FO~ A· SECOND FRONT IN EUROPEI ' I f., • ' EUGENE DENNIS ' ' Q - I l .f 1 ~ · ' \ ) .-'

' GIL GREEN •1 • '-. A WAR-TIME TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY JEAN FRANCIS

} - ' ~ ; • " . / . 1 · THE .NEW ROLE .,Of· CHINA I ' ' I , JA~ES S. AL~EN , .

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' I' I • I NAtiO~AL UNITY AND THE COMING ELECTIONS , < I • 1 I' ' I RALPH v. BARNES • ' • • • t ) • { . ~ .... LEs'soNs' FROM ouR WAR oF lNDEPt:NDENCE , , l·u ;, 1 A. B. MAGJI. ' ' ' 1 I I \" f f. , / , ' 1 '•' ,...,) ,l l /

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THE COMMUNIST A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM·LENINISM

EDITOR: EARL BROWDER

CONTENTS In Tom Mooney's Name Let Us Build the Unity of American Labor . . . ·. . . Statement by the N a­ tional Committee, C.P.U.S.A. . . . . 195 Tom Mooney: One of America's Finest Sons Georgi Dimitroff . 198 For a Second Front in Europe! To the Of- fensive Against Hitler! . . . . . Eugene Dennis 199 The Course of the War and the Present Tasks Gil Green . 214 A War-Time Tax Program for Victory Jean Francis 225 The New Role of China . . . James S. Allen 239 National Unity and the Coming Elections Ralph V. Barnes 250 Negroes and the National War Effort li'rederick Douglass . 262 From Leipzig to Riom Hans Berger 270 Lessons From Our War .of Independence A. B. Magil 277

Entered as second class matter November 2, 1927, at the Post Ofll.ce at New York, N.Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. THE COMMUNIST is published Monthly by Workers Library Publishers, Inc., at 632 Broadway, New York, N. Y. (mail address, P. 0. Box 148, Station D), to whom sub­ scriptio~ payments and correspondence should be sent. Subscriptf.on rate: $2.00 a year; $1.00 for six months; foreign and Canada $2.50 a 'Jiear. Single copiea 20 cents.

PUift'D IK 'IHII VoLA. NEW AND FORTHCOMING PAMPHLETS

William Sylvis and the National Labor Union, by Charlotte Todes . $.25

Harriet Tubman: Negro Soldier and Abolitionist, by Earl Conrad . .15

Earl Browder on the Soviet Union . .05

The Molotov Paper on Nazi Atrocities .05

Thaddeus Stevens, by Elizabeth Law.son .I 0

Smash Hitler's Spring Offensive Now, by William Z. Foster . .02

American Democracy and the War, by William Z. Foster .01

The Case of Ear! Browder: Why He Should be Freed, by Joseph North . .01

Japanese Imperialism Exposed: The Secret Tanaka Document .10

Thomas Paine: Selections, with an introduction by James S. Allen .25

From Defense to Attack, by William Z. Foster . .0 I

Work Under Capitalism and Socialism, by A. Leontyev .15

Our Ally-The Soviet Union, by Robert Minor .01

The War and the Negro People, by Jame.s W. Ford .02 • WORKERS LIBRARY PUBLISHERS P. 0. Box 148, Station D (832 Broadway), New York, N. Y. IN TOM MOONEY'S NAME LET US BUILD THE UNITY OF AMERICAN LABOR

(Statement by the National Committee of thle Communist Party, U.S.A., March 6, 1942.)

OM MOONEY is dead. came a symbol of the cause of the T Every working man, every working class and therefore the working woman, every youth and center of a world-wide struggle child of this great nation has lost that reached across battlefields and an irreplaceable friend and guide inspired the men of all nations. In and leader. The American labor California the "open-shop" move­ movement has lost one of its best ment of war profiteers had set out organizers in the brave Tom to destroy the whole American Mooney, upon whose face we will trade union movement or at least look for the last time tomorrow. all but the most exclusive of the unions of the skilled crafts. * * * Brutally reactionary politics, shar- The history of our country and ing in the loot of unprecedented its democracy-and the history of war profits, made use of the crimi­ trade unionism, without which there nal courts of California as a means can be no democracy in the modern to destroy any who dared to intra­ world-could not be understood duce trade unionism into new fields. without understanding the role of Tom Mooney was sentenced to the magnificent figure of Tom death by a frenzied reaction that Mooney. In the world-wide labor was a combination of greed and ex­ movement for the past twenty-five ploitation of labor, corruption in years the chai:acter and role of politics and a corresponding stag­ Mooney have loomed upon the hori- nation in the labor movement. He zon as a symbol of all that was most was convicted on false evidence of courageous and true and far-seeing a crime of which he did not share in the struggles of American labor. the slightest shadow of guilt, ut- In the midst of the great World terly strange to his life's record, his War, the young Tom Mooney of beliefs and those of the labor move- 1916, member of the Molders Union ment. and organizer of the Amalgamated Tom Mooney's distinction was in Association of Street Carmen, be- the fact that he became the leader 195

development development of of the the existing existing labor labor ing ing the the entire entire labor labor movement movement by by

fads, fads, but but through through the the inexorable inexorable against against the the "Left" "Left" are are really really injur­

movement, movement, not not through through sectarian sectarian unity; unity; that that those those who who start start baiting baiting

the the development development of of the the trade trade union union derstood derstood the the first first principles principles of of

to to make make his his graat graat contribution contribution to to age age in in the the unions, unions, Tom Tom always always un­

ist ist studies, studies, made made it it possible possible for for him him which which the the enemies enemies of of labor labor encour­

movement, movement, in in the the light light of of his his Marx­ narrow narrow bickering bickering and and division division

the the strategy strategy and and tactics tactics of of the the labor labor and and its its destiny. destiny. Never Never sinking sinking to to the the

lode lode star star of of his his life. life. His His mastery mastery of of confidence confidence in in the the working working class class

emancipation emancipation of of labor labor became became the the Tom Tom Mooney Mooney was was a a symbol symbol of of

follower follower of of Eugene Eugene V. V. Debs. Debs. The The must must be be counted counted that that of of Mooney. Mooney.

Marx Marx and and Engels Engels and and a a devoted devoted stimulated stimulated by by influences influences on on which which

people. people. Mooney Mooney became became a a student student of of growth growth of of the the trade trade unions unions was was

history. history. and and the the emancipation emancipation of of his his deeds deeds on on the the part part of of labor. labor. The The

the the underlying underlying principles principles of of modern modern In In turn turn his his example example inspired inspired great great

himself himself capable capable of of understanding understanding in in California California with with the the New New Deal. Deal.

in in an an iron iron foundry, foundry, Mooney Mooney made made labor labor that that mounted mounted to to great great heights heights

ment. ment. Studying Studying by by night night after after labor labor ures ures in in the the political political movement movement of of

science science of of the the modern modern labor labor move­ to to become become one one of of the the strongest strongest fig­

the the advance advance of of his his class class in in the the made made it it possible possible for for him him actually actually

priceless priceless key key to to enlightenment enlightenment and and strength strength and and incorruptible incorruptible courage courage

tional tional opportunities, opportunities, but but found found the the and and fear fear still still linger. linger. Mooney's Mooney's

miner, miner, Tom Tom inspired inspired Mooney Mooney respect respect had had no no even even educa­ where where hate hate

Son Son of of an an Irish-American Irish-American coal coal ment ment for for labor labor unity. unity. His His honesty honesty

the the faith faith came came and and the the a a pillar pillar work work of of of of light light Mooney. Mooney. in in the the move­

ter ter of of a a difficulties difficulties century century that that to to the the grew grew extent extent out out that that of of he he be­

than than the the of of long long Mooney Mooney struggle struggle was was for for able able a a to to quar­ surmount surmount all all

contain contain no no in in epic epic prison prison more more the the powerful powerful magnificent magnificent personality personality

American American labor labor trade trade movement. movement. union union movement movement Even Even while while locked locked

without without viser viser fear. fear. of of The The all all honest honest annals annals elements elements of of the the of of the the

class, class, Tom Tom Mooney Mooney Mooney Mooney became became went went the the ahead ahead friend friend and and ad­

of of his his duty duty many many to to his his years years union union of of and and imprisonment, imprisonment, his his

threatened threatened sentence sentence penalty penalty of of for for death death performance performance and and later later for for

ment ment and and century century even even death death of of imprisonment, imprisonment, became became the the first first under under

movement movement itself. itself. Throughout Throughout Where Where nearly nearly imprison­ a a quarter quarter of of a a

working working class. class. reaction reaction and and stagnation stagnation in in the the labor labor

and and would would embrace embrace the the pursued pursued whole whole of of his his the the course course in in defiance defiance of of

row row bounds bounds of of craft craft destiny destiny organization organization of of the the labor labor movement. movement. He He

his his work work ment ment in in the the would would light light reach reach of of historic historic beyond beyond the the nar­

that that the the future future of of the the derstood derstood labor labor move­ the the historic historic significance significance of of

lutely lutely adhered adhered to to that that his his in in firm firm doing doing belief belief se se he he brilliantly brilliantly un­

for for more more than than thirty thirty narrow narrow years, years, field field he he reso­ of of the the skilled skilled crafts, crafts,

eration eration of of Labor Labor in in Federation Federation good good standing standing of of Labor Labor beyond beyond the the

self self a a member member of of the the American American the the organization organization Fed­ of of the the American American

movement movement higher higher of of forms. forms. a a movement movement Him­ to to for for the the spreading spreading of of

TOM TOM MOONEY MOONEY 196 196 TOM MOONEY 197 disrupting its unity. Tom under­ Tom Mooney understood war, be­ stood that the trade union move­ cause Tom Mooney, born in the ment has not only a past and a starvation and misery of an unor­ present but also a future. Tom un­ ganized coal camp, understood that derstood that the labor movement the political struggle is inevitably of the nation is vital, as Lincoln carried into the extreme of violence said it was, through the ties that by the forces of class exploitation bind the working people "of all and reaction. Tom Mooney under­ nations and tongues and kindreds." stood this war-a war of advanced Tom Mooney understood that when humanity for liberation against the the workers of a great foreign land bloody beast of fascism. Tom triumphed over the Tsar of Russia Mooney called for the unity of and set up a great Union of Soviet labor; Tom Mooney called for an Socialist Republics. Through all of end to the division and splitting, the furious struggles with reaction of baiting of brother against Tom Mooney knew from beginning brother in the trade unions. Tom to end that the socialist state could Mooney understood the need for all not be otherwise than a friend and of his native land America to unite a strength to his own native land, to win this war by which alone, America. he truly and correctly believed, the Tom understood, as perhaps no great labor movement could con­ man could understand except one tinue and thrive and grow to still who has himself stood in the greater proportions. shadow of the gallows under un­ just sentence, the meaning of the • • • use of the criminal courts as a In the name of Tom Mooney let weapon of struggle against the labor us unify the 11,000,000 members of movement. Even on his death bed, the labor movement in still stronger Tom Mooney became the chairman unity. In the name of the great hero of the Citizen's Committee Free to of the labor movement let us win Earl Browder and closed his life the victory. with some of the most brilliant National Committee, Communist work he had ever done in the Party, U.S.A., struggle which he declared was es­ sential for the welfare of America WILLIAM Z. FOSTER, -for the liberation of Earl Brow­ National Chairman der, the General Secretary of the ROBERT MINOR, Communist Party. Acting Secretary TOM MOONEY: ONE OF AMERICA'S FINEST SONS

(A Cabtegram by Georgi Dimitroff, Generat Secretary of the Communist International, on the death of Tom Mooney, sent to his brother, John Mooney, on March 10, 1942)

LEASE accept my heartfelt con­ America, Great Britain and the P dolences on the death of your Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, brother Tom n4ooney. are engaged in a life and death In Tom Mooney we lost one of struggle against the criminal forces the finest sons of the great Ameri­ of Hitlerism, the bright memory of can people whose life was devoted Tom Mooney will inspire them to to prolonged struggle for liberty still greater and more determined and justice for the common people joint efforts to bring about a from whose ranks he came. speedy victory over Hitler's fascist But Tom Mooney belonged not hordes. only to America. His indomitable The victorious free peoples of spirit and courage, his great ex­ the world will enshrine in their ample of a steadfast fighter, found annals the name of Tom Mooney response in the hearts of all pro­ alongside the names of many noble gressive men and women the world heroes who gave their lives in the great historic struggle for the lib­ over. Now when all freedom-loving erty, progress and happiness of peoples, rallied around the mighty humanity. coalition of the United States of GEORGI DIMITROFF

198 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! TO THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST HITLER!

