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p Comrades, the October whirlwind fanned the sparks of the revolution into a mighty flame. The half century which passed after the October Revolution convincingly demonstrated its tremendous international significance. During these years, the entire face of the world has changed, changed in large measure under the impact of the October Revolution and its ideas, under the influence of socialism’s victories.

p With the birth of the Soviet state the struggle between the working class and the imperialist bourgeoisie has acquired a new character; its main hub has become the struggle between the two opposite socio-economic systems. A dividing line has been sharply delineated; on one side of it are gathered all the forces of the old world, the forces of reaction, social and national oppression, while on the other side are the forces of socialism, democracy and progress.

p At that time, the old world dominated five-sixths of our planet’s territory, it was incomparably stronger economically and possessed big military superiority. But the revolutionary epoch, alongside the demolition of obsolete regimes, is also blasting the traditional notions of strength. The new world had on its side the laws of social development, the revolutionary energy of the masses and the most advanced ideas of our age. And even in the days when 40 socialism was represented by only one country this gave it the strength to hold out and then go over to an historymaking offensive.

p In the course of the half-century struggle the correlation of forces in the world has fundamentally changed. One-third of mankind has embarked on the socialist path. The break-up of the system of colonial slavery is being completed: more than 70 new states have arisen on the debris of former colonial empires. The organised workingclass movement in the capitalist countries has become a tremendous force. Its influence is a big factor in the political life of these countries. Democratic movements, in which broad sections of the population take part, have grown tremendously. As a result of all these changes, it is no longer imperialism but socialism, the anti- imperialist forces that determine the main content and the main trend of social development. (Applause.)

p The peoples of the world have been able to see for themselves that socialism has abolished exploitation of man by man and national oppression and provided broad possibilities for the elimination of backwardness, for the advance of the productive forces, for progress. They have become convinced that socialism blazes the path to genuine democracy and freedom of the individual, to a lasting peace, to the banishing of wars from society’s life.

p Against the background of socialism’s successes it has become even more obvious that capitalism is incapable of solving the fundamental issues facing mankind. It is the source of immeasurable calamities and suffering for the masses. Imperialism breeds aggressive wars and today the threat of a world thermonuclear conflict emanates from it. It is imperialism that caused the death of tens of millions of people slaughtered in the two world wars. It is through its fault that immense resources are wasted on the arms race, on the manufacture of mass destruction weapons. Imperialism is the obstacle which prevents the greatest potentialities discovered by science and technology from being utilised already now to wipe out starvation, poverty and disease. Imperialism is responsible for the fact that the countries which had been kept in colonial bondage fell behind many decades in their development. Imperialism is a system which brutally subjugates the working people and suppresses democracy, a system which has begotten 41 fascism, the most extreme embodiment of reaction, obscurantism and terror.

p The half-century separating us from the October Revolution has been a period when capitalism’s general crisis has deepened, when imperialism has been exposed in the eyes of the peoples and its influence undermined. But imperialism is not laying down arms. It is a strong and perfidious enemy. It has learned a great deal and is trying to draw lessons from its defeats, to adapt itself to the new situation.

p Under the pressure of the class struggle imperialism is manoeuvring, making partial concessions and widely employing social demagogy. The exacerbation of internal contradictions and the successes of socialism in the competition with capitalism are compelling the bourgeoisie increasingly to resort to state-monopoly regulation of the economy in order to mitigate crisis phenomena and maintain production growth rates. On losing its colonies, imperialism is going over to more crafty and refined methods of exploiting other peoples. Imperialism spares no effort and resources in the battle for the minds of the people. The growing influence of socialism is compelling the imperialists constantly to adapt their ideological weapons, their propaganda to the changing situation.

p All politically conscious participants in the revolutionary movement are taking into consideration these changes in the enemy camp and the complexity of the situation in which the class and liberation struggle develops today. They are devising the most effective ways of this struggle and are working to rally all the forces into a united antiimperialist front.

p In recent decades, the revolutionary process has gained a truly worldwide scale. There is no area in the world where the struggle for social and national liberation has not spread in one or another form. Imperialism is attacked from different sides. Even its positions which but recently seemed invulnerable have been shaken. Lenin’s prediction that in the struggle against capitalism the most diverse forces and movements will merge in a single torrent is coming true.

