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Speniah Edition ol -oednfarm Journal Article "rrogreaaLve Unions In Guateaala"
EBLJU773
. 3' *r* fari-rvlixV. herewith the manuscript of an article "rrosreeelvc Agrarian fioforn inoth lnish original andpanieb Wa ahall appreciate if you willba tswisletlon for linguisticespecially in tba appllcaUon of tbe ooaaunlat party lingobut atnee the article would be assumed to her been translated froa tbe laieaian, seme minor mistakes would be virtually Inevitable (especially in tha re-tranelatton of the apanlouotatlono).
. , ndicated in reference, we recucst that the Spanish text of thla article be insertedeprint of the spanish edition of tba Comlnforaorx ibr-adora, par una denocraclahich should otherwise be reproduced without changes, ho augnast that you take tho La teat Issue available (presunahly the "ay U, or nayasue) and have KURIOTopies, with subject article insert.
3. ibnse copioa suet reach lzkulfl not later Uianreferablyon Saturday,0 tbat wo can dispatch them Infield distribution. We appreciate that ttdatrain upon EJRIOT pereonuel but you realise that we suet raloe tba MM effort oulokly in this last phase of our project.
from
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W1LLZAII j. rlAYJOH
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PROGRESSIVE AURASXAU REFORM IN GUATEMALA
By A. J. Beelakov
(The author la an expert agronomist in the Central Secretariat of the CPSD" who has recentlyetailed study of the agrarian problems In Guatemala and of the tasks of ths Guatemalan Labor Party In connection with these problem.)
Idhuidation of ths feudal estates of the big land ownara and ofoxplnited by foreign capitalists bas nowhere in Latin Americaimpressive progresa as In Guatemala. Hain credit for this fastof the tenant farmers and landless farm workers, mostly Indians,ls due to the PG? which had placed slxeady
JL^Jf! fTSfar*rd8Qhlngreform Into tho very center of its political progrsn.
_ ySSf at the sixth plenary session of the Central Cconlttw of the OoBsnmLst Perty of Ouatenale, Comrede Jose Manual For tunyeport in which he emphasized!
party must undertake the struggle for agrarian reform as soon as possible end must carry our battle-cry to the rural masses, to tha richhe poor peasants and the medium peasants, to the euo> enBlavod "ay* colonog, to the workers of the field. In order to encourage abtion from below which would lead to the applicationourgeois peasant agrarian.
Political Ooanittee decided on the creationroupand propagandists who would go out into thoInfonaed, for whichoursepsratian has boon organised, This iais to maintain ths closest possible ties with theagricultural laborers" organisations and, therefore,must bo undertaken aa rapidly and ss carefully asls necessary that the importance of thla task be fullyencourage interest and recruits for this brigade oftho figrerian reform program, and that the demands of theths agricultural workers bo
Results Aohloved ln lgff
Fresident Jaoobo Arbens of Guatemala, ln his report to tho National Congress on Marchb, summarised tbe successes of the agrarian reform law lnWxe following terms,otal of UUbsUSU hectares has bterox^reprilted from private owners since the reform law become affective as wellB twAsDexploiters, especially from. United Fruit Company and Its oubsidlsrles. ctareS of land have already been distributedU landless.