BY EUGENE DENNIS

INCE the fall of Singapore there to the enemy." And this is graphi­ S has been a growing realization cally indicated by the sending of in America and Britain that it is the second A.E.F. contingent to necessary to develop a strategy of Northern Ireland, an A.E.F. to attack and offense. As the New York Australia, and by the resumption of Times put it in its "Review of the large-scale raids by the R.A.F. on Week/' of March 8: Nazi-occupied France and Germany. However, it is not yet fully clear " ... With defense failing, the whether at this moment London and cry went up for a change of tac­ tics. Men in the streets and men Washington are contemplating "of­ in high councils were seeking to fensive operations" only, as Hanson shake off what has been called the Baldwin advises, or whether a 'Maginot Line complex,' the 'Singa­ major offensive is being planned. pore complex,' the 'ocean complex.' Nor is it sufficiently clear where and Increasingly the demand was being how quickly the main blows of the voiced and the promise made that projected Anglo-American offensive the attack would soon be carried to may be delivered, whether on the the foe ...." decisive European theater this Evidence of the new spirit and Spring or Summer, or from Africa orientation IS numerous. This is at­ and the Near East, or from China tested to by the important changes and the Southwest Pacific. recently made in the British Cabi- But one thing is becoming in­ net and in the reorganization of the creasingly clear: the situation re­ Army and Navy Commands of the quires-and makes possible-that United States. This is borne out by the common war efforts of the the President's Washington Day United Nations must be reinforced message and by the recent state- and more closely coordinated in ac­ ments of Willkie, Stimson, Knox, cordance with a unified global Donald Nelson, Philip Murray, Gen- strategy, undertaking common fight­ era! Marshall and Admiral King- ing action, and concentrating against all of whom expressed a common the heart and center of the Axis: viewpoint: "We must carry the war Hitler Germany. And there is a 199

pol- Allied Allied and and War: War: American American the the genuine genuine a a

is is country. country. own own our our of of Win Win therefore therefore It It book book cent cent Win Win Not Not Defense Defense

and and Nations, Nations, United United the the of of all all of of re­ his his in in emphasizes emphasizes Army Army States States

interests interests common common the the on on United United based based the the is is of of Kernan Kernan Col. Col. Lieut. Lieut. It It

America. America. of of defense defense as as and and For For security security Europe. Europe. Eastern Eastern as as well well as as

Western Western in in war, war, national national the the to to two-front two-front a a vital vital is is with with viewpoint viewpoint

Hitler Hitler this this in in confront confront to to expressed expressed means means now now This This policy policy The The

elsewhere. elsewhere. not not Europe, Europe, in in primarily primarily

(Ibid.) (Ibid.) " " ...... hands hands aggressors' aggressors' destroyed destroyed and and defeated defeated be be can can

the the into into play play to to be be would would Isles, Isles, ish ish Europe-­ in in resources resources and and forces, forces,

Brit­

the the in in

or or

continent continent American American

base, base,

main main

their their

Hitlerites-with Hitlerites-with

the the on on either either it it immobilize immobilize to to

The The smashed. smashed. be be to to is is Axis Axis the the if if

Asia, Asia, and and Europe Europe between between strength strength

defeated defeated be be must must Hitler Hitler Secondly: Secondly:

allied allied disperse disperse To To Wehrmacht. Wehrmacht. the the

against against blow blow knockout knockout a a on on trating trating

concen­ from from Allies Allies the the deflect deflect not not 1942.) 1942.) 6, 6,

must must Atlantic Atlantic the the in in raids raids many's many's Jan. Jan. Congress, Congress, to to (Message (Message " " ...... it it

Ger­ and and East East Far Far the the in in surge surge on on oceans oceans the the all all and and earth earth whole whole

rapid rapid Japan's Japan's that that held held attack attack the the of of but but world, world, the the of of section section

theoretical theoretical the the of of Proponents Proponents East. East. one one any any of of not not domination domination mate mate

Middle Middle the the against against campaign campaign Spring Spring ulti­ for for provided provided [Hitler's] [Hitler's] plans plans

Nazi Nazi possible possible a a forestall forestall would would Those Those drawn. drawn. been been had had conquest conquest

it it promptly, promptly, launched launched If If war. war. front front for for plans plans their their 1933, 1933, in in power power to to

two­ a a of of nutcracker nutcracker the the in in Hitler Hitler came came they they before before Even Even Nazis. Nazis. his his

catch catch would would it it pressure pressure Red Red Army Army and and Hitler Hitler of of aspirations aspirations gantuan gantuan

unrelenting unrelenting with with conjunction conjunction In In Gar­ the the with with comparison comparison in in modest modest

Libya. Libya. and and Egypt Egypt in in bases bases imperial imperial were were leaders leaders Fascist Fascist and and Japanese Japanese

from from or or Isles Isles British British armed armed heavily heavily the the of of empire empire of of dreams dreams The The ...... " "

the the from from sprung sprung be be could could ran, ran, tion tion

conten­ the the attack, attack, an an Such Such Europe. Europe.

that: that: people people Nazi-occupied Nazi-occupied on on drive drive American American

American American the the reminded reminded President President Anglo­ all-out all-out an an was was ...... broached broached

the the Harbor, Harbor, Pearl Pearl on on partner partner Axis Axis widely widely most most offensive offensive The The ...... " "

Hitler's Hitler's of of attack attack treacherous treacherous the the

after after shortly shortly instance, instance, for for why, why, is is observed: observed: offense, offense, the the to to defense defense the the

This This Stalin. Stalin. and and Churchill Churchill velt, velt, from from over over going going for for and and war war the the

Roose­ by by repeatedly repeatedly emphasized emphasized of of conduct conduct the the changing changing for for States States

been been has has This This Axis. Axis. the the of of base base United United the the in in demand demand powerful powerful

main main and and center center leader, leader, the the is is it it the the of of note note taking taking in in instance, instance, for for

Nations; Nations; United United the the of of all all of of enemy enemy The The way. way. under under Times, Times, York York New New

main main the the is is machine machine war war monstrous monstrous already already offensive offensive Soviet Soviet mighty mighty the the

its its and and Germany Germany Hitler Hitler First: First: with with synchronize synchronize to to Hitler, Hitler, against against

spring spring this this reasons: reasons: Europe Europe in in fundamental fundamental offensive offensive

three three least least at at for for Anglo-American Anglo-American possible possible major major and and a a tive tive developing developing

impera­ is is for for Axis. Axis. especially especially the the and and England, England, Hitler Hitler and and States States It It

over over victory victory achieving achieving for for feasible feasible United United the the both both in in this this for for port port

and and necessary necessary both both is is which which icy icy sup­ wide wide and and sentiment sentiment mounting mounting

EUROPE! EUROPE! IN IN FRONT FRONT SECOND SECOND A A FOR FOR 200 200 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 201 " ... We must launch a major five divisions in Western Europe, offensive in Europe. We must strike the rest being tied down on the at Adolf Hitler. On no account Soviet front. The gallant Serb army must we let the war with Japan de­ and guerrillas, over 100,000 strong, flect us from our central purpose are already engaged in effective or our main effort.... " military operations. The anti-Hitler movement of the peoples of the Thirdly: Hitler can be smashed occupied countries, from Norway this year if existing opportunities to Greece, from France to Poland are utilized, especially if America to Czechoslovakia, is growing in and Britain speedily develop com­ strength and would ass"llme greater mon fighting action in Europe with and more effective proportions if the Soviet Union and its stalwart a front were opened against Hitler Red Army, which is successfully in the West. continuing its offensive and hurling Furthermore, and most decisive, back the bulk of Hitler's hordes in is the fact that Hitler's war ma­ decisive battles on the Eastern chine-while still strong and not Front. yet routed and while still being What are some of the factors equipped by the armament output which make feasible the realization of over seventeen European coun­ of this possibility? Among these, tries-has lost the initiative to the mention should be made of the fol­ Red Army, has been put on the de­ lowing: fensive, is being driven back on the For one thing, the war efforts and main Soviet fronts, and is being combined military strength and compelled to use up vast reserves striking power of the United originally scheduled for the pro­ States and Britain are steadily jected spring offensive. The extent growing and already have assumed to which the Nazi army has already formidable proportions, despite the been weakened on the Soviet-Ger­ serious, although temporary, re­ man front and consequently in the verses suffered in the Far East. occupied countries as well, can be Over 4,000,000 trained troops, with partially gauged by the fact that in large tank and air strength and the first five months of the war on suitable supply bases, are available the Soviet front, during the stra­ in the United States and England tegic retreat of the Red Army, the for immediate military action on the Red Army and Soviet partisans European continent. Because of wiped out more than a million men augmented plane production and a month and destro.yed or captured because Hitler is compelled to con­ over 15,000 tanks, approximately centrate his main forces on the So­ 13,000 planes and 19,000 heavy viet-German front, the R.A.F. alone guns. And the effects of these huge already has attained air superiority losses on the lowering morale of over the Nazis in Western Europe; the Nazi army and on the people also the Nam have, according to of Germany are beginning to be Allied estimates, only some twenty- increasingly felt.

sudden sudden a a check check or or frustrate frustrate to to as as so so and and spring spring crucial crucial the the for for resources resources

East East Near Near and and the the in in reserves reserves forces forces Allied Allied remaining remaining the the his his all all ter ter

mus­ to to prepare prepare still still Hitler Hitler strengthening strengthening ables ables of of to to urgency urgency the the plus plus

war, war, en­ anti-Axis anti-Axis It It the the 1942. 1942. of of in in theaters theaters Hitler Hitler these these defeating defeating for for

reinforcing reinforcing of of need need possibilities possibilities the the and and existing existing of of Africa, Africa, realization realization

and and East East Far Far the the in in fronts fronts the the of of the the obstructs obstructs nations nations anti-Hitler anti-Hitler

exigencies exigencies the the the the of of that that action action claimed claimed is is fighting fighting concerted concerted It It

ward: ward: and and strategy strategy unified unified wide wide world world

for­ a a brought brought of of are are absence absence the the arguments arguments lowing lowing Europe, Europe, in,. in,. front front

fol­ the the Western Western earliest, earliest, a a the the of of at at 1942 1942 absence absence the the before before Clearly Clearly

West West the the in in Hitler Hitler at at strike strike can can ain ain activities. activities. military military of of theaters theaters

Brit­ nor nor States States United United the the neither neither European European crucial crucial the the on on allies allies ican ican

that that believe believe who who but but Hitlerism Hitlerism Amer­ and and British British its its by by operations operations

defeating defeating of of desirous desirous sincerely sincerely are are offensive offensive coordinated coordinated of of form form the the

who who forces forces anti-Hitler anti-Hitler the the of of some some in in support support direct direct no no has has Army Army Red Red

Among Among Hitler? Hitler? · · now now against against rope rope the the far far so so because because so so primarily primarily is is

Eu­ in in front front second second a a of of opening opening This This strong." strong." still still is is enemy enemy "the "the and and

the the against against advanced advanced are are reasons reasons off" off" finished finished less less still still and and routed routed

What What year? year? this this Hitler Hitler to to blows blows been been yet yet not not has has but but defeat defeat fering fering

fatal fatal delivering delivering for for opportunities opportunities suf­ is is "enemy "enemy the the ahead," ahead," culties culties

present present the the utilizing utilizing of of way way the the in in diffi­ "many "many are are there there phasized, phasized,

stands stands that that it it is is What What Union? Union? viet viet em­ also also Stalin Stalin as as However, However,

So­ the the with with together together spring spring this this

Europe Europe in in action action military military American American " " ...... clique. clique. Hitler's Hitler's destroying destroying

Anglo­ concerted concerted developing developing of of or or ousting ousting in in result result will will land land Soviet Soviet

the the of of liberation liberation for for war war the the that that way way the the in in stands stands that that it it is is What What

likely likely very very is is ...... " " And And land." land." It It

Soviet Soviet whole whole the the over over victoriously victoriously * * * * * *

fly fly again again will will banners banners red red the the and and

Crimea, Crimea, Soviet Soviet free free will will Karelia, Karelia,

and and Esthonia Esthonia from from Latvia, Latvia, and and ania ania

Nations. Nations.