p We Communists are well aware of the scale and complexity of the tasks facing the revolutionary forces. Many tense battles have to be fought and obstacles surmounted 42 on the road to the triumph of the ideals of socialism and progress throughout the world. But we are confident that the present stage signifies a tremendous step forward on this road and it will take a worthy place in the annals of mankind’s struggle for progress and freedom, for socialism. (Applause?)

p Successful development of the world socialist system is the most striking and important feature of this stage. The world working class and all revolutionary forces rightly regard it as their greatest gain, their remarkable achievement. The emergence of socialism beyond the bounds of one country and the establishment of a system of socialist states marked a sharp turn in world development. This victory weakened the forces of imperialism still more. It instilled in the hearts of the masses greater confidence in the Tightness of socialism and the invincibility of its great ideals. New conditions for a further upswing of the revolutionary and liberation struggle, for all democratic movements arose in the world under the influence of living and developing socialism and the magnetic force of its example.

p In the past 20 years most socialist countries registered big achievements in the economy and culture, in the development of new social relations and socialist democracy. A fundamental achievement of world socialism which should be stressed is the creation of a new type of relations between states in which the socialist system triumphed. Fraternal relations between socialist countries rest on growing mutual trust and respect of the peoples and are based on socialist internationalism. Life shows that within the framework of the socialist community each country receives the most favourable opportunities for strengthening its sovereignty, its independence and at the same time enjoys all the advantages afforded by mutual assistance and comradely support.

p The entire experience of the world socialist system with its great gains and its difficulties shows that with the victory of socialist revolutions in a number of countries relations of a new type do not come to of themselves. Socialist countries encounter new, intricate problems and they have to overcome the hard legacy of the capitalist past, to resist the intrigues of imperialism which seeks to split our ranks.

p By their common efforts the fraternal Parties have 43 considerably strengthened the socialist community. Each nation contributes its own specific features to the common cause of building the new life. We value the contribution of each people, of each Marxist-Leninist Party to the international treasure-house of socialism. The common constructive efforts, expressing all the multiformity of reality, produce the great experience of world socialism, which is the possession of all mankind.

p Speaking of the socialist system and its development problems, we cannot ignore the events which deeply agitate all of us. It is the situation in the Chinese People’s Republic. The victory of the revolution in China was of great importance. It exerted a deep impact on the development of the national liberation and revolutionary movement in all countries of Asia and Africa.

p Unfortunately, the chauvinist and Great-Power course of Mao Tse-tung’s group, pursued in recent years, greatly harms the cause of socialism in China. This policy, aimed at undermining the unity of the world socialist community and the international communist movement, runs counter to the interests of the peoples’ revolutionary struggle.

p The events in China have fully laid bare the ideological and political degradation of some leaders of the Communist Party of China. At the same time they have shown that socialism in that country, even in a brief period and in the most intricate conditions, has succeeded in striking roots, in winning over the masses to its side. It is this that explains the stubborn struggle waged by the finest sons of the Communist Party of China, by the progressive forces of the Chinese people for preserving the gains of socialism. (Applause.}

p The Chinese Communists have what to defend and what to fight for. The general line of the Chinese Communists is that of building socialism, the line charted by the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1956. This is the line of planned balanced economic development and "maximum satisfaction of the people’s material and cultural requirements”. This is the line of "developing a democratic life”. This, the Congress decisions stressed, is the line of "eternal and unbreakable friendship with the great Soviet Union and all the People’s Democracies”. (Applause.)

p We believe that the present events in China are a historically transient stage of her development. We believe that 44 despite all difficulties the cause of socialism will triumph in the Chinese People’s Republic. (Applause.)

p Comrades, the path followed by the socialist countries involves intensive labour and vigorous struggle. We know that ahead of us is much work, great tasks, whose accomplishment requires the joint efforts of the fraternal Parties and peoples. In their turn, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the entire Soviet people will spare no effort for the strengthening of the world socialist community and for the winning of fresh victories by it. (Prolonged applause.)