furthermore, UU national farms had bean turned Into farming oooperativsfleobers. The government haa also provided cash loans, livestock subsidies and free expert edrloa to tba farmers vbo benefited by the agrarian refenu
Prosidont Arbens stated in his report vltb Justifiable prldei
ffZhe principal obaractarlatic of tho applloation of our agrarian prograa istat tha delivery of land to snail farners snd agricultural workers has produced tangible raoultebort Tho cultivation of tho lands delivered to snail farmers snd agricultural workers and tbs crodite granted then to harvest their crops, hOyO begun to flow into tho narket in the forareat production of articles which immediately nada oortaln Items cheaper, snd in ths form of greater incomes in ourreney for the farmers themselves
have Information that soma small Isndholdsrs bare bod not profits ofuetaales during the first year of Agrarian reform, that Is, after subtracting the total of their old annual salaries* Thare are fan families .vbo bave acquired radios, ahoes, new clothing, and even articles which up to now had been superfluous to them such as lotions and perfumes. There are groups of workers vbo bare acouired gasoline motor
Towards liberal or towards socialist agriculborsT
These rapid successes of our Guatemalan comrades in destroying the raaoante of feudal laa and in fighting against tba intrusion of foreign capitalists "Hi be wholeheartedly applauded by ocamazniata eiaiyslawo ate realise tbat tbaae oomiadas are our advance guard in latin America, struggling under particularly difficult and dangerous oonditdono. Suoh recognition,vor- doeo not relieve us of the duty to apply tbe criteria of Bolshevist criticism and eelf-crlticlm to their work, too.
The policy pursued by the Communist Party of Guateaala and by its successor, tha POT, placing the agrarian reform into tbe center of its entire rfT^ltfcorrect. The first phases of thatzja*prl-sting the big land owners and the foreign capitalists, also oorrespcndto
hara lB obviously still tooland left in the hand of Dig owners, kulaks snd foreigners.
How, however, government and congress of Guatemala, aptly led by our ooaradea, are confronted with several momentous decisions. The first
un retmfifOV*coffee) in order to make
up for tbat country's deficiency In industrial producUon. These exports gravely restrict Guatemala's true economic as well as political freedom, an long aa the largest part of them goes to ths CS.A. Isolated, little Qu*Ws is no natch tor the inperlslist giant of North America, Tha only
. ^, cononic cooperation between thia^ reliant Central Aaorloan republic and the bloc of tho Soviet Onion and the
emocracies. OnlyGuatemala's coffee and other export crops have no longer to be marketed on the capitalistic markets of Mew fork and Chicago, but will be exchangedasis of equality with socialist countries, will this externalhis evor-preaunt pressure from Well Street recede below the danger point*
The second decision concerns proper economic planning. The report of President Arbenz, from which wo have quoted above, indicates clotrly that Guatemalan planning thus far has hardly advanced beyond taking tho land from tbo big owners and parceling it out among the landless and the poor peasants. An easily recognisable danger sign was mentioned already ln Arbenz' speechi the peasants who bonefit from the distribution of land use their midden affluence to goild buying spree for luxury goods, even including perfuas and automobilee.
It should bs obvious tbat the economy of Ouatemala cannot support such luxury consumption. If the workers and peasants of Ouatsmala want to work towards liberation and socialism, they muat forego all consumption not vitally essential to their lives and their work. Strict planning must suppress import of non-essential consumers goods and restrict domesticof consumers goods.to the absolutely Indispensable. overnment which has truly the future of tbo workers and peasants at heart, east drain off tba additional inooae derived from tbo expropriation of the big land owners and tho foreign capitalists as veil as from Improved, mechanisedbo do and must channel those funds Into increased production of capital goods, more and better farm aachinory, traotor factories, oannsries end other food processing plants, new highways, railroads, port and airfield facilities, end so forth. Unless the consumers1 goodsla strictly and offootlvoly controlled and the capital goods* basis adequately broadened, tha promising nee start in Ouateaala is soon going to slacken and die down for lank of further impetus.
Collectivehe only solution.
Even more important then these two questions of export and planning la the fact that the present change-over from big estates to small individual farms and home steads must be clearly and unequivocally recognizedare transitional phase in the social revolution which has started so auspiciously in Guatemala. Even in Russia, with Its strong historic traditions of ooawmnal land ownership, land was first shared out indiscriminately in order to achieve the groat purposes of the October revolution.ew years later, the Soviet people reoognlzed that individual land ownership meant eeonomlo stggnation and tha Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Onion decided therefore upon the ooUectlvlzatlon of agriculture, upon tho establishment of collective end state fares. The unprecsnted rise of Soviet economy dates iron that deoloion.