Lithu­ from from Ukraine, Ukraine, the the and and russia russia

United United the the of of all all of of future future and and tion tion

Byelo­ of of villages villages and and towns towns the the

posi­ the the jeopardizes jeopardizes Europe. Europe. in in It It

from from him him

clear clear

Leningrad, Leningrad,

from from

fronts fronts

decisive decisive

the the

on on as as

well well as as back back enemies enemies bestial bestial the the drive drive will will

fronts, fronts, African African and and Eastern Eastern Far Far the the blows blows powerful powerful Army's Army's Red Red the the

on on war war the the of of prosecution prosecution the the fects fects when when distant distant not not is is day day The The ...... " "

adversely adversely It It Peninsula. Peninsula. Iberian Iberian af­

the the on on or or East East Middle Middle and and Near Near out: out:

the the in in initiative initiative the the seize seize and and try try pointed pointed 1942, 1942, 23, 23, February February on on Day" Day"

to to and and diversion diversion another another prepare prepare to to the the of of reorder reorder historic historic his his in in Stalin, Stalin,

Axis Axis the the enables enables also also everything. everything. It It front, front, anti-Hitler anti-Hitler world world the the of of

stakes stakes and and forces forces main main his his trated trated strengthening strengthening the the of of view view in in as as well well

concen­ has has Hitler Hitler where where front, front, as as system, system, and and rear rear Soviet Soviet the the and and

Soviet-German Soviet-German the the front, front, portant portant Army Army Red Red the the of of strengthening strengthening the the

im­ most most the the on on battles battles summer summer of of because· because· and and this, this, of of view view In In

EUROPE! EUROPE! IN IN FRONT FRONT SECOND SECOND A A FOR FOR 202 202 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 203 move of Hitler through Turkey, Hitler a knockout blow would mean Iran or Syria-all this, it is said, to smash the Axis and greatly to makes it impossible for the Anglo­ simplify all the other problems con­ American military command to fronting the United Nations so that concentrate the necessary forces for their solution would take much less time and trouble.... " (Speech at developing large-scale or effective the Overseas Press Club, February military operations in Western Eu­ 27, 1942). rope at this time, or in the immedi­ ate future. But this line of reasoning con­ Closely connected with the afore­ tains basic flaws which, if persisted mentioned argument, is the view in, will further endanger and weak­ that the United States and Britain en the position of all of the United are still too unprepared militarily, Nations. It subordinates anti-Axis that essential war production in strategy to the terms and conditions these countries, especially of planes prescribed by and most favorable and tanks, is still far from that of to Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo. It Germany and the Nazi-occupied serves to divide and disperse the countries. Possibly this is true, al­ war efforts of the leading coalition though the combined armament of the United Nations, namely, of output, not to speak of the re­ the United States, the Soviet Union sources and production of strategic and Great Britain, and prevents the war materials, of the Anglo-Ameri­ maximum coordination and con­ can-Soviet coalition, as well as of centration of the main blows of the aH of the United Nations, is now United Nations against Hitler Ger­ greater than that of the Axis and many. It negates the fact that the daily changes in favor of the world very opening of a second front anti-Hitler front. Moreover, while against Hitler in the West will the state of war production in the fatally divide and weaken the Nazi United States and Britain is still forces, will prevent the Nazis from below par, is unnecessarily and concentrating their forces as they seriously lagging, it should be re­ would like, either in Europe, or for membered that this is not a static a new drive in the Near or Middle situation. Considerable progress has East, or in Africa. It overlooks already been made in the United the most elementary and central States, especially since the appoint­ fact that with the military defeat ment of Donald Nelson as chief of and destruction of the Hitler regime the War Production Board and since and army, Japan and the entire the establishment of the Labor Vic­ Axis can and will be summarily tory Board; and still greater head­ routed and destroyed. And not vice way apparently has been made in versa. Evidently this is why Maxim Britain. Litvinoff, Soviet Ambassador to the The opening of a second front in United States, stated: Europe at this time would give the greatest impetus to the whole na­ " ... It is obvious that to deal tional war effort, including the

and and Anglo-American Anglo-American major major manpower manpower a a veloping veloping preponderant preponderant and and

de­ and and East East might might Far Far the the armed armed to to the the forcements forcements concentrate concentrate and and

rein­ military military coordinate coordinate can can large-scale large-scale which which scale scale sending sending world world a a

for for mature mature on on camp camp conditions conditions the the anti-Axis anti-Axis the the of of before before command command

that that and and recognized recognized be be strategy strategy should should it it unified unified Pacific, Pacific, and and single single no no

is is still still there there that that fact fact the the the the to to of of out out relation relation in in thirdly, thirdly, And And

India. India. and and Australia Australia arise arise They They strategic. strategic. and and political political

from from as as well well as as China, China, in in pecially pecially No. No. are are weaknesses weaknesses main main The The

es­ operations, operations, offensive offensive in in engage engage are. are. these these

to to as as simultaneously simultaneously indispensible indispensible and and opportunities opportunities vital vital duction, duction,

existing existing of of pro­ utilization utilization armament armament of of maximum maximum level level the the present present the the

with with action action and and naval naval and and armaments armaments of of military military of of sphere sphere the the in in lie lie

tactics tactics defensive defensive present present the the bine bine not not do do today today Nations Nations United United the the of of

com­ and and to to necessary necessary weaknesses weaknesses the the For For involved. involved. stre~gthen stre~gthen main main

is is it it East East Far Far the the in in Secondly, Secondly, factors factors vital vital most most the the miss miss They They

independence. independence. tional tional trees. trees. the the for for woods woods the the see see cannot cannot

na­ to to right right their their to to words words as as well well people people way-these way-these under under getting getting

as as deeds deeds in in given given be be recognition recognition really really now now only only is is Allies, Allies, our our to to

that that and and country country and and lands lands their their of of commitments commitments Lend-Lease Lend-Lease our our fulfill fulfill

defense defense in in struggle struggle armed armed the the into into to to as as well well as as forces, forces, armed armed own own our our

drawn drawn actively actively and and fully fully be be they they equip equip to to production production for for ebattle ebattle th th

that that people; people; Indian Indian the the to to pecially pecially because because offensive offensive major major a a in in gage gage

es­ peoples, peoples, colonial colonial the the to to made made en­ cannot cannot America America that that viewpoint viewpoint

be be shall shall approach approach new new a a that that and and the the of of proponents proponents honest honest the the that that

importance, importance, increasing increasing and and vital vital stated stated be be must must it it Furthermore, Furthermore,

of of ally ally and and par1ner par1ner a a as as treated treated fronts. fronts. battle battle the the as as well well as as tion, tion,

be be shall shall China China that that is is required required is is produc­ the the on on miracles miracles veritable veritable

what what First, First, accomplish accomplish would would strategic. strategic. and and effort, effort, war war political political

victory victory ultimate ultimate suring suring chiefly chiefly is is supreme supreme a a in in result result would would fore. fore. It It

en­ to to and and ahead ahead months months mediate mediate be­ never never as as Nations Nations United United the the of of

im­ the the in in Japan Japan against against struggle struggle all all and and America America of of peoples peoples the the gird gird

the the reinforcing reinforcing to· to· the the too too key key and and rouse rouse would would continent, continent, ropean ropean

here here strengthened, strengthened, be be should should and and Eu­ the the on on ftanks ftanks or or rear rear Hitler's Hitler's

neglected neglected be be cannot cannot which which fronts, fronts, on on fronts, fronts, or or front, front, decisive decisive that that

Eastern Eastern Far Far important important the the for for As As of of now now unfolding unfolding immediate immediate The The

Britain. Britain. Great Great and and effort. effort. war war common common the the strengthen strengthen

Union Union Soviet Soviet the the States, States, United United the the to to activity activity their their and and termination termination

of of coalition: coalition: leading leading the the of of place place de­ their their weakened, weakened, than than rather rather

first first the the in in and and whole, whole, as as tions tions a a increased, increased, it it people; people; British British and and can can

Na­ United United the the of of alliance alliance fledged fledged Ameri­ the the jolted jolted Singapore Singapore of of fall fall

no no is is still still There There theater. theater. full­ The The fields. fields. military military the the on on change change

European European the the front, front, decisive decisive new new a a with with pace pace keep keep than than more more

the the on on especially especially and and points points cisive cisive would would production, production, war war of of front front

de­ the the at at action action fighting fighting common common vital vital the the par!icularly par!icularly front, front, home home

for for Nations Nations United United the the of of resources resources The The production. production. for for battle battle crucial crucial