p Allow me today on behalf of all the Soviet people cordially to greet the fraternal peoples who are building the new life. (Applause.)

p We address our first words of greetings to the courageous people of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam who arms in hand are defending their freedom and independence, their socialist gains. (Stormy applause.)

p We warmly greet the peoples of Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, the Korean People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Poland, Rumania and Yugoslavia who are confidently marching forward under the banner of socialism. (Stormy applause.)

p We greet the Chinese and Albanian peoples who are fighting for the preservation of the socialist gains in their countries. (Applause.)

p We wish the peoples of all the socialist states the greatest success in their noble endeavours. (Applause.)

p Comrades, an important place among the forces opposing imperialism is held by the working class in the developed capitalist states which is waging a struggle in the citadels of world imperialism. We know how difficult this struggle is. It demands not only great effort and courage but also the ability to pit a high degree of organisation and great political art against the imperialist bourgeoisie and all its manoeuvres and artifices.

p Despite all difficulties the working-class movement in the developed capitalist countries is steadily gaining in strength and accumulating new experience. The activity, persistence and growing organisation of the working people in the struggle for their vital interests characterise the present stage of the class struggle in the capitalist world. At times strikes involve entire countries. The working class more and more 45 succeeds in getting its demands satisfied. These demands go farther, become more radical, developing into a programme of struggle against the economic and political omnipotence of the monopolies.

p For the working class division of its ranks has been, and remains, the main stumbling block on the road to victory. But the experience accumulated by the working-class movement shows that unity is a vital necessity. This experience proves that differences in views between Socialists and Communists must not be an obstacle to uniting the ranks of the working class against the monopolies, against the war danger, and in the struggle for socialism. Despite the policy of the Right-wing Social-Democratic leaders who are hidebound in their anti-communist positions, the striving for unity is growing, and definite successes along these lines have already been registered in a number of countries.

p In the period after the October Revolution the role of the working class in the capitalist states substantially rose, and not only because it now comprises a majority of the population in these countries and is the decisive force in material production. The working class most consistently expresses the interests of the entire nation, rallying round itself the masses of the working people, all the anti-monopoly forces. It is beyond doubt that the proletariat in the capitalist world will ultimately score decisive successes in the struggle for its ideals. (Applause.)

p A major feature of the 50-year period after the October Revolution is the merging of the national liberation movement and the struggle of the working class into one revolutionary torrent. The 1,500 million people living in the former colonies and semi-colonies have gained independence and emerged as an active force in the political scene. This has extended the bounds of the world revolutionary movement and accelerated social progress.

p The winning of political independence, however, has not solved all the important issues confronting the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Considerable effort will be required to uphold and consolidate their sovereignty, to achieve economic independence and eliminate backwardness. The progressive forces of these countries are energetically demanding an anti-imperialist policy. The success of such a policy is guaranteed by an alliance of the national liberation movement of states, which have cast off the colonial 46 yoke, and world socialism, and by the strengthening of their co-operation with the socialist countries.

p Deep social processes are under way in the newly free countries. The struggle over the fundamental question—the ways of their further development—is growing sharper. Influenced by the victories of world socialism, the Asian and African peoples are increasingly striving for progressive forms of social organisation. That a number of young states has embarked on the road of non-capitalist development is an event of great importance.

p History shows that the elimination of backwardness and the advance to socialism, by-passing capitalism, presuppose the solution of many intricate social problems and require the creation of modern productive forces. The peoples of the countries which have chosen socialism as their guiding star still have to solve these problems, to do that in conditions when the heritage of colonialism has not been eradicated and conservative elements enjoy as yet considerable influence. Selfless defence of the revolutionary gains, unity of all the democratic forces of the people, hard work and persistent effort to advance the economy and culture— in all this the progressive representatives of the young developing states see a guarantee of their forward movement.

p The Soviet people extend warm greetings to all the fighters of the working-class and the national liberation movements. (Applause.) We wish you, dear comrades, fresh great successes in the struggle for the vital interests and rights of the peoples, for peace and democracy, for national liberation and socialism. We are convinced that our militant alliance will continue to grow and gain in strength. ( Applause.)

