Page - 287 - in Otto Bauer (1881–1938) - Thinker and Politician

the question ofwar in bauer’s thought 287 classpositionoftheleftwasnotwhollyconsistent:asmentionedearlier, itsup- portedthecentristprojectofconcedingnationalautonomywhilemaintaining theexisting tiesbetweenallnationsof theempire.Because itdidnotwant to causeasplit, theleftadvocated,quite irrespectiveoftheslogansexpressed,an overallpositioncloser to the right thanthe leftwingof theZimmerwaldcon- ference,andsupportedthesdapleadershipinavoteofconfidence.Thelatter amounted to theopposition subordinating itself to theparty leadership, and thereforeagreeingtorejectitsdemandforpeacewithoutconqueredterritories orwar reparations. In late 1917, the SocialDemocrats still hoped theAustro- HungarianEmpirewouldescape theclutchesofwarwithnothingmore than aslaponthewrist, and that thepartymightcontinue its reformistpolicies.26 Bauerdidnotquiteagreewiththis, yethedidnotopenlyopposethepolitical line adoptedby the sdap. Itwasonly a fewyears later,whencritically revis- iting thepositionsof theparty, thatBaueradmitted their characterhadbeen pro-war–during the first years of the conflict, the SocialDemocrats suppor- tedthewarapparatussimplybecause they fearedtheoverwhelmingmightof Tsarism.27 “Notonemanandnotonepenny for thecapitalist state”’ (our translation)–Protocolof negotiationsat thecongressof theGermanSocial-DemocraticWorkers’ Party inAustria from19October, inDocuments, Programmes,Protocols, p. 116.MaxAdlerwas themain leftspeakeratthewarcongressofthesdap.Inhiscritiqueofthewar,heshiftedemphasis fromthepolitical tocultureandconsciousness.Heassumedthat theSocial-Democratic partycouldstopthewarbyweakeningthemasses’psychologicalandmoralpreparedness toparticipate init.SeeM.Adler1981b,p.282. 26 Towards theendof thewar,ministerpresidentMaxHussarekvonHeinleinbrought for- wardadraft for theestablishmentofnationalcantonsthatwouldallowthepreservation of the federal state. Thedraft foundencouragement fromtheGermanpart of the sdap leadership,yetthedelegatesfromtheSlaviccountriessupportedthesectionalinterestsof theirrespectivenations.On4November1918,foreignministerCountOttokarvonCzernin turnedtouspresidentWilsonrequestinghelp for thepeacemission.EmperorCharles i ofAustria’smanifestoof 17November, proposing to treatAustria as a federationof free nations, foundno support. Anote sent byWilsonon 19November 1918 recognising the independenceofPoland,Yugoslavia, and theCzechRepublic alsomeant theendof the monarchy. 27 SeeBauer1925,p.27.