IN IN EUROPE! EUROPE! FRONT FRONT SECOND SECOND A A FOR FOR 204 204 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 205 offensive there, the United States Enemy Number One.... It may be will have to augment further its of little use to have large, well naval strength and positions, as equipped armies, say, somewhere in well as acquire air superiority in the West, if they are not in action the Southwest Pacific and China. while decisive battles are raging in However, before this, before the the East.... Only by simultaneous offensive operations on two or more United States and other United Na­ fronts . . . could Hitler's armed tions can employ the powerful and forces be disposed of. . . . I do be­ unused military power and armed lieve that Hitler could in this way reserves now available in the be destroyed by the summer. But United States and Great Britain, the opportunity may be missed. The for major offensives in the Far peace has already been lost owing East or Africa, it is both possible to missed opportunities. It would and. necessary to employ this power be too bad if the war were to be most advantageously and effectively lost because we let go opportunities in Europe. For one thing, there is again.... " (Ibid..) where Hitler must be smashed and there there are already :formidable While such questions pertaining bases and centers of supply and war to strengthening the Far Eastern production, such as in England and front, to expanding vital war pro­ within Ireland; and other bases and duction, to equipping and training points for attack can be readily es­ a larger army, navy and air force, tablished, if Britain and the United and to meeting the hazards of long States take the initiative and the supply routes, etc., are serious offensive, in Norway, France or problems to be faced and taken Italy, or in Portugal or Spain. Also into account in the opening of a it must be noted that America's second European front by the lines of supply to Europe are short­ United States and Britain, clearly er and more easily protected than these are not insurmountable prob­ are its sea lanes to the Southwest lems. These are problems which Pacific. can be favorably resolved by es­ In this connection, the observa­ tablishing closer collaboration tions of M. Litvinoff merit the among all of the United Nations, greatest consideration: especially by establishing a rounded out military, political and economic " ... events are shaping in such alliance between the U.S.A., the a way that soon there will be no U.S.S.R. and England. These are more fronts outside Europe along difficulties which can be turned into which decisive battles or even of­ their opposites when America and fensive operations of any 'sort will Britain display the necessary politi­ be possible, at any rate for a long cal and military initiative and to­ time to come, till new considerable forces have matured in the U.S.A. gether with the Soviet Union and But offensive operations of a de­ their other allies develop common cisive nature will be possible in fighting action this spring and Europe, and that against Public summer against Hitler's war rna- 206 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! chine on the vital Western, as well "impractical." These are the men as the decisive Eastern, fronts in who refuse to corner and strangle Europe. the rat Hitler in a two-front war Those forces in the anti-Hitler in Europe this spring and summer, camp who think otherwise, who and instead would in effect enable favor postponing an all-out struggle Hitler to try and regroup his forces against Hitler Germany until 1943 on the Soviet-German front and and 1944, who want to limit the simultaneously again to try and common war efforts and the de­ seize the initiative elsewhere and veloping alliance of the United Na­ embark on new adventures in the tions, who hesitate or are opposed Near East or in Spain and Africa. to wresting the initiative from Hit­ These are the men who, in seeking ler and the Axis, who champion to avoid the risks entailed in initi­ the thesis of a defensive and pro­ ating and fighting decisive battles, tracted war of attrition, are gam­ would lose the war. bling with the fate of our coun­ Clearly to win this war it is try and that of its allies. necessary, among other things, to The results of such policies are replace these men and to strengthen only too evident: First Holland, the General Staffs, the Government Belgium, Norway and France. Then and Congress with the most capable Jugoslavia, Greece and Crete. Now and resolute supporters of our Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Manila, President and our national policy, Singapore, Sumatra and Rangoon. It with the staunchest champions of is to be hoped that the first steps everything-to-win-the-war, of na­ which the President has taken in tional unity for a supreme war ef­ "streamlining" and reorganizing the fort, of common fighting action and Army and Navy high commands, in the closest collaboration of all of reorganizing the war production the United Nations. agencies, etc., will be carried fur­ ther. It is to be hoped that the * * Kimmels, Shorts and Knudsens, not So far, of course, we have di­ to speak of the outright appeasers, rected our polemics primarily who still remain in high places will against those forces and leaders who be quickly replaced before it is too are honest opponents of Hitlerism, late. who want to defeat Hitler and the For these are the men, steeped Axis even though their present out­ in the outmoded strategy and tactics look and policies hinder this, and of the Maginot Line, who have frequently lead to the opposite re­ learned nothing from modern mili­ sults. Many of these people are, in tary science and history, or who one way or another, influenced by learn too little and too late. These the appeasers, by the Men of Mu­ are the men who still tolerate nich, who exploit and utilize their "business-as-usual" and who con­ traditional conservatism and out­ sider the 1942 quotas of the Presi­ dated politico-military views to dent's Victory Production Plan Hitler's advantage. FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 207 Whereas the position of these appeasers who advocate and preach people, many of whom fall in the defeatism and pessimism, who seek category of the "turtles" who were to undermine the government, the so aptly castigated by the President, armed forces and the national mo­ is not identical with that of the rale, and who utilize every military pro-fascist appeasers, it must be reverse and difficulty to plump for recognized that the objective and a "negotiated peace" with the practical consequences of their Axis. political and military line tends to These are Hitler's un-American work in the same direction. For friends who, second only to der their "go slow" and ,"defensive" Fuehrer himself, fear and strive to policies hamper the realization of prevent the opening of a second the main orientation being devel­ front against Hitler and the Axis in oped by the government; it mili­ Europe--while they echo Hitler's tates against our national policy call for the "opening of a Soviet­ and objectives; it jeopardizes our Japanese front" so as· to try and national interests. divert the Soviet Union and the This brings us to the chief diffi­ other allies from concentrating culty hindering the opening of a their main blows against Nazi Ger­ Western front. This difficulty, or many, so as to create new difficul­ rather obstacle, is also political in ties for, and to try and weaken the character and source: it· is the de­ U.S.S.R. and all of the United Na­ featist and damaging role and ac­ tions. These are the appeasers who tivities of ~he pro-Hitler elements bend every effort to obstruct the among some of the monopolists, of establishment of a unified anti-Axis people like the Hearsts, Cudahys strategy and joint fighting action, and Weirs, and their political as well as a full-fledged alliance spokesmen like the Wheelers, Nyes, between the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R. Fishes and Lindberghs, and their and England, and who endeavor to lieutenants in the labor movement sow distrust and division among like the Lewises and Norman and to break up the world anti­ Thomases. These are the un­ Hitler front of the United Nations. American types whom the Presi­ In this connection, it is likewise dent aptly termed the "Cliveden necessary to call attention to Set," the representatives of the another aspect of that specialized most reactionary and anti-Soviet "school" of anti-Soviet thought and circles of the bourgeoisie. action so perfidiously and sys­ These are the modern Copper­ tematically cultivated and promoted heads who foster, manipulate, and by the Cliveden Set here and exploit "business-as-usual" and abroad. This is a renovated version "politics-as-usual" attitudes, prac­ .of pro-fascist appeasement which tices and conflicts within and out­ continually counsels that America side of Congress so as to weaken and Britain should "'concentrate" and obstruct national unity and the their main blows against militarist national war effort. These are the Japan, that American and Allied aid 208 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE!

to and collaboration with the So­ pect of this "line of thinking" which viet Union should be drastically predetermines certain political ac­ limited and curtailed, if not alto­ tivity, is that it has found covert gether terminated. support, for various reasons, in cer­ This corroding ideology which tain influentiaL circles in high helped to torpedo the policy of col­ places. lective security in the pre-war It is no secret, for instance, that period and which today more than some people in the State Depart­ ever violates and menaces Ameri­ ment and in certain army and navy ca's national interests is once more circles covertly support or, at best, being smuggled into public life. It are influenced by this viewpoint. is being brought forward in devious Certainly no one can gainsay the ways, especially at this critical time fact that this outlook already has when the mighty offensive of the hindered the full mobilization of Red Army is opening the way for our country for an all-out military the United Nations to join in com­ and political struggle against Hit­ mon fighting action with the So­ ler and the Axis. It has helped pre­ viet Union to deliver the mortal vent concentrating the main blows blows to the Nazi army and re­ of our nation against the main gime. enemy, Hitler fascism. It has influ­ The current "line of reasoning" enced America's relations with being circulated by this particular Vichy, Helsinki and Madrid to the "school of thought" runs something detriment of our country and allies. like this (although it is seldom put It has retarded the extent and scope so bluntly): "If Hitler is defeated of America's collaboration with the this year, the Soviet Union may Soviet Union and with all of the wield too much influence at the United Nations for our common ob­ peace table. Therefore, America jectives, for common victory over and Britain should conserve and the Nazi-fascist Axis. Certainly no build up their military strength one can deny that this Munich still further and wait to strike di­ mentality plays no small role in ob­ rectly at Hitler in 1943 or 1944." structing the speediest realization Also: "If Hitler's defeat is postponed of the President's call for an and the war on the Soviet-German "eagle" policy, for aggressive and front is prolonged, then possibly the offensive action which could find no Soviet Union may be weakened, if better channel today than that of not exhausted." And so on ad in­ boldly moving to attack Hitler's finitum. Western rear and flank now, in One of the disturbing, nay, one time. of the most dangerous things about Whatever the motivation, or this enemy propaganda is that the whoever the exponent, of such poli­ Cliveden S.et is still freeLy per­ cies, it is as clear as Munich that mitted to poison the atmosphere such "thinking" and any course of with this treasonabLe ideology and action which would endeavor to campaign. But the most seri01L8 as- postpone the defeat of Hitlerism FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 209 and try to "exhaust" and "weaken" which purportedly have as their the U.S.S.R., is as criminal and un­ object the weakening or defeat of Am~rican as it is stupid. It is crimi­ the Soviet Union. One answer was nal and anti-American because if provided by the results of Munich such a policy were to prevail, the and the attempts at that time to American people together with all isolate the U.S.S.R. and to turn the peoples of the United Nations · Hitler's aggression Eastward. This would have to pay far more dearly policy, as is well known, boom­ and painfully, would have to sacri­ eranged on its sponsors and was fice millions of lives beyond that largely responsible for unleashing which is necessary today if America World War II. and Britain join in common mili­ Another answer already has been tary action with the Soviet Union indelibly written in history by the by striking at Hitler from the West Soviet Union in the period since now, this spring and summer, June 22, 1941. For, as all the world when such united fighting action can now judge and as the epic of­ could deliver the fatal blows to fensive of the Red Army graphi­ Hitler's vincible armies. It is crimi­ cally confirms, Stalin was a thous­ nal and anti-American because and times correct when he stated such a policy would create added on November 6, 1941: difficulties for our ally, the Soviet Union, and would endanger the na­ ". . . Far from weakening, the tional existence and future of all setbacks of the Red Army, on the of the United Nations, in the first contrary, strengthened still more place of the United States and the alliance of the workers and as well as the friendship Britain. Any policy, and certainly peasants of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. this one, is criminal and anti­ "More than that, they trans­ American which knowingly or ob­ formed the family of the peoples of jectively would or does prevent the the U.S.S.R. into a single, inviolable maximum unity of military and camp which selflessly is supporting political action of the United Na­ its Red Army and Red Navy. tions, which tends to or actually en­ "The Soviet rear was never as ables the Hitler regime to prolong strong as today. It is quite credible for one extra day or one extra that with such losses as we have hour its barbaric existence and today, any other state would fail to murderous assault on the peoples withstand the ordeals and would and world civilization. And the peo­ deteriorate. If the Soviet system was able so easily to withstand the penalty ples will exact a heavy ordeal and still further to from anyone who is guilty of spon­ strengthen its rear, this means that soring, following or aiding such a the Soviet system is now the policy. strongest system. Such thinking and polices are as "Finally, the German invaders stupid as they are criminal and calculated on the weakness of the suicidal. Life itself has answered Red Army and Red Navy, believ­ the proponents of those policies ing that with the very first blow 210 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! of the German army and German whatever in the internal aftairs of navy they would scatter our army other peoples!"* and navy and open the road for themselves for an unhampered ad­ Furthermore, it should be borne vance into the interior of our coun­ in mind that the peace which will try. But here, too, the Germans follow the present single and in­ gravely miscalculated, overesti­ divisible war of the United anti­ mating their own forces and under­ estimating our army and navy."* Hitler Nations will be determined primarily and to a large extent by the character of the war and the And as for those "timid souls" relationship of forces existing inter­ among the bourgeoisie who are nationally and within each country "frightened" at the prospects of an at the end of the war. Since the "early victory" over Hitler lest the present war is a just war for na­ Soviet Union would "dictate the tional independence and freedom, peace," it might be well for them and since today there exists a dif­ to examine soberJy the war aims ferent relationship of forces on a which the Soviet Union has enun­ world scale and internally within ciated on more than one occasion. the various countries than existed The objectives, approach and prin­ at the end of the first World War, ciples which guide the action of the the character of the post-war peace Soviet Union in this respect were which will result from the common clearly stated by Stalin: victory of the United Nations will also differ from that of Versailles "We have not and cannot have or Compiegne. It can and probably such war aims as the seizure will be a just peace corresponding of foreign territories, the subjuga­ to the common cause of the United tion of foreign peoples, regardless Nations and peoples, which is to de­ of whether it concerns peoples and stroy Hitler and Hitlerism, to ren­ territories of Europe or peoples and der impossible the recurrence of territories of Asia, including Iran. fascist aggression and war, and to Our first aim consists in liberating our territory and our peoples from enable each nation to enjoy national the German fascist yoke. independence and the right freely "We have not and cannot have to work out its own destiny and such war aims as imposing our will aspirations. and our regime on the Slavs and Undoubtedly, to the extent that other enslaved peoples of Europe the solidarity and unity of action who are awaiting our aid. Our aid of the peoples and of the United consists in assisting these peoples Nations are consolidated and in their liberation struggle against strengthened, especially to the Hitler tyranny and then setting extent that the developing al­ them free to rule on their own land as they desire. No intervention liance between the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union is reinforced with a rounded-out * Sttdin Sptaks to tht World, Workers Library Publishers, pp. 5·6. *Ibid., pp. 14·15. FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 211 military, political and economic al­ whether early or later, will require liance, with joint leadership, with a supreme and combined effort of unified strategy, with common the entire world anti-Hitler front, fighting action, with joint responsi­ of all peoples. It will require greater bilities and sacrifices to bring about common war efforts, sustained com­ the complete destruction of Hitler mon fighting action and a closer al­ and the Axis--to that extent not liance of aU of the United Nations, only will the common victory of above all of the leading coalition the United Nations be accelerated of the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., and and secured, but also a common Great Britain. Anything which understanding can and most prob­ weakens or tends to prevent that ably will be worked out to ensure unity of action necessary to win a just post-war peace and collec­ the war-whether the treasonable tive security. propaganda for a "negotiated Finally, in regard to some peace" or efforts to divert the main gentlemen who are greatly worried attention of the people from prose­ over the present and future prestige cuting the war to specUlative and and influence of this or that power: divisive discussions around "blue­ It is no secret that all the great prints" concerning post-war peace and small nations of the world, es­ "terms"-must be decisively cast pecially the leading coalition of the aside as detrimental to the common United Nations, are being and will cause, both to the attainment of vic­ be judged by the peoples and na­ tory and to the eventual establish­ tions of the world, and will exercise ment of a just peace. political influence primarily on the basis of their individual and col­ * * * lective contributions to the common At this crucial turning point in cause of defeating Hitler and world the war, when an Anglo-American fascism. Clearly those powers and offensive, would catch Hitler in the states will enjoy the greatest pres­ coordinated with the great Soviet tige and will probably emerge the offensive would catch Hitler in the most influential in post-war world fatal grip of a joint Allied attack affairs who now, today, contribute on two or more fronts--it is essen­ the most, sacrifice the most, and tial that all true patriots--Demo­ provide the most consistent lead­ crats and Republicans, Communists ership in destroying Hitler and Hit­ and independents, and especially lerism, in steadfastly championing organized labor-should more reso­ the national independence and lib­ lutely and unitedly support and im­ erties of all peoples and nations. plement the government's orienta­ Be this as it may, one central tion '.'to carry the war to the thing is clear: Victory over Hitler enemy." This is of paramount im­ and the Axis still has to be won. portance. This is necessary to win This is the paramount, the fore­ the war. Even the New York Herald most and common task of all of th.e Tribune partially recognized the United Nations. To win victory, urgency of this when it stated: 212 FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! " . . the problem before the strategy and common fighting ac­ United Nations of passing from de­ tion of all of the United Nations fense to the offensive is becoming and peoples; combating and defeat­ acute, and in its solution public ing the pro-fascist appeasers with­ opinion does have a vital part to in and outside of Congress and cer­ play.... Only the people as a whole can convert this from a war to de­ tain government agencies, and with­ fend ourselves into a war to smash in the trade union movement itself; the enemy-which is the only kind strengthening the government and of war that can now b.e won." Congress with the most capable and (March 2, 1942). consistent supporters of the Presi­ dent and of our national policy, As in all other phases of the na­ with the most uncompromising ene­ tional war effort, here, too, labor mies of Hitler and Hitlerism, with is faced with exceptionally great adequate representation for labor. responsibilities. Labor already is The statement by Philip Murray, going over to the offensive, is de­ on March 9, calling for increased veloping greater unity of action to war production in order "to pro­ win the battle for production and vide the necessary materials for an to help build up our armed forces early offensive against the Axis and civilian defense. It is playing powers"; the statements of Green, an important role in helping forge Carey and Whitney at the Labor and strengthen national unity for Dinner of the Greater New York preserving our Republic and smash­ Fund on March 12; and the recent ing Hitlerism. actions of the C.I.O. Councils in But so far labor has not yet shown New York, Newark and Milwaukee, sufficient initiative in raising and as well as that of the state conven­ helping formulate and shape many tion of the C.I.O. in Massachusetts, other vital aspects of governmental in calling for an alliance between policy which are essential to win the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R. and Eng­ the war. To help influence more de­ land, and for the immediate launch­ cisively and effectively the conduct ing of an Anglo-American offensive and outcome of the war, it is im­ against Hitler Germany in Western perative that the labor movement Europe-are indications that im­ unitedly should make its voice heard portant and wider sections of the and its influence felt on all prob­ labor movement are reacting to lems affecting national policy, just these central issues, are beginning as today it is increasingly doing on to take the offensive on the politi­ most matters pertaining to the cru­ cal as well as the production fronts. cial question of securing maximum What is necessary now is that war production. This applies es­ America's great labor movement pecially to such life-and-death ques­ should display still greater political tions for ensuring America's par­ and organizing initiative, and act ticipation in the opening of a second still more determinedly to mobilize front in Europe this spring; ef­ and solidify its own ranks and to fecting a full alliance, unified rally and collaborate more closely FOR A SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE! 213 with all anti-Hitler forces in a enemy; to help guarantee that our united all-out war effort on the mili­ country strengthens the alliance tary, production and political fronts and common military action of all in furtherance of our national ob­ of the United Nations, especially to jectives. In line with this, it is es­ ensure that the United States, to­ sential that everything shall be gether with Great Britain and in done, in the shortest possible time, conjunction with the Soviet Union to help crystalize and give expres­ and its powerful offensive, concen­ sion to the growing sentiment trates its main blow against the throughout the country for Ameri­ main enemy-Hitler and Hitlerism ca's taking the offensive; to ensure -by opening a second front on the that the American people, by their European continent. For this is the joint efforts, act in time so as to surest and shortest road to winning help effectuate the government's the war, to victory over Hitler and proposal to carry the war to the the Axis. THE COURSE OF THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS

BY GIL GREEN

(Based on a repcyrt delivered to a meeting of New York Communist Party functionaries, March 5, 1942.)

I. the East and may soon face a threat HE war is now entering into a from the West. Turkey, Gibraltar, T new phase. To understand what Dakar, the Azores, Iceland and the this new phase is, it is necessary to Panama Canal may become the see clearly what has been and con- scenes of the new Axis attacks as tinues to be the Axis strategy. · part of its central strategy to sepa- Knowing full well that the po- rate and isolate continents and na­ tential resources of the United Na- tions, to make impossible a world tions far exceed those of the Axis, pooling of Allied manpower and re­ Hitler's strategy is based upon de- sources and the development of con­ livering shattering blows in rapid certed military action. fire succession before the industrial When all this is related to the and military might of the United contemplated spring offensive of Nations can be fully developed and Hitler against the Soviet Union, one brought to bear on the fields of must draw the conclusion that the battle. In this way he hopes to war is entering a new, more hold the initiative, to 1force the dangerous and more critical stage. United Nations to fight on his own It would be folly to hide the grav­ chosen fields and at his own sweet ity of the moment by glib talk time; to force them to spread them- about great offensives to be organ­ selves thin; to isolate one from the ized next year or the following year. other, and thereby to destroy them What will happen then will depend piecemeal. The plight of the gal- in the first place upon what hap­ lant 'MacArthur and his staunch pens in the very next few months. band of fighters, isolated and cut off The immediate months ahead' may from outside assistance of any kind, very well decide the outcome of the is the objective that the Axis seeks war-the difference between victory to accomplish in respect to the and defeat. fighting forces and resources of But this new phase of the war each one of the United Nations. is not only fraught with great Already the Burma Road, the danger. It is also pregnant with lifeline to China, has been severed. great opportunity. The three months The Dutch East Indies have been that have passed since December conquered. India is threatened from 7 have not only been months of 214 THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS 215 reversal and defeat. They have also Far Eastern sphere of military ac­ been months of great advances and tion an important lesson must be awe-inspiring victories. The Soviet grasped from the defeats suffered Union and its glorious Red Army thus far. The lesson is: rally the succeeded in wresting the initiative colonial peoples; arm them; give from the German military machine. them political rights and then, and It has ever more firmly held on to then only, can the Japanese war this initiative and has been driv­ machine be brought to a dead stop. ing the Nazi hordes backward and Heroic China has shown the whole backward in a military achievement world how a people which has tmparalleled in all history. This achieved national unity and is in­ therefore is the opportunity: the op­ spired by the vision of national in­ portunity to defeat Hitler's whole dependence can fight for its free­ strategy, to beat him, and on the dom. MacArthur's breath-taking, decisive front. If Britain and Amer­ back-to-the-wall resistance against ica were to seize this opportunity immense odds is also due in no and strike with all their power small part to the fact that Filipino through the opening of a second soldiers and Filipino tribesmen fight front on the European continent, . side by side with American boys. it would be possible to defeat Hit­ Said the ReynqZds News of Lon­ ler Germany not in the far distant don on January 18: future, but in this very year of 1942. And if Hitler Germany can be "We spent millions of pounds to beaten in 1942, this would be the make Singapore an impregnable beginning of the end for Japanese fortress. But we left out one in­ imperialism as well. For Nazi Ger­ gredient. We forgot to make allies many is the center, instigator and of the Malayans and Chinese who spearhead of the fascist Axis con­ make up the mass of the popula­ tion." spiracy to conquer and enslave the world. Its defeat would break the Since the fall of Singapore and Axis at its most dangerous and yet the invasion of Burma there has its most vulnerable point, thereby been expressed both in Britain and hastening the day of the complete American Government circles a victory of the United Nations. This growing recognition of the need for is the golden opportunity that pre­ a change of policy toward the peo­ sents itself. To ignore it, to muff ple of India and the colonial peo­ this chance, is to toy with disaster. ples generally. It is our hope that no Offensive action in Europe is of time will be lost in giving these decisive importance and does not hundreds of millions of colonial preclude offensive action in the peoples a new deal and thereby en­ Far East, although the struggle list them as active allies on the in this theatre of war will side of the United Nations. Just as undoubtedly be of a protracted the great Abraham Lincoln in order character. But before any vital to preserve and save this Union be­ change can be brought about in the came convinced of the need of free- 216 THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS ing the slaves, so Britain and this recent emphasis on offensive America, in order to win this war, action is already a guarantee that must issue a modern Emancipation the opportunity ahead will be fully Proclamation for the colonial peo­ grasped. Even if the trend is in the ples of the world. correct direction we must remember This is a new kind of war and that correct conclusions arrived at must be fought in a new way. The too late or executed too slowly may immediate months ahead will be still spell defeat. This is particu­ crucial and even decisive. The reali­ larly true because the appeasers are zation is beginning to dawn upon once again out in the open, trying Britain and America that only a to confuse the masses, endeavoring policy of the offensive, together to keep America on the defensive, with a great democratic unfolding pitting the needs of one front of the war effort, can stir the masses against the other, and doing their to greater activity and turn the tide damnedest to sow suspicion and dis­ of battle. This certainly is one of cord among the United Nations. the most important elements that Secondly, even the government helps comprise the new phase of the spokesmen who have waxed elo­ war. It is to be noted in the changes quent about the need for offensive that have been made in the British action have not made clear what war cabinet and in the proposals they mean by this concretely and for an offensive which have ap­ whether action on the European con­ peared in statements of various gov­ tinent is in their immediate plans. ernment spokesmen in this country, Thirdly, we cannot ignore that as seen in the recent speeches of the there is not yet a unified world President, Secretary of War Stim­ strategy based upon a full military son, and W.P.B. head Nelson and in and political alliance between the the letter of General Marshall to the U.S.A., Britain, the Soviet Union Senate. A new offensive mood is and China. The U. S. and Britain sweeping the country, as testified to often act as if they were senior by Anne O'Hare McCormick in a partners, with the U.S.S.R. and recent column in the N.Y. Times: China the junior ones. Senator Claude Pepper expressed this "In the United States it has taken thought when he declared: less than three months of unsuc­ cessful war against an underrated enemy to turn the first dismay of "It would seem that those who the American people into a rising guide its [the Soviet Union's] gal­ clamor for offensive action. lant and heroic course would be an "Like a current suddenly turned intimate part of every council and on . . . the emphasis . . . has veered conference dealing with the grand from promises of future victories to strategy of this struggle which em­ a cry for more speed and initiative braces the globe. May we not ask, now." therefore, that more room be made for the Russians at the War Table. It would be a serious error, how­ ... We who have profited so much ever, to draw the conclusion that from the unfailing and sacrificial THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS 217 struggle of Russia and China have offensive on the assembly line and not given them their due." winning the battle for production. America has the plant capacity, There is only one guarantee that trained personnel and the raw ma­ the lessons of the past months will terials with which to outproduce be fully learned and promptly ap­ Hitler, but with all the headway of plied, and that is if these questions the past months this battle, the of central strategy become matters battle that will help decide the out­ of concern and action for the peo­ come of all battles, is not yet won. ple themselves. Since December 7 There are two reasons for this. the labor movement has more or First, the business-as-usual attitude less been influenced by the concept of many employers who are more that on matters of foreign policy or concerned with piling up huge central strategy, on issues of the profits than with production. conduct of the war, there was no These have resisted the formation need for action on its part. This is of production councils composed of not correct. The labor movement management and labor, have sought should take the lead on these ques­ unfair advantages and attempted to tions as it does in Great Britain. misuse labor's voluntary surrender It should consciously counteract the of the strike weapon as a means to insidious and treasonable activities destroy labor standards and rights. of the appeasers. It should press for That the Administration has be­ a full-fledged military and political gun to recognize this is to be seen alliance between the U.S.A. and the by the recent speech of Donald U.S.S.R. It should take the lead in Nelson, which is of great signifi­ establishing international labor cance and will play a mighty role unity by joining the Anglo-Soviet in tapping the initiative and pro­ trade union council. It should in­ ductive capacity of American labor. culcate all of its ranks with the This address calls for the setting up spirit of the offensive and press for of production committees of labor the opening of a second European and management in all plants; en­ front for victory over Hitler Ger­ courages initiative and proposals many in 1942. It should call for from the workers and promises that a strengthening of the President's these will be carefully considered Cabinet and for the inclusion within and acted upon. It advocates merit it of a representative from the ranks awards for exceptional labor and of labor. It should apply the lessons the development of friendly com­ of the Far East to America and petition between plants, depart­ demand that an end be put to the ments and men. It is suggested that discrimination which is so rife every war production shop have a against the 14,000,000 Negro people scoreboard giving the daily standing in this country. and how it compares to the estab­ If the offensive is to be taken lished quota. on the military fronts, there is one The action of the War Labor special task: the need for taking the Board in abandoning the former 218 THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS policy of competitive bidding for The Victory Labor Board can be­ government contracts is also very come an important instrument in important in that it will enable harnessing all the talents and ener­ small manufacturers to receive gov­ gies of labor for the war effort and ernment contracts even though the in making possible a peaceful solu­ costs may be higher. Thereby war tion to industrial controversies and orders can be spread, and an end disputes. This will all the more be be put to the situation in which so . to the extent that the Victory large corporations have a monopoly Labor Board takes energetic steps of war production contracts. to stimulate and advance unity of Here, too, it would be a mistake action in the ranks of labor among to believe that Donald Nelson's the C.I.O., A. F. of L. and Rail­ speech has solved all problems. This road Brotherhoods and as it be­ speech should be discussed in every comes the articulate medium shop and every union. The work­ through which the labor movement ers themselves should take the lead raises all questions of war policy in making concrete proposals to with the government. . management, in seeing that produc­ At this time a great controversy tion councils are set up, that com­ is raging around the issue of eco­ petition is organized and that the nomic demands, of wages and hours. initiative of all the workers is The Daily Worker editorial article tapped and put to use. "A War Labor Policy," which ap­ The second reason for the slow­ peared on March 4, provides a real­ ness on the production front is that istic approach to the solution of this many workers have not yet been problem. In answer to the demand made to feel the urgency of the of certain people for a policy of need and have in some cases, due freezing wages at their present to provocation on· the part of em­ levels the Daily Worker replies: ployers, permitted themselves to fall into working-as-usual methods. "A policy of controlling wages can only be accepted as part of a Regardless of how justified any general economic policy on the part grievances of the workers, there is of the government which includes no justification for strike actions democratic rationing, control of today. Every strike only interrupts prices, control and heavier taxes on production, only serves the enemies excess profits, taking into account of the nation. The workers today the workers' voluntary savings produce not only for wages; through purchase of Defense Bonds, they produce for the nation, adjusting upwards the real wages for the war; for the defense of the low income groups, and as­ certaining that the real wages of of everything they hold near and any group is sufficient to assure the dear. Controversies and disputes highest level of productivity." there will be, but these must be solved by peaceful means, through Democratic rationing and price collective bargaining, mediation and control are today of far greater im­ arbitration. portance as a means of guaranteeing THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS 219 an adequate standard of living for Every union should discuss these the workers than that of a rise in questions, should demand immedi­ paper wages. Why? Because as we ate government action in respect to turn out more planes, guns, tanks price control, rent control