Pollactive agriculture Is even more urgently needed in Ouatemala than lt see in Russia i tbe technological and geographic conditions make individual farming most disadvantageous, tbetio character of the peoplethe benevolent discipline of cooperative work or. colleotive farms and tha external threat of imperialist interventionetter oentralised oocdal and political structure equally Indispensable.
We have proaeiited the above analysis to the delegates of tho POTecent exchange of views* The fact that they agreed on the basic soundness of our arguments reflects the maturity of their lenlnist training and practice* They explained that thay bad never doubted the very temporary character of Individual farm ownership but that they bad felt lt tactically unwise to raise the conoreto question of collective, socialized farming before the present phaoe of the agrarian reform (for which they still depended largely upon cooperation of petty bourgeois and liberal elements) bad been completed and fully consolidated*
Tbe wealth of experience about socialist revolutions in agriculture which wo have gathered in the Soviet Onion and ln the countries of tbeeaocraoieo will benefit also our friends in Ouatemala* It will convince thenand will help them in turn to convince the workers and peasants of their valiant countrythat tbe moffsmoiit wblcb they started with their agrarian reform east not be allowed to rest until ita ultimatethatully socialized agriculture, baa been achieved,
I -She longer the phase of individual fan ownership and unrestricted buying of unproduotlve goods. Including luxury marcher.dlso, lasts, theifficult will lt be te ofarooea tbe Ingrained individualism and sense of private property among the beneficiaries of tbe agrarian reform, thia phase anst therefore be cut abort, if the future of the workers1 andstate in Guatemala is not to be gravely imperiled.
illion men and women, living under the banner of cossajniaa in many lands throughout Europe end Asia, look expectantly at the work of the courageous agrarian pioneers ln GuatomalS) reedy to assist them withice and with every kind of moral and material support in their dramatic struggle.
ue laa derrendae do loarcbajadores soon fceauitoafia para aai ootiouiar ell xwolutaadanto on esta brigada de prope-gandletee del progxaaa de la release aarerls."
SI rresidente Jcoo to Arbons de Ouateanla, en su lnforrae el Congreso Maolonal en nersok, resuadd los auoeeos de la lay de la roforma agraria en lee alfiuientes ternlnoei un total desotsreaa banrepletarloa prlradoa ieede quo la lay de le rexorne se hlao efactive, el lgualectareeeee eapltallstae explot^dareo extran^eroe, eapaololaente de la united Fruitna aubsldiarlos do laa EB.OT. 3 heeUraaa de terrene hen aideu oanpenlnoe one oareelsn deeoposinos pebres* has ado, uU flnoaa naolonales han aldo ooovertldee en finoas de oooparatlva de un totalMt adeobroe. SI goblomo Unblftn be proporclcr*do prestaoco aa efeoUTO, snrsrtrtloo deoneejon da espartos para todose,sa1im one ee hnneflolfm con le reform agrerla.
EL rreeldente Arbem Indies eonorgollo cn va Inferos lo elgulenteiprincipal csr&cterla-tlca de la apitnaoiitn de nosstro piu^ase agrerlo as one laerehajadores ha produoldo resultadoe tangibles en nay corto tienpoaltlvo de Iss tierreaoa poonofiosl orodlto oicrgada para el cultivo de loo frutooron el aoroado an la foma do gran Drodueolon de artlculoe los ffufrlts lnavdxatanetite Mcloron one olertoa produetoo bajaran den la force de ssryeree lngreeoa an aenede oerrlsnte para lee proplee
nos henee Inforaedo quo alannos hooondsdos tuvieron beoefloloe netoejoeteales durante si prlser she est la reforna agrarla, eso ee, loego de saoar el total de ens antlgnos salaries annalos* *lgr?rwB fanHlss de oaapealnoa
cuiriJoaste artlculo^ quo hosto shore habion nido ruperflnos para olios, talcs comoorfnoes. Algunoo firupw den ccapraao vehlculoa do motor ..