p The experience of the past 50 years has conclusively demonstrated that the efficacy of the efforts of the revolutionary movement largely depends on the cohesion and cooperation of all its detachments.

p The unity of the revolutionary forces rests on a reliable foundation. Each of these forces accomplishes its own tasks, but they have a common enemy—imperialism, they have common aims—the struggle for the interests of the working people, for peace, democracy and freedom. All this makes it imperative to unite the efforts of the world socialist system, the working-class and the national liberation 47 movements in a common offensive on imperialism. (Applause.) The international communist movement is the vanguard of the revolutionary forces, the standard-bearer of the idea of the unity of the revolutionary process. The contemporary communist movement, heir and continuer of the First International founded by Marx, arose on the crest of the mighty revolutionary wave set off by the victory of Russia’s workers and peasants. The Communist International played a historic role in creating and consolidating the militant MarxistLeninist Parties.

p The communist movement has traversed a long path in the past 50 years. While in 1917 there were only several hundred thousand Communists in the world, at present there are already 50 million fighters united in 88 Communist and Workers’ Parties. (Applause.) Among them are Parties which are directing the building of the new society in the socialist states. Among them are Marxist-Leninist Parties which are heading the struggle of workers in developed capitalist countries. In Western Europe, where more than 100 million factory and office workers are concentrated, Communist Parties have grown into a national political force, which is a development of great importance. The Communist Parties of Latin America are waging a tense struggle against the sworn enemy of the peoples, US imperialism, and internal reactionary regimes. The Communist Parties of Asian and African countries are rallying broad democratic sections and are increasingly winning the confidence of the masses.

p We know what courage and selflessness the Communists need in the capitalist countries. Imperialism is doing everything in its power to undermine the Communist Parties, to compel the Communists to renounce their ideals. In nearly 40 capitalist countries working-class parties are outlawed. For loyalty to the ideals of communism people are thrown out of work and deprived of their livelihood, imprisoned and executed.

p During the jubilee celebrations of the October Revolution we say to all Communists, to all revolutionaries who languish in dungeons and are persecuted: our hearts are with you, dear brothers and friends! (Stormy applause.) We are confident that no trials can break the spirit of Communists, no barriers can stop the development of the communist movement. (Applause.)

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p Communism has become a mighty force and its ideas are triumphantly marching over our planet. Their deeds have made the Communists the vanguard of social progress and earned them the reputation of the most consistent fighters for the interests of the working class, of all the working people. Communists have proved their ability to head the struggle for the overthrow of capitalism and the building of socialism. They have proved that they are the staunchest defenders of the working class in the capitalist countries. They have proved that they are selfless fighters for national freedom and social progress of the peoples in the colonies. They are upholding peace, freedom and democracy for all the peoples. (Applause.)

p Favourable conditions have arisen for a fresh powerful advance of the communist movement, for its new victories. But we must never forget that the mission entrusted to the Communists is a sweeping and intricate mission of remaking society’s entire life in a revolutionary way. Mankind’s transition from capitalism to socialism is an involved and multifarious process. In the course of it certain setbacks, temporary retreats and even defeats on some sectors are possible. The communist movement draws lessons from this.

p Experience shows that such a strong and perfidious enemy as imperialism can be defeated only if it is opposed, alongside determination and selfless readiness for struggle, by sober political analysis, cool-headedness and tenacity. The Communists put up against this enemy a strategy which rests on a scientific analysis of the relation of forces within a given country and in the world. They counterpose it with a tactic and forms and methods of struggle which most fully take into consideration the concrete conditions. Naturally, it is not easy to find at once correct solutions for the problems that arise. The world is changing and the ranks of fighters against imperialism are extending. All this requires constant study and generalisations, creative development of Marxist-Leninist theory and the spreading of its influence in the ranks of the revolutionary movement.

p Utmost extension of the struggle against the policy and ideology of imperialism acquires particular importance in present-day conditions. In an attempt to raise a barrier to the liberation movement imperialism is stepping up its activity and is launching new reckless ventures and 49 provocations. To successfully resist imperialism, to repulse its attacks and inflict fresh defeats on it, the Communists, all revolutionaries must exert tremendous efforts and mobilise the forces on all the main sectors of the battle.