and ra­ and battleships, more and more tioning, for only in this way will it workers, raw material and plant become impossible for the appeasers capacity will be diverted from the and enemies of the nation to utilize production of consumers' goods. It is the difficulties of the war as a estimated that in the year 1942 means of confusing and misleading there will be $80,000,000,000 to be the people. spent on consumers' goods with only An offensive on the military front $65,000,000,000 worth of consumers' and on the production front likewise goods available. The demand for calls for an offensive on the political food, clothing and luxury articles front, against all appeasers, all will therefore be much greater than fifth columnists, all enemies of the the supply. This will have the ten­ nation. Immediately following the dency of boosting prices even higher attack upon Pearl Harbor, the than their present leveis. As long Coughlinites, Hearsts, Lindberghs, as this tendency is not checked and Wheelers, Nyes, Fishes and Norman stopped, the demand for higher Thomases jumped on the band­ wages on the part of labor cannot wagon of national unity and pro­ be ignored. However, the more basic claimed-in words-their support of solutions are: the government and their loyalty to 1. Rigidly controlling prices, es­ the nation. But no sooner did they pecially on retail commodities; feel that the moment was opportune 2. On items in which a scarcity to leave their holes than these is in sight, to organize a system of weasels began to undermine the democratic rationing, as is now government's war policy and to planned in respect to sugar. Other­ throw confusion into the ranks of wise the workers, and especially the people. those from the lower income groups, The question that we must ask will be unable to "receive the goods ourselves is: why did they feel safe necessary to assure morale and to engage once again in their snip­ maintain productivity and effi­ ing warfare? First, because at the ciency." time these people proclaimed their As the shortages develop in one loyalty there were sections of the or another line of consumers' goods, press and sections of the people who the Communists must explain to the took them at their word and forgave workers the reason for this. It is them for their past sins. Secondly, part of our task to make the work­ because the labor and progressive ers and the people understand that movements thought that once na­ all will have to sacrifice if the war tional unity was achieved this sig­ is to be won, for these sacrifices will nified that the appeasers were be nothing in comparison to those beaten-and for all time--and that imposed upon us if the war is lost. there was no longer a need for vigi- 220 THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS lance, no longer the need for must be removed from the political struggling against them. life of America. The result? The appeasers went It is in this relation that we must on a rampage. They demagogically understand the true significance of made use of certain weaknesses in the Browder case. Certainly Presi­ the Civilian Defense set-up in order dent Roosevelt and every other to ridicule the organization in the sensible person knows that Earl eyes of the people. They succeeded Browder is in jail for no other in ousting Mrs. Roosevelt, and in reason than that he is the leader of pretty nearly emasculating the the Communist Party. Why has he whole non-protective phase of the not been released? Because there civilian defense program. They still are people in Washington who similarly succeeded in defeating believe that it is necessary for the President's proposal for $300,- Browder to remain in jail in order 000,000 for the unemployed result­ to conciliate some of the appease­ ing from economic dislocations. In ment, red-baiting, enemies of the true Copperhead style they strove government and the war. But you to utilize the reverses and defeats can't conciliate the Fishes and the in the Far East in order to de­ Dieses. You can only fight them. moralize the masses and destroy The campaign to release Earl their faith and confidence in the al­ Browder is therefore not merely a liance of the United Nations and in fight for justice, a struggle to bring final victory. back into our fold our most be­ At first certain Administration ele­ loved and greatest leader-it is also ments attempted to conciliate these a struggle against the whole con­ forces by making concessions to cept of conciliation to the red-bait­ them, as in the case of the O.C.D. ers and appeasers. To conciliate the But this policy of conciliation only enemies of the nation is to permit whetted their appetites. When them to carry on their nefarious Mayor La Guardia, for example, work of undermining and destroy­ made concessions to the reactionar­ ing national unity. The freedom of ies in the form of the removal of Earl Browder is therefore necessary Commissioners Kern and Sayre so that red-baiting and appeasement from the Civil Service Commission, can be buried for all time, so that he only reaped a whirlwind in the national unity can be strengthened form of the Queens "revolt" among in the interests of the successful the air-raid wardens, an action in­ prosecution of the war. Free Earl spired and organized by the "Chris­ Browder! This must be the cry that tian" Front and the Coughlinites. rings out throughout the ranks of The enemies of the nation cannot labor and the nation. be conciliated, they must be fought, In this fight against the enemies isolated and defeated. The Cliveden of the nation labor has a great re­ Set and the poison-peddlers, as the sponsibility. Labor should ferret out President aptly termed them, must the Nazi and Japanese spies and be driven back into their holes, saboteurs. Labor should demand THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS 221 that the Deatherages and Dennises won without too great exertion or be given no posts of resp,onsibility, sacrifice--that victory was sure to and be ruthlessly removed from come in time merely because our every position in which they can be cause was just and our potential of harm to the national effort. Labor industrial and military power great. should take the offensive against the Even in our own ranks there was a appeasers, reacting to every issue in feeling that once the sword was Congress, in the State Legislatures drawn everything would take care and in the City Councils. of itself; all we had to do was to In all this labor must strive to merge ourselves with the masses achieve complete unity of action in and go along with the stream. its own ranks. To the extent that But the developments of the past it can accomplish this, it can play three months, the heartbreaking re­ a qualitatively greater and even verses and defeats suffered by the decisive role in influencing and de­ United Nations in the Far East, the termining the coming Congressional new outburst of appeasement ac-· and gubernatorial elections. In these tivity in the nation, the numerous elections labor and the people as a examples of business and politics as whole must guarantee the defeat usual, show that complacency has of every appeasement candidate not yet been completely eradicated and the victory of those candidates, and that national unity and a correct regardless of political affiliation, war policy are objectives that can­ who by their program and record not be taken for granted, but must are pledged to an all-out no-com­ be fought for day in and day out promise struggle against the Axis until victory is achieved. and its agents and tools in this The period since December 7 has country. Every Congressman and been crowded with important events Senator, every aspirant for political and great activity resulting in a office must be made to realize now closer welding together of the na­ that appeasement politics or politics tions fighting the Axis and in an in­ as usual are not only unwise but creased mustering of the human and dangerous and bound to result in material resources of the nation for his own electoral defeat. the war. The Declaration of the National unity is not something Twenty-six United Nations, the static, is not something that can be President's Victory Production Pro­ taken for granted. It must be fought gram, the growing unity and initia­ for at all times, defended from tive of the labor movement in be­ those who wish to destroy it, and half of the national effort-all in­ thereby raised to new and higher dicate the progress attained. levels. In this situation the Communists II. have a special role to play in the When America picked up the furtherance and strengthening of gauntlet thrown down to her by national and world anti-Hitler the Axis, there were' many who be­ unity. lieved that this war would be easily It is not enough that our 222 THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS party, the Communist Party, point and cementing the national unity. to the general trend that is posi­ This means that every Communist tive, for the danger has grown, the must be on the alert, must keep time is short, and there are many abreast of all developments, so that submerged rocks upon which the he can become a force for correct­ ship of state can be wrecked. The ing weaknesses, for improving role of our party is not merely to in­ things, for getting things done, for dicate which way the wind is blow­ activizing and mobilizing his fellow ing; it is that of a working class workers. This means first of all that political party which endeavors to every party member and Y.C.L.'er infi.uence both the direction and should be a reader and a daily velocity of the wind, which helps reader of that great working class determine the course of events, the newspaper, the Daily Worker. course of the war itself. The Sunday Worker and the This means that our party above Daily Worker are not only instru­ all must constantly educate the ments for educating and guid­ masses as to the just character of ing our party members; they the war and the stake of our nation are the most important weapons in its outcome. It must at each stage that we possess in clarifying of the struggle analyze, note and en­ the masses and in stimulating deavor to correct weaknesses, warn them into greater activity. That is of the dangers and pitfalls ahead, why the campaign to build our and point the way to victory. Our press, to double the circulation of party must bring this understand­ the Sunday Worker, is not moti­ ing to the working class and mobil­ vated by business-as-usual consid­ ize it as a conscious force sup­ erations on our part. The spreading porting the government, building of our press today has a new signif­ national unity, struggling against icance, is tied up with the winning the appeasers and enemies of the of the war. For who can doubt that nation and constantly pressing for a every worker who becomes a reader more resolute and determined of our press becomes thereby a course to win the war. more intelligent fighter for the na­ Today all party and Young Com­ tion and for victory? And this is all munist League members have great the more important because the responsibilities. It is their job to be path ahead is strewn with obstacles examples to the workers in their and leads through dangerous de­ shops and to the neighbors in their tours. If in the course of but three community. But they have another months so much has happened, so task as well-to be conscious forces many difficulties have been en­ clarifying the masses, answering countered, certainly at a time when their arguments, explaining each the war is entering an even more development in the war, combat­ crucial stage the voice of our party, ing the tendencies toward demorali­ its clarity and resoluteness, can be zation, panic or thinking as usual, a most important factor in further­ raising the morale of the people ing our nation's success. THE WAR AND THE PRESENT TASKS 223 Nor should we underestimate the connection with all · we have prestige of our party and its ability discussed is the question of to influence the course of events. building the party. Recruiting is not For instance, who can get the work­ a task for the exceptional com­ ers to surpass themselves in the rade, it is a task for every member battle for production? Certainly not of the party, for every member of the employers, whom the workers the Y.C.L. and especially for those mistrust and for ample reason; nor in basic industry. Every member the daily capitalist papers, that al­ in our ranks should ask himself ways angle the news against the or herself: What am I doing to re­ workers and their unions. But when cruit, from my shopmates, my we speak up, many workers will lis­ neighbors, my friends or from my ten; for they know us as the staunch own family? Every comrade should defenders of their interests, as the remember that people who were not best builders of their unions. ready for party membership, or who To whom will the Negro people were uninterested a few months listen? The gentlemen who say this ago, may be more than ready today. is a war for democracy and yet con­ These are new times; masses learn done the discrimination of Negro in days and weeks what it for­ people all around them? No, these merly took them years to learn. people only provide fuel for the ap­ This will become increasingly more peasers. A large percentage of true during this whole critical junc­ the Negro people will, however, ture of world history. But how listen to our party and its many of our members appreciate press, for our party is the party of this change, understand its signifi­ James W. Ford, the party that cance and act accordingly? fought to free Angelo Herndon and Our party faces many problems; the Scottsboro Boys, and continues of mass work and of internal organ­ to fight day in and day out for ization. The party branch is the key the Negro people. Certainly it is no for the solution of many of these accident that the maiden speech of problems, for it is the branch that Communist Councilman P e t e is the party for the individual mem­ Cacchione in the New York City ber and it is the branch that is the Council was a speech for Negro party to the people in the commu­ rights. nity.Our branches must be live edu­ The Sunday Worker and the cational and mobilization centers, Daily Worker can speak to hun­ open to the public, speaking out on dreds of thousands who know us by all issues of the day, whether it be our deeds and to tens of thousands on matters of foreign policy or on more for whom the events of the such questions as how best to carry past months have been eye-openers through the tin can salvage drive -who now begin to grasp the truth · in their own territory. The most im­ about socialism, who begin to see portant party functionary is the Communists in a new lighl branch organizer-for he should not Of the utmost importance in only be a leader of the branch, he

