Over a long period of time, the Ligue Communiste (French Section of the Fourth International) and the organisation around the paper Lutte Ouvriere have been having discussions in order to explore the possibilities of fusing their two organisations. [illegible] perhaps necessary to explain the background to these talks in order to emphasise their lessons for revolutionaries in this country.
Lutte Ouvriere, unlike organisations such as International Socialism accepts the basic tenets [illegible] document we reproduce, it bases [illegible] the Transitional Programme of the Fourth International. It [illegible] for [illegible] the characterisation of the USSR as a degenerated workers state, it [illegible] the theory of Permanent Revolution, it believes in [illegible] democratic centralism. In all these points it is in fundamental agreement with the positions of the Fourth International. On the other hand in the period since 1938 it has developed differences with the Fourth International on a whole number of [illegible]. For example it characterizes China, Cuba and Eastern Europe apart from [illegible] Union as states in which the Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie exists. It does not believe that it is possible to build a democratic-centralist international in the present period and it has important differences with the Fourth International on the question of how to build national organisations. Despite all these differences it however believes that a unification with the Fourth International is possible provided that these differences are recognised and not treated [illegible].
The discussions between the two organisations have been protracted, but in the case of something as important as the fusion of two organisations this is to be welcomed and not regretted. The two organisations have still not decided to fuse but have decided to take more concrete steps to see if this is a realistic perspective. Because of the possible importance of this unification we have therefore included their preliminary agreement as an information document. We obviously hope that the process of unification can continue until a principled unification is achieved which will be in accord with the fundamental principle of Trotskyism. - Eds
PROTOCOL AGREED BETWEEN THE LIGUE COMMUNISTE AND LUTTE OUVRIERE
The crisis of May-June 1968 has once again demonstrated the absolute necessity of a revolutionary party capable of offering to the workers alternative perspectives than the reformist ones of the traditional political and trade union structures.
The Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere are conscious that the unification of their two tendencies would be an important step in the building of such a party and are conscious therefore of their responsibilities in this direction. For this reason they have for the last six months been engaged in discussions to investigate the possibilities for such a unification on the basis of their common theoretical positions; the [illegible] of the Communist International of Lenin and Trotsky. and that of the Left Opposition in its struggle against Stalinism. The theoretical outcome of this latter struggle is contained in the Transitional Programme of the Fourth International.
Taking account of the present differences between the two organisations, the leaderships have decided to effect the unification in three stages.
The exploratory stage of these discussions is brought to an end by the signing of this document. These discussions have allowed us to see the political and practical [illegible] which exist can only be overcome in the cadre of the unified organisation. The differences are not so great as to prevent this.
This phase must show the possibility of common work by the Lutte Ouvriere and the [illegible].
As a first step in this task, the Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere have co-ordinated part of their activities in order to [illegible] a number of campaigns.
They have, for example, put out a common appeal to militants to participate in the international meeting of [illegible] at Brussels on the 21st and 22nd of November. They have organised a campaign for equal increases for all workers against the resistance of the large unions who supported the principle of maintaining wage differentials. They have [illegible] the working conditions in the large factories and the scandal of public transport in the Paris area.
These are some of the instances in which the Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere [illegible] took [illegible] into practice.
During [illegible] period [illegible] activity, as soon as possible in the light of the development of joint [illegible] the Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere will see that a fusion will take [illegible] Rouge and Lutte Ouvriere, in order to verify the possibility [illegible] of [illegible] in a common organisation. Only such a preliminary period is [illegible] of showing that the Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere understand the rights and limitations of the right of expression of tendencies.
At the same time as these common activities, the Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere will continue their discussions in order to proceed to the [illegible] of a common programme dealing with the French and International situations. They will also draw up [illegible].
These discussions will be [illegible] and will take the form of meetings, of debates, of common pamphlets, exchanges of articles and other means that will be jointly decided upon. It is understood that each tendency will be able to deal with the matters involved in this [illegible] if the [illegible] gives positive results, if [illegible] common activity, if the issuing of a common press shows the possibility of the collaboration of the two tendencies, and the programme of unification [illegible] two tendencies, then a third phase will start. This will [illegible] on the basis of a common agreement and will lead to the holding of a unification congress of the two organisations.