p The Communist Parties are stepping up the offensive on the ideological positions of the bourgeoisie and are exposing the policy and ideology of anti-communism. Widely popularising socialism’s successes, they blast the slander and falsification, the anti-communist fables and myths circulated by imperialist propaganda. The Communist Parties are revealing the groundlessness of the various new cunning “theories” which are devised to whitewash capitalism. The Parties see in ideological work a requisite for winning the masses to their side and strengthening the anti-imperialist front. Our Party, for its part, will continue to exert greater effort in repulsing anti-communism and exposing imperialism’s entire policy and ideology. (Applause.)

p The Communists of all countries draw from the experience of the class struggle the conclusion that strengthening the militant co-operation, cohesion and active co-ordination of effort by all the fraternal Parties of the world is a prime requisite for solving the difficult, diverse problems confronting them. Only by acting as a united international movement will world communism be able to attain its great goals. The feeling of comradely support and constant co- ordination of action on an international scale is important for all of us today.

p The building of socialism and communism in countries of the socialist community, rebuff to the aggressive actions of imperialism, defence of universal peace and the security of the nations; the rallying of the masses under the banner of democracy, national liberation and socialism; further improvement of the strategy and tactics of the revolutionary struggle against capitalism—such are the main problems for the solution of which the world communist movement is closing its ranks. "Workers of all countries, unite!" ( applause)—this slogan, which resounded like a tocsin at the dawn of the revolutionary struggle of the working class, today too calls for the unity of all the anti-imperialist forces. (Applause.)

p We are convinced that the further consolidation of our movement is dictated by the vital interests of each fraternal Party. It goes without saying that each Party has its own 50 tasks and applies in each situation the appropriate forms and methods of struggle. All Parties are doing it on the basis of full independence. But the striking power and efficacy of a Party’s struggle depend not only on its achievements in its own country but also on the achievements of other fraternal Parties, on extensive and deep co-operation among all the detachments of the communist movement. {Applause.) Experience shows that deviation from the principles of internationalism, attempts to put up the interests of separate detachments of our movement in contrast to the general tasks of the revolutionary struggle and manifestations of national seclusion inevitably weaken the positions of the Communists in face of the common enemy.

p We note with great satisfaction that the position of the CPSU fully coincides with the positions held by the overwhelming majority of fraternal Parties which resolutely call for the consolidation of our ranks on the principles of Marxism-Leninism. (Applause.) A big role in working out the common ideological and political positions of the communist movement was played by the meetings ot representatives of the fraternal Parties in 1957 and 1960. The growing desire to strengthen unity is evidenced by such indicative recent developments as the Karlovy Vary Conference of European Communist Parties, the regional and bilateral meetings of representatives of fraternal Parties and the movement of solidarity with heroic Vietnam and the peoples of Arab countries who became victims of aggression. Today it is perfectly clear that the majority of fraternal Parties favour the convening of a new international conference. Our Party fully supports this idea and is ready to do everything for the success of such world meeting of Communists. (Prolonged applause.)

p Comrades, today the entire communist movement, together with us, is celebrating the jubilee of the Great October Revolution. Observing it, Marxists-Leninists summarise the results scored until now and outline the prospects of further struggle for the triumph of our common communist ideals.

p The Communist Party of the Soviet Union has always considered, and considers now, its activity and its experience an integral part of the activity and experience of the world communist movement. The CPSU has always derived strength and inspiration for its struggle and endeavours in 51 unbreakable friendship, in the militant alliance with the fraternal Parties. (Stormy applause.)

p Allow me, comrades, on behalf of our Party to voice the most sincere gratitude to all fraternal Parties, to all Communists, for their friendship, for sincere support of the Soviet people in their effort to build communism. (Prolonged applause.)

Allow me to convey to all Marxist-Leninist Parties heartfelt greetings and wishes of fresh great successes. (Applause.) Glory to the world communist movement, the leading political force of our epoch! (Stormy, prolonged applause.)