First Congress of the Communist International
Source: Theses Resolutions and Manifestos of the First Four Congress of the Third International, translated by Alix Holt and Barbara Holland. Ink Links 1980;
Transcribed: by Andy Blunden.
We Japanese socialists, meeting in Tokyo on 1 May 1917, express our deepest sympathy for the Russian revolution which we are following with admiration.
We recognise that the Russian revolution is both a political revolution of the bourgeoisie in revolt against medieval absolutism and a revolution of the proletariat risen against modern capitalism. The transformation of the Russian revolution into a world revolution is not only the concern of Russian socialists, but also the task of socialists throughout the world. The capitalist system has already reached its highest point of development in almost all countries. We are living in the period of totally ripe capitalist imperialism. If they do not wish to become victims of the ideologues of imperialism, the socialists of all countries must firmly support the viewpoint of the International. All the forces of the international proletariat must be set against the common enemy, international capitalism. Only if the proletariat takes this road will it be able to fulfil its historic mission.
The socialists of Russia have to do everything in their power to put an end to the war and to help the workers of the belligerent countries to turn their arms, at present directed against their brothers on the other side of the trenches, against the ruling classes of their own countries.
We have faith in the heroism of the Russian socialists and of our comrades all over the world.
The Executive Committee of the Tokyo Socialist Group.
Platten: The bureau (i.e. the E.C.) proposes to accept this resolution.