tltoctalculturaeeds la soolallstaf
rSpidos trlunfoo do nneetros aemeradae ^untenaltcooe al deetrair loa eestlgloo delo luchar oantra la intrusion do los oapltallotos extrunjercs oerf spleudida de tooo oorencV por losodos los lugaroo, quioooo so dan cusnta que estoe osasradas quiones eon nuostra vui&usrdle en la Aaerlca Latino, eatenbejo eondiclcooi partlculornuntooligroefls. Sate rcoonsoiaieato, sin eabergo, no nee rolcvaa obligacloh do splicer el criteria de le criticsritlca propiaare sus oorce.
Lo politics persoouida por el rartidoer bus anoeeares, ol rOX, en Oaatctsae, el poner la roXoma atpraris caro oentro do sue plooos oofuerxoe, rui sin dude nlgaae aoortada* Lt priaora fasa do la reforms* alos grandeeee cepltaliutea extrenjerts, tomhien ests. de acuerdo oon msatroa ocnceptoa oooialiotasaunqna us evidente quo affn paisaneeen nuchas titrrcs en sencs do grandos hnoeadadoe, "kalake* (rieoertranjeros.
/loUuiLaento, sin embargo, oll oon^reso de Onatonala, sablenento dLrigidos por nuestros oeroradfls, so ccnxronton con variae daolalonosejl La primera aord tomncia en el oaapo dal ooaeroio cittranjeroj la agriculture de Quataoele ee veroduoir extensaaante para lo exporteoion (priseruaante cafe) pare sal ccmponsci- la dafiolenaie en la produeoifin industrial. Bates on?ortaoicnos reotringen grsTononte le vsrdaasre ecoocsoa do Quatenale el lgoal one an llbertad politico, adsntrae gran parte ds estseosAislode, la pequefie Ouateenla no pnede ocepotlr oon el gigante Inperialiota yanouii por lo tanto le Inloe soluol'n praotloa es le
n
tvitrocha cooporaslad cccnfatca entre lo vallonte ropu*nllca 'iu lo Americalpolitico <te laaa Jeuocracias populare*. si aolcaeatctroe protuotoa do exporbiolon do Guateaala no tuvlaraa tfua oar vendldos en los aercedost/re da Mawudleren oer iiitcrcasuiedoe sotre una bass do Igoaldad oon los paXaas eoolsliataa, asta anonssa interns, estaiuupre ojerolda por Mil Street retreoederla oojo al punto da pollgro.
ia oesunda denial Ann odoouado plsnesniento aooncsOoo. CL informrrealdento Arbens, el ouallaaxlo erribe. iaattoo clarenente que el planea-Eianto dosta feobo no harosperedo asm alii do qui tar lea lasds srendesepartirlas oaoa eespealnoaos cbo oareoisn do tierrae. Dn oigno do peligro fauilnante reoonooldo ta8 nanrlnrndn en el dlsjourso do arcana* loo cos^esinos quo se beosfioisron on la elstrlbuaien da la tiers* eaplaaron on rapanUaa oflnennlo en ooaprsr ola ton nl son ortlouloa da Injo, bastsfltcssSrlles lnolnadsa.
