rd January 2021 from https://libcom.org/library/no-more-compromise-pierre-besnard Notes: Originally appeared in The Vanguard (May 1939). Provided by the Workers Solidarity Alliance archives in New York.
The following article by Comrade Pierre Besnord, an ex-secretary of the
IW.M.A, to which the CNT is affiliated, opens up a discussion on the
lessons of the Spanish tragedy which will continue in the Vanguard.
While we agree with Comrade Besnard that the fundamental tenets of
Anarcho-Syndicalism were not strictly adhered to by our revolutionary
Spanish comrades, and that these tenets still occupy first place guiding
our relations with the capitalist world we find it incumbent upon to
point out that the actions of our comrades in Spain cannot be judged
apart from the internationol situation to which the war gave rise. We
reaffirm our conviction that collaboration with the bourgeoisie should
be shunned, but we must again insist that tribute should be paid to the
CNT for the heroic struggle of maintaining. Our comrades understood
their responsibilities and, not being dogmatists, were able to conduct
their work as an integral part of the Spanish struggle against the
formidable intervention of the fascist powers.
THE struggle that is at an end in Spain shows beyond the shadow of a
doubt that all collaboration and compromise with the bourgeoisie must
henceforth be banished from our midst. Between us, one thing exists: The
Class Struggle. It is within the power of no one to conceal this fact
and only the elimination of classes and the institution of economic and
social equality will result in the disappearance of this struggle. On
every occasion that we do not recognize this basic truth, we shall
inevitably be defeated in the ensuing struggle.
Each time it finds itself in difficulties, the bourgeoisie accept
demands collaboration with the proletariat, But when the crisis is over,
it resumes its freedom to do as it pleases and naturally, turns its
weapons in full upon the working class. This pattern of events has been
followed in all periods of history, not just in revolutionary ones. But,
however disastrous might be its practical consequences in the ordinary
day to day struggle, it takes on catastrophic proportions when it
concerns such elemental social conflicts as was the case in Spain,
Let the bourgeoisie be “left” or use ultra-leftist phrases, variably
they are for a line of action contrary to the interests of the people.
Even if they wished to be others cannot be so for their interests are
forever fundamentally opposed to that of the workers. Let them rally
enthusiastically and even aid the revolution in periods when they cannot
help doing otherwise, it is only to have their past actions forgotten or
over-looked. And when the leading figures and politicians of the dying
regime proclaim themselves openly for the new order and support the most
radical groups, as they did in Spain, one can be sure that it is only to
bore from within and to secure positions of prestige which will permit
them in time to strangle the revolution which in a moment of weakness
called for and made use of their cooperation.
Too feeble at the outset to speak as masters, they will begin by
silently worming themselves into the revolutionary councils where
gradually they gain a certain authority and undermine that of true
revolutionaries. With an air of innocence they push the sincere into
stupid blunders, and one fine day, they show their true colors. When the
role these men played will finally be understood, it will be already too
late to repair the damage inflicted in the name of some “technical
advantage” or other worthless pretext.
‘The desire to defeat the politicians in the field of polities is the
greatest mistake that revolutionaries can commit, ‘The desire to
overthrow the bourgeoisie in collaboration with certain of its elements
is no less dangerous. These two things are to be avoided at all costs.
Nothing must be allowed to effect a reconciliation with our enemies. Not
even the most imminent peril! A sudden and certain betrayal is in store
for us if we disregard this historic truth, if we place even the
slightest faith in those who are destined to be our enemies. “Whatever
mistakes we make in the course of the revolution, none can be so serious
as those which involve us with the opposing class, even if they assume a
democratic guise.
The bourgeoisie, since its birth in 1789, has never deviated from its
course of deceiving the people and stripping every social upheaval of
its accomplishments, So it was in 1830, in 1848, in 1871, ‘The results
were identical. ‘The Spanish Revolution of April 14, 1934 followed in
the footsteps of its predecessors and the seal has just been placed on
the revolution of July 19^(th). These facts should prevent anyone from
still maintaining that collaboration with the bourgeoisie and its
politicians is able in some way to insure the success of the revolution.
Cold doctrinaires such as we can derive no advantage from the unhappy
conclusion of the struggle, but we have the right, in spite of having
ardently wished for another end, to say that we had foreseen it. Beyond
some relative merit, much in Spain followed the general line of social
history. Our one desire is not to see these errors repeated and we will
do all in our power toward that end.
Improvements, that can possibly be made in society at the expense of
solidly entrenched interests are indeed puny. They will merely affect
some detail but leave intact the foundations. So it will be as long as
we have the class struggle. This fundamental fact has convinced us of
doctrine which experience has tested and which no one can therefore dare
modify, presumptive as he might be. Those who for one reason or another
have transgressed, have been convinced much to their regret of the law’s
inflexible.
Let us then remain on our own ground where we are strong. I believe that
I have sufficiently covered this in my books[1] where I have treated the
ideology, the plan of realization and the moral of our movement on both
a national and international scale. We have here and in other works by
militants since Bakunin, Kropotkin, Rocker and numerous others, all that
is necessary to accomplish our task without having recourse to the
advice of the bourgeoisie.
Let us then study our literature, take heed of our congresses and shun
false departures from a doctrine which is and must become the practice
of tomorrow. We will thus be on the right road. All other roads are
misleading which will either get us nowhere or lead us to defeat.
Let us stress the idea ‘that even under the most favorable circumstances
all compromise only guarantees us the perpetuation of the authoritarian
state and the triumph of our enemies, the politicians, whose program
carries but two articles: One, to take power, and Two, to keep this
power by all means even the worst, “If we sincerely: wish to literate
our class and all of humanity we must’ work towards our goal: for
feudalism and liberty, and not for centralized power and dictatorship
Let us go in this direction and in no other, without compromise of any
kind. We have the means, Let us have the will!