Executive Committee of the Third International, Resolution on the Report of the Executive Committee. June 9, 1921

This report from the Third Comintern Congress (June–July 1921) shows the movement tightening discipline after a year of setbacks. In the shadow of Kronstadt, the NEP, and the failed March 1921 German uprising, delegates applied the "21 Conditions" rigorously, using admission and expulsion to enforce Bolshevik norms and purge parties unwilling to break with reformist socialism.

Original Source: Третий Всемирный Конгресс Коммунистического Интернационала: Стенографический отчёт. Пг.: Госиздат, 1922.

The Congress having favorably considered the report of the Executive Committee hereby declares that the policy and activities of the Executive during the past year have been carried out in accordance with the resolutions of the Second Congress. The Congress approves in particular of the application of the 21 Conditions laid down by the Second Congress in the different countries and sanctions the work of the Executive with regard to the formation of large Communist mass parties and the relentless struggle against the opportunist tendencies which manifested themselves in various parties.

1. In Italy the attitude of Serrati and his group immediately after the Second World Congress showed that they did not take the resolutions of the World Congress and the Communist International seriously. The role played by these leaders during the September struggle, its conduct in Livorno and still more its policy since that time, have clearly proved that Serrati and his colleagues only wish to use Communism as a shield for their opportunist policy. The split was inevitable under such conditions. The Congress declares that the Executive has acted with firmness and determination in this very important situation. It sanctions the resolution of the Executive Committee which at the time recognized the Communist Party of Italy to be the only Communist section of that country.

After the Communists had left, the Livorno Congress adopted the following resolution by Bentivoglio:

The Congress reaffirming its adherence to the Third International hereby refers the entire conflict to the coming Congress and pledges itself in advance to abide by and execute its resolution.

The Third Congress of the Communist International declares that this decision of the Serrati group had been forced upon them by the revolutionary workers. The Congress trusts that these same revolutionary elements of the working class are going to see to it that the decisions of the Third World Congress be actually carried out.

In reply to the appeal of the Livorno Congress the Third World Congress hereby submits the following ultimatum: The Socialist Party of Italy cannot remain within the ranks of the Communist International so long as the participants of the reformist-conference at Reggio-Emilia and their supporters have not been expelled from the party.

After this ultimatum has been fulfilled the Executive is to take the necessary steps to bring about a union between the Communist Party of Italy and the Socialist Party in Italy, after the latter has purified itself of all reformist and centrist elements, and combine both organizations into a unified section of the Communist International.

2. In Germany the Party Conference of the USPD in Halle was the consequence of the resolutions of the Second World Congress which in their turn were based on the development of the labor movement. The work of the Executive was directed towards the formation of a strong Communist Party in Germany, and experience has proven that this policy was a correct one. The Congress also completely approves of the attitude of the Executive towards the events within the VKPD.

It expresses the hope that the policy applied today in enforcing the fundamental principles of international revolutionary discipline will also be followed by the Executive Committee in the future.

3. The acceptance of the KAPD as a sympathizing party of the Communist International had for its aim to put the KAPD on trial and ascertain if it would adapt itself to the requirements of the Communist International.

This period of trial should suffice and the KAPD should be required to join the VKPD within a set period; otherwise the KAPD is to be excluded from the Communist International as a sympathizing party.

The Congress approves of the manner in which the Executive applied the 21 Conditions to the French party. By its actions it has succeeded in getting the laboring masses which are tending towards Communism away from the Longuet opportunists and centrists, and to promote their development. The Congress trusts that the Executive will do its utmost for the furtherance of an active and class-conscious Communist Party.

4. In Czechoslovakia the Executive has followed up with great patience and tact the revolutionary development of a proletariat which has already given proof of its determination and readiness to take a share in the revolutionary struggle. The Congress approves of the decision of the Executive to accept the Czech Communist Party as a member of the Communist International. The Congress trusts that the Executive will insist that the 21 Conditions be unswervingly carried out by the Czech Communist Party and that a united Communist Party be formed comprising all the nationalities of Czechoslovakia with a purely Communist program under firm Communist leadership and on a centralized basis, and also that the trade unions of that country will be speedily and decisively won over and united internationally.

5. With regard to the work of the Executive Committee on the countries of the Near and Far East, the Congress welcomes its extensive activity, and considers that the transition to intensified organization work in these countries not possible of postponement.

Finally the Congress repudiates the objections which have been raised by the open and disguised adversaries of Communism against vigorous international centralization of the Communist movement. It expresses its deep conviction that all the parties will send their best forces to the Executive, and thereby bring about a still more militant political central leadership which is necessary for the indissoluble unions of the affiliated Communist Parties. The lack of such a leadership made itself felt, for instance, in the unemployment and reparation question in which the Executive did not act promptly and effectively. The Congress trusts that, with increased cooperation of the affiliated parties in the organization of a more efficient apparatus and with the intensified collaboration of the parties in the Executive, the latter will be enabled to fulfill its ever increasing tasks on a still larger scale than it has done hitherto.

Source: Theses and Resolutions Adopted at the Third World Congress of the Communist International (New York: Contemporary Publishing, 1921), pp. 71-74.