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TASKS TASKS PRESENT PRESENT THE THE AND AND WAR WAR THE THE 224 224 A WAR-TIME TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY

BY JEAN FRANCIS

RESIDENT ROOSEVELT's message suggests that the 1942-43 P Budget Message to Congress deficit be covered by $9,000,000,000 formulates the task of mobilizing in new taxation (additional to exist­ the financial resources for the war ing taxation) and the rest by bor­ and indicates means of solu- rowing. That may turn out the best tion in a general way. Congress that can be done; but, as a general is now engaged in further ren- rule, we should seek to attain a dering the task concrete, and in larger proportion of taxation to bar­ working out the vital details. On rowing. This is so not because there these "details" the success of the is any special danger involved in national budget will depend to a an increased national debt; this debt large extent. Hence the people and will greatly increase, no matter how their mass organizations must in- high the war taxes. The point here timately concern themselves with is that the main task of our fiscal the working out of the budget, to war policy is to mobilize fully the make sure that Congress realizes country's capital resources for the effectively the principles of war war effort. And taxation has proven financing laid down in the Presi- the most effective method. dent's Message. The kind of taxation is the next The two main principles in the important point. The President said: message are: (1) it is a war budget; "Progressive taxes are the backbone this means that every fiscal measure of the federal tax system." It should in it has the one aim of mobilizing also be the backbone of our war the country's financial and capital financing. Ability to pay must con­ resources for paying the cost of the tinue the guiding consideration. war; and (2) that "a fair distribu- Of a different sort is the Presi­ tion of the war burden is necessary dent's suggestion that the time has for national unity." These are sound come for adopting so-called "anti­ national principles, necessary for inflationary" taxes. This is an eco­ winning the war, and to them we nomic fallacy. Inflation should be must stubbornly adhere. combated by (a) price fixing, price From these principles, a number regulation and rationing, democrat­ of specific points assume particular ically controlled; (b) government importance. One is the proportion control of all essential raw materials of taxes to borrowing. The budget and the:ir intensive production; (c) 225 226 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY a full mobilization of the national With the suggested excise taxes­ ecenomy for war purposes. If this is indirect taxation-there are obvious done, no "anti-inflationary" taxes and serious dangers. Certain ~~e­ will be necessary. The sort of taxa­ ments in Congress, whose devotion tion which takes the form of a to the nation's victory program is general sales tax, or further lower­ still to be proved, are clamoring for ing of personal exemptions, or ex­ all sorts of sales taxes-taxes on the cise taxes on the poor men's neces­ people's essentials of life. This sort sities-is favored particularly by the of taxation must be opposed reso­ most selfish interests of big business lutely. It violates most brazenly the and is intended by them as a means government's principle of "a fair of shifting the war burden to the distribution of the war burden" be­ masses. But the President calls for cause it hits mostly the low-income "a fair distribution of the war bur­ groups of our people. It increases dens." Hence this kind of taxation the inflationary rise of the price cannot be supported. Taxation structure. It is not needed for should concern itself mainly with financing the war. If Congress producing revenue for the war, with wants to consider excise taxes on mobilizing the country's capital articles of real luxury, those con­ resources. sumed by the few, there can be The President's attitude on pay­ no objection; here, the taxes would roll taxes is sound and fair. He said: be siphoning off income from the "I oppose the use of payroll taxes middle and upper classes who are as a measure of war finance unless in the market for articles competing the worker is given his full money's • with metals, labor, etc., needed for worth in increased social security." war materials. This is sound for two reasons: we In considering these questions­ don't need payroll taxes to finance the proper kinds of war taxation­ the war, even though the adoption let us keep in mind these facts. Ac­ of payroll taxes would increase the cording to the latest report of the government's financial resources; Bureau of Labor Statistics, vital thus, secondly, if such taxes are items in the cost of living have risen considered at all, they should carry in 1941 from 5.7 to 36.1 per cent; it with them increased social security r:ow costs 25.5 per cent more than for the workers. There will be at­ a year ago to fill the average :family tempt8 in Congress to adopt the tax and reject the security. The people market basket. And the rise is still should see to it that both are continuing. The second fact is, ac­ handled inseparably. In other cording to Leon Henderson, that words, payroll taxes could be sup­ corporate profits have increased 169 ported, not as a would-be means of per cent in the last two years. These combating inflation, but as a means two facts, by themselves, should be of increasing social security which sufficient to rule out a general sales also provides additional revenue for tax or taxes on consumers' necessi­ financing the war. ties and to focus main attention Ofl A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 227 addition progressive taxation of in­ revenue be raised from these come and wealth. sources: As to expenditures, the President Individual income taxes $3,200,000,000 said that "in a true sense, there are Corporation taxes 3,060,000,000 expendi­ Estate and gift taxes 330,000,000 no longer non-defense Excise taxes (se·lected items) 1,340,000,000 tures." He maintained that: Removal of nspecial privileges" 680,000,000 $8,610,000,000 "It is part of our war effort to Less reductions effected through maintain civilian services which are interrelation of taxes I ,000,000,000 essential to the basic needs of hu­ Net Yield $7,610,000,000 man life." These are the main features of This should be sufficient answer the Treasury tax program: to the fresh attempt now being 1. Corporation Taxes. The existing made--under the false guise of war 7 per cent surtax on corporations needs-to destroy our nation's relief with net incomes above $25,000 and social services. It must not be would be raised to 31 per cent. The forgotten that there were still over surtax on net incomes below $25,- 5,000,000 unemployed last October 000 would be raised from 6 to 16 and that another 2,500,000 may be per cent. The normal corporate rates added to them in the current of 24 per cent on net incomes above months as a result of failure to $25,000, and the 15 to 19 per cent mobilize rapidly the national econ­ rates on incomes below $25,000 omy to war purposes. Most of these would remain unchanged. The com­ "new" unemployed will, of course, bined normal and surtax on corpor­ remain jobless only temporarily, ations with net incomes above and many of the "older" unem­ $25,000 would thus be increased to ployed should also, in time, find 55 per cent. The increased rates their way back to employment in were proposed in the surtax rather the expanding war industries. All of than the normal tax, since the sur­ which creates the urgent task of tax applies to interest on outstand­ providing decent maintenance for ing Federal bonds, while the normal the jobless as well · as intensive tax does not. A special credit would training and retraining for their new be allowed against the 31 per cent employment. And these will be war surtax where the current profits expenditures--expenditures neces­ have dropped in comparison with sary for winning the war. the averl:.lge profits during 1936- 1939. "' * Excess-profits tax changes. An Against this background we must increase of 15 percentage points in exan1ine the Treasury tax program each bracket is proposed, so that the to raise $7,610,000,000, as submitted range would extend from 50 to 75 by Secretary Morgenthau to the per cent. But no changes are pro­ House Ways and Means Committee posed in the method of computing on March 2. the amount of excess profits subject The Treasury proposed that this to the tax. 228 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY Postwar Credit. The Treasury per cent on wages, bond interest proposes that whenever the receipt and dividends. These sums deducted of an additional dollar of income would be credited against the tax would give rise to a combined ex­ next year. This would not be a cess-profits tax, normal and surtax supplementary tax, but simply a of more than 80 cents, the tax above way of collecting. 80 cents would be held by the gov­ 3. Estate and Gift Taxes. In­ ernment for the account of the cor­ creased rates are suggested. The poration and repaid to the corpora­ effective rate on a net estate of tion after the war for purchasing $200,000 would be raised from 17.9 capital equipment or for additional to 23.5 per cent, on $400,000 from employment of labor. 24.4 to 36.0 per cent, on a million 2. IndivicLual Income Tax. The dollar net estate from 30.7 to 51.3 surtax rates are completely over­ per cent. Under present law, there is hauled. The 6 per cent starting rate a specific exemption of $40,000, in would be increased to 12 per cent, addition to a $40,000 insurance ex­ so the minimum rate on the lowest clusion, under the estate tax. The bracket would be 16 per cent (the proposal would eliminate the insur­ 4 per cent normal tax remains un­ ance exclusion and provide a single changed). The surtax rates are specific exemption of $60,000. The steeply increased, reaching a maxi­ gift-tax exemption would be low­ mum of 86 per cent at $100,000, so ered from $40,000 to $30,000, and that 90 cents (including the 4 per the annual exclusion of gifts would cent normal tax) out of every dol­ be $5,000 for each donor instead of lar above $150,000 will be siphoned the existing exclusion of $4,000 for into the government's financial ar­ each recipient. senal. With these rates, the taxes 4. Selective Excise Taxes. New would be about doubled on the and increased special excise taxes brackets up to $8,000, the rate of on liquor, cigarettes, soft drinks, increase decreasing thereafter. Be­ candy and chewing gum and other cause of the large increases sug­ items are suggested to raise about gested and the threat of inflation, $1,300,000,000 of additional revenue. the Secretary suggested that Con­ The most important items and gress give him the authority to im­ their increased yield are shown in pose a withholding tax up to 10 the following table:

