Union of the Bund with the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party

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The Seventh Congress of the Bund, the organisation of the Jewish Social-Democratic workers of Russia, has re cently taken place. According to the reports of this Congress, the total number of members of the Bund amounts to 33,000 in 257 organisations. Representation at the Congress was organised on a democratic basis, with one delegate for each 300 members of the Party. About 23,000 members took part in the elections and they sent to the Congress 68 delegates with the right to speak and vote.

The chief question that the Congress had to decide was that of the union of the Bund with the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party. As is known, the Unity Congress of the RSDLP pronounced in favour of unification and laid down the conditions for it. The Seventh Congress of the Bund has now accepted these conditions. Union with the RSDLP was adopted by 48 votes against 20. Thus, the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party has at last become a truly all-Russian and united organisation. The member ship of our Party is now over 100,000: 31,000 were repre sented at the Unity Congress, and then there are about 26,000 Polish Social-Democrats, about 14,000 Lettish and 33,000 Jewish Social-Democrats.

Representatives of the Central Committee of the Bund joined the Central Committee of the RSDLP The rather difficult work of unifying the local organisations of the Bund and those of the RSDLP now lies ahead.

The second question discussed at the Bund Congress was that of the present political situation. In a detailed resolution, adopted by a large majority of votes, the Seventh Congress of the Bund accepted the convocation of a constituent assembly as a tactical slogan, and rejected all reservations tending to weaken this slogan, such as “through the Duma”, etc. Boycott of the Duma was rejected condition ally, that is to say, the necessity of taking part in the elections was recognised provided that the party of the proletariat was in a position to carry out an independent election campaign.

The third question was that of “guerrilla actions”, without any division of them into “expropriations” and terrorist acts. By an overwhelming majority, a resolution against guerrilla actions was adopted.

The last question concerned the organisation of the Bund. Organisational rules were adopted.

We limit ourselves to this short note for the time being; we hope in the near future to acquaint our readers more fully with the decisions of the Seventh Congress of the Bund.