From the [illegible] which have been held it appears that the following five points would define the functioning and activities of the proposed unified organisation.
1) The unified organisation will be the French section of the Fourth International. The militants of the unified organisation will participate in the discussions of the leading bodies of the Fourth International (World Congress, International Executive Committee, and United Secretariat) They will also take part in the international discussions and will participate in building the International.
On the basis of this agreement, the United Secretariat agrees not to change the democratically elected leadership of the French section. It also agrees to respect the orientation adopted by the majority at congresses and decided upon by the leading bodies of the unified organisation. The United Secretariat will also make a declaration to this effect at the time of the unification congress. This declaration will be published as an appendix to the statutes.
2) The functioning of the unified organisation will be according to the rules of democratic centralism that is to say unity in action and the [illegible] of free expression [illegible] The statutes of the [illegible] will provide for minority representation on all leading bodies of the organisation. In particular the unification congress will agree to proportional representation of the two tendencies at all levels. This basis of representation will be maintained as long as the two separate tendencies exist in the organisation. The Congress of the unified organisation will determine the orientation and sectors of intervention for the entire organisation.
The tendencies will have the right to express their points of view through the medium of the publications of the unified organisation. (These will have proved in the period before fusion their capacity to guarantee free expression.) A leading body for the journal will be established which will give political supervision to the expression of tendencies in the press. This body will be elected on the basis of proportional representation of the two tendencies [illegible] the [minor]ity will automatically be granted [illegible] of expression in the [illegible] with a [illegible] number of pages set aside for this purpose. The leading body in control of the journal will be [illegible] by the Central Committee with ensuring the democratic running of the press. The body concerned with the journal will be responsible for securing suitable persons to ensure the regular running of the press. It will also establish an editorial board which will be established without distinction as to tendency, and will involve militants of both tendencies in the editorial work of the newspaper.
The same procedure will apply in the case of other publications such as theoretical journals. For example the minority will automatically be granted four or five pages or an article in each issue.
As [illegible] as this day to day discussion, which would be carried out as outlined above and [illegible] the minority will be free to carry on if it chooses, [illegible] involving the whole organisation and involving contributions from members of both tendencies and any other tendencies which may be formed.
The tendencies would participate in discussion meetings. The nature and importance of these discussions would be determined by the prevailing circumstances (particular political questions, preparation of conferences, congresses etc.)
At the public level, whenever questions of such complexity as to warrant it arise, the [illegible] of discussion bulletins without limitations of length will be undertaken. These bulletins will appear, according to the choice of the two tendencies, either in the form of a discussion between the two points of view, or in the form of the exposition of a single position. They will be publicly sold.
A commission will be set up for the control of the internal bulletin which will have equal representation from the two tendencies. It will be charged with the preparing and circulating [of] regular issues of the internal bulletin.
3) The task of implanting the organisation in the working class both in the trade unions and politically, will determine the policy of the unified organisation; this involves the main allocation of members being to this type of work.
However the unified organisation will intervene in all fields and milieus. For each of these areas (workers, students, peasants and farm workers, teachers) the allocation of forces will be [illegible] and with consideration to the fundamental aim of the organisation as it [is] outlined above.
4) The basis of organisation of the unified body will be the cell. In all fields of [illegible] the work of the cells will be under the direction of the leading bodies of the organisation.
[illegible] will elect the leaderships of the section, of the town, and of the region. These will direct their activity.
The allocation of new members will be ultimately decided by the appropriate leading body but will be done after discussion with the member and the cell concerned. Members of the two existing tendencies will not be moved from the fields where they were working before the fusion without the agreement of the two tendencies.
5) The implantation of revolutionaries in the factories involves both autonomous political intervention by the unified organisation by regular activity of workers cells, and regular activity by working class militants in the Trade Unions, particularly the C.G.T..
The Ligue Communiste and Lutte Ouvriere are aware that they have often had different experiences in this field. but they believe that their political [illegible] on the necessity of working towards such an implantation in the working class will allow them to realise a synthesis of their different points of view and this will enable them to develop and strengthen the unified organisation.
For Ligue Communiste: Pierre Frank, Charles Michaloux, Henri Weber
For Lutte Ouvriere: Francois Duburg, Jean Lievin, Jacques Morand