Oobo de oor ovldante one la ooonarto do Qoataaala oa puede aoetsnor esto grpwvtlo do laje* Si lotssajaolnoo doioron trabajar beoia all ervrfWHam, oaboo doodo jsoto quoo ritclara oaaa trebojo, Od plsaosodeoto ostrioto debo de suprlsdr la inporteclao da ortidulos do www* qua seenostfing.tr la producclon 'tonfletios do artionloo do ondlepsneables Adoaua, un goblorno cue so tnteroaa por el futnro do anaonpesinjoe dwbe da saoor do sua entrudaa adloionalos, derlvedos do la ossroplaaion do loo grandee togratenloo oapltaliatas extrenjeroe, al igual ant do loa as todos aejorodoa do Kacsnlsnoa do produoeion do loa produotoa nard tales, doajer as<*ilnarlea do finoss,aa doibrins* dotras planus pare la elsbsseoion do aldjasstos, auavoa carretersa. vfaa ferreos,acllidsdoseto.ance one loe aeotoree de produotoa do
:oaeusio seanfectivamenteu ooco de los produetoe oapltales se amplicrawttdo nuevo arranque on Guatemala pronto aeorirs* por falta de mas Impulooal
iLabranza ColectiyelaUnion ^SolupdAaj
Ms lnport&nte nun que eatos dos asuntos dse planoanlento ee el becho da que lo transforation actual de Ins srendesaa peeuefias finessogares deba.de serneouivooajwntecomo una mora face tranaltorla en la revoiucion social en* ton /avorsblecente ba crawnsado en Guatemala. Aun en Rusts, con sus fuertes tradioloneo de prapisdsdes coannalea, la tlerra fueCospsrtlda Indlatlntoaente para aonssgair los grandee propdaitoa da la Revoluolon de Octubro, algonoa aflos mis tarda, loe sevl&icoo recocoolexon quo la propicdsd Individual algntflrahaand ontol Oomlte Central dol Partldo Ccaunlata da la Halflq Scrriitica aa decldio por la coleo* Uvlasoidn de la agriculture, oatablooisfido laa fiooas delas flncss coleotlvso* il Sboento sin precendentee de la ecoooBCLa sovzitloa data de ess decision.
La agricultura colactiva e& afts urgentesEnta neceeitsda aa Onateaala sua lo que lo fue en ftiela* las condlcioneaaagrAficaa bacon nao denventajoa*
la labransa prlvado, el carfctor lndivlduslista de la gents require la diaciplina benefice del traiejo colectlvo en las flnoasa aaanata externa do la intervenolon lapert filiate baoa ignalmonte indispensable ana estrootara aejor centre*
lizada politics y .
bosotroa proeentamos esto analoe delegadoe del FO? durante una rooiente confereDOla. Kl beobo da one elloa eetmviaron do aouordo oon loe aolidoa argumentoa rea madurea ds suntreosalezrto lsnlnlatsaa SUas indlcarcn quo no
hen Judado ounoa dal osrfictor tcttporero do los propiodaues Indlvldualon,quo habian oonsiderado tfcticamonto ii^rudoato el presenter concretaocnte el as ntoa oolocti-vldod, la labrensa goclollaoda, ante* de quo Is actual fase de lasria (on la cual sun ee depends Largaiaonte de loa colostoo bureuooeaelonsntos liberales) hublern sidoJenanento conaolidado.
La riquese do OKporlenolao pobroevalueionee eoolsllotae on la agriculture, las oualos nosotroe horaos rocafilao da la OrdoYio loo poises do las dojaocrecloa popularea. tesfalefaueotree aalgouuatenalc. Looooeapotdnoe Jo oa valiente palsno so debe pennltlr quo el movixdeato quo elloe inloisron oon su wfarna agrsriaaata logrnr oa propoSlta final, 6po ea, aloensar una agriculture plenetaante Bociallzcda,
Kientres bob dure 2ft fese do las proplodadOBa conpra alae artlculos quo no ae producen en el pals (incluyendo sezenderle deee dlficll aerA el coabatir el tneoleedol aantldo de pronlodad prlvsda entre los beoefiaiedoo por le referee eexerla. Kate faee.por lo tento, debe do eeral no se cuiere perjudicar el future de loeel estado en (aWvseettss
Blllcriss doaijeros vivleado bajo el ertandarto conunista on alohasraveo deoie, adren expootatlvaaiante las cores de loa vallentes pionaros agrarioe en Ouatonela, rn-eparsdoe pore ayudarloa en au drenatilen luche conon tods oleae de ayudatesleli
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