Additional Yield Article Present Tax Proposed Tax (in millions) Gasoline 1lhcper gal. 3c per gal. $242.2 Beer $6per bbl. $8 per bbl. 117.1 Liquors, wines about 50% increase 304.7 Soft drinks None 1c per bottle 146.9 Candy, chewing gum None 15% mfrs. sales price 45.3 Cigarettes $3.25 perM. $4 perM. 188.6 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 229 5. Removal of Special Privileges. 6. General Sales Tax and Low­ The Treasury proposed that certain ering Personal Exemptions. Secre­ provisions in the tax system "which tary Morgenthau emphatically op­ grant to relatively few of our peo­ posed a general sales tax. His vig­ ple special advantages and privi­ orous condemnation of the general leges at the expense of the great sales tax rested on the soundest mass who must pay what is thereby grounds. Said the Secretary of the lost" should be .eliminated. Treasury: (a) Tax exempt securities. Aboli­ tion of the tax exemption now be­ "The general sales tax falls on scarce and plentiful commodities ing enjoyed by outstanding state, alike. It strikes at necessaries and local and municipal securities, to luxuries alike. As compared with yield $200,000,000 a year. Future is­ the taxes proposed in this program, sues would also be taxable. How­ it bears disproportionately on the ever, the tax exemption on out­ low income groups whose incomes standing Federal securities was not are almost wholly spent on con­ advocated by the Secretary be­ sumer goods. It is, therefore, regres­ cause "tax exemption clauses ap­ sive and encroaches harmfully upon pear in many of the outstanding the standard of living. It increases prices and makes price control more issues of Federal securities and difficult. It stimulates demands for these promises must not be higher wages and adds to the parity violated." price of agricultural products. It is (b) Depletion Allowances. At not, as many suppose, easily col­ present owners of mines and oil lected; on the contrary, its collec­ wells are permitted to deduct "per­ tion would require much additional centage depletion" or cost deple­ administrative machinery at a time tion, whichever is higher. Even if when man power is limited." the value of the mine or well had Secretary Morgenthau also re­ been paid by these deductions, jected the proposals to lower fur­ owners were still permitted to en­ ther the personal exemptions, de­ joy this privilege. Revision of this claring that "the very lowest income deduction was recommended which earners have all they can do to feed would yield $80,000,000 a year. and clothe themselves and their (c) Mandatory joint returns. The families." Treasury renewed its recommenda­ Such is the tax program advo­ tion for compulsory joint returns cated by the Secretary of the Trea,;;­ which would yield about $300,000,- ury. Realistic and penetrating was 000 of additional revenue annually. his statement: (d) Amendment of present laws affecting capital gains, life insur­ "Our task is more than the raising ance company taxation and pension of a huge amount of new revenue. It is to make the tax program an trusts. Revisions as proposed by the instrument of victory. It is to frame Treasury would produce about the new revenue act so wisely and $100,000,000 additional revenue a so soundly that it will facilitate the year. maximum production of war mater- 230 A TAX PROGRAM FOR.VICTORY ials, hasten the mobilization of our $200,000, the difference between resources, strengthen the unity of $300,000 and $100,000). Its net sur­ our people for the waging of total tax would therefore be reduced to war and prepare for the new eco­ nomic and social problems that will $11,000, or only 11 per cent of its face us when the war is won." (Ital­ current profits of $100,000. Since ics mine-J. F.) the tax is arithmetically lower when the amount of profits decreases, Let us analyze the main features there is no justification for shrink­ of the Treasury tax program in re­ ing the tax still further by a credit lation to the sound and necessary allowance. Moreover, the fact re­ elements of a wartime tax program mains that the corporation is sub­ designed to ensure maximum pro­ ject to the 31 per cent rate only if duction and national unity. Our its profits are above $25,000. The wartime tax program must be based fact that the corporation averaged on a fair distribution of the war still larger profits in 1936-1939 is burden and should contain such no justification for special relief. measures as the following: Wartime Excess-Profits Taxation Wartime Corporation Tax Rates: of Corporations: The Treasury's proposal to in­ (a) The basic deficiency of the crease the regular tax rates on cor­ Treasury tax program is its failure porations (with incomes above $25,- to propose the revision of the exist­ 000) to 55 per cent is sound, and ing excess profits tax law which is in keeping with revenue require­ ineffectual in recapturing the ab­ ments. The increase in the surtax normal profits now being earned from 7 per cent to 31 per cent re­ from war production. An ef­ flects a sound understanding of the fective stringent excess-profits war needs. tax, designed to recapture the un­ The special surtax credit provi­ paralleled profits being made sion, however, should not be al­ by certain branches of industry, lowed. Under this proposal, a cor­ especially those engaged in war poration whose current year's prof­ production, should be the corner­ its are less than its average 1936- stone of a sound wartime tax pro­ 1939 profits, would be allowed a gram. If in September, 1941, the credit (against the 31 per cent sur­ Secretary of the Treasury saw fit to tax) of 10 per cent of that differ­ recommend a 100 per cent tax on ence, but the m1mmum surtax corporate profits over 6 per cent, would be at least 11 per cent. For today, after December 7, the least example, suppose a corporation has that should be done is that profits 1942 profits of $100,000, and its over 6 per cent of capital should be average 1936-1939 profits were siphoned back to the Treasury. $300,000. Its gross surtax would Even a rate of 4 per cent would be 31 per cent of $100,000, be more than twice the average 1. 7 or $31,000; but it would be allowed per cent return on capital earned a credit of $20,000 (10 per cent of by corporations during the years A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 231 1926-37. And when one recalls that should be levied on the profits corporations averaged only 5 per above average 1936-39 profits and cent in the boom year 1929-a under 4 per cent of capital. This year of peace and unprecedented special tax would reach current prosperity-can any one justifiably earnings of railroads, steel com­ complain about even the 4 per cent panies (where overcapitalization is figure, conscious that the nation is an imporfant factor) and other cor­ fighting for its life? Australia taxes porations which earned less than 4 all profits above 4 per cent of per cent during 1936-39 and are capital. Should it appear that a now reaping substantial profits. 100 per cent rate (on profits This type of tax was advocated by over 4 per cent) might lessen the Treasury last year (although the industry's incentive to produce, an rate suggested was 10 per cent) and 80 to 85 per cent rate could be was adopted by the House only to established. And let us not forget be cast out by the Senate. that in England companies have This is how these two proposals been subject to an excess profits would operate. Assume a corpora­ tax of 100 per cent since April 1, tion, with invested capital of $100,- 1940 (the 1941-42 budget retained 000,000 averaged $3,000,000 during the principle of the 100 per cent 1936-39 and has 1942 profits of excess-profits tax but provided that $14,000,000 (assume Congress fixes 20 per cent should be credited to the excess-profits tax rate at 85 per the individual company for return cent and the additional special tax in the post-war period). rate at 60 per cent). Four per cent Under the existing "excess-profits on its invested capital would be tax" law, no excess-profits tax is $4,000,000. The excess-profits tax payable until current profits go would be 85 per cent of $10,000,000 above average 1936-39 profits and ($14,000,000 less $4,000,000), or $8,- 7 to 8 per cent of capital-a "heads­ 500,000. The special tax would be the - corporation - wins - tails - 60 per cent of $1,000,000 ($4,000,000 the-Government-loses'' alternative. less $3,000,000), or $600,000. The If the corporation averaged 60 per excess-profits tax and the special cent on its capital during 1936-39, tax would total $9,100,000. it pays no excess-profits tax on its The regular corporate tax rates current profits until it passes 57 per (24 per cent normal plus 7 per cent cent (95 per cent of 60) on its capi­ surtax under existing law) would tal. The more prosperous the com­ be levied on $4,900,000 ($14,000,000 pany was in 1936-39, the less ex­ less $9,100,000)-amounting to $1,- cess-profits tax it pays-the ability­ 519,000. Under the Treasury's tax to-pay principle in reverse. program, the 7 per cent surtax (b) Where the corporation's pre­ would be increased to 31 per cent, defense profits (during 1936-39) so the 55 per cent tax (24 per cent averaged less than 4 per cent on normal plus 31 per cent surtax) on capital, an additional special tax $4,900,000 would be $2,695,000. (at a rate, say, of 60 to 70 per cent) [Note: If the corporation's aver- 232 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY age profits during 1936-39 were deduction for officers' salaries more than $4,000,000 (i.e., 4 per should be limited to the average cent of capital), it would not pay amount of officers' salaries paid the $600,000 "special" tax.] during 1936-39. (c) The great pool of swollen profits is concentrated in some of Wartime Excess-Income Tax on the largest corporations which have Individuals, Estates, Partners, Etc. received the lion's (and the tiger's) The basic reasons for imposing an share of the billions in defense-war excess-profits tax on corporate in­ contracts. To encourage small-scale come apply with equal vigor to ex­ production, the first $25,000 of cur­ cess-income of individuals, partner­ rent profits should be exempt from ship income, estates, etc. If the excess-profits taxation. The regular added income arises from business corporate tax is an effective in­ profits, the legal form of operation strument for securing from small (individual business, partnership, <;orporations their fair contribution estate) should not permit income to war finances. This $25,000 exemp­ to escape excess-income taxation. tion would also diminish adminis­ This type of excess-income taxation trative problems involved in the would also curb business's incentive equitable determination of the to change from the corporate form amount of excess profits. to the partnership or individual At present substantial "relief" method-financial concerns have al­ provisions are permitted (supposed­ ready been reported making the ly for the benefit particularly of change (to escape the excess-profits small corporations) to exclude so­ tax undoubtedly). And if the indi­ called "abnormal income" in deter­ vidual's added income is derived mining the amount of excess profits from capital investments (stocks, -provisions utilized to shrink the brmrlf'. '"Pal estate) surely unearned amount subject to the excess-profits 1ncome should not enjoy privileges tax. The $25,000 exemption wotild over earned income. Manifestly only in large measure eliminate the the higher incomes (above $8,000- . necessity of such "relief" provisions $10,000) should be subject to the -and thus close a substantial loop­ individual excess-income tax. With hole through which real excess Americans serving their country in profits escape. the armed forces at $21-$30 plOnth­ In determining the amount of in­ ly, and dying to preserve our na­ vested capital, cretlit for borrowed tion's existence, it is hardly an capital should be omitted, since the unequal sacrifice to dedicate excess­ allowance for borrowed capital is income above $10,000 to the Gov­ adequately provided for by interest ernment's financial arsenal. deductions (in computing net in­ The individual excess-income tax come). with a rate fixed at the highest sur­ To prevent corporations from es­ tax plus normal tax rate (90 per caping excess-profits taxation, the cent under Treasury proposal) A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 233 would work as follows: If John of wage-earners, farmers and Doe's net income during 1936-1939 small business people understand was $20,000 and his net income for that victory will have to be 1942 is $30,000, the upper $10,- paid for, and will be dearly won; 000 excess-income would be subject but effective national unity and an to the 90 per cent rate and the lower all-out, total war program require $20,000 would be subject to the the full application of the demo­ regular individual income tax rates cratic principle of taxation accord­ (normal and surtax). ing to ability to pay. Individual Income Tax Rates­ Restoration of Corporate Undis­ Increased Surtaxes Necessary tributed-Profits Tax An all-out tax program to raise The higher the individual surtax $7,000,000,000 in additional taxes rates, the more urgent the restora­ demands income tax rates not only tion of the undistributed-profits tax to prevent the creation of wartime on corporations. Corporate directors millionaires but which will also often choose to withhold earnings stringently limit the income avail­ and accumulate surplus rather than able to the middle and upper increase dividends to. the stock­ classes. In England, the combined holders. Thus, by withholding divi­ income tax and surtax amount to dends to stockholders with net in­ 97% per cent on the highest in­ comes over $1,000,000, a 79 per cent comes so that an effective ceiling is individual income tax under exist­ placed on the money any individual ing rates (90 per cent under Trea.s­ can enjoy, as shown in the follow­ ury's proposal) can be avoided by ing table: the wealthy stockholders. And the small stockholder suffers from the BRITAIN'S WARTIME withholding. INCOME TAX During the Civil War in 1861-65, (Figures for married couples with when as now our country was en­ two children) gaged in a life-and-death struggle, the principles of the undistributed­ Income Income Tax Postwar o/o of Tax and Surtax Credit to Income profits tax were incorporated in our $4,000 $1,204.40 $193.20 30% first income-tax law, which pro­ 20,000 11,029.40 260.00 55% vided that the gains and profits of ~o.ooo 27,449.40 260.00 68% corporations should be included in 400,000 376,699.40 260.00 90% the annual taxable income of any Our surtax ratl;!s should be dras­ person entitled to them, whether tically increased to yield similar re­ distributed or undistributed. Surely sults so that comfortable incomes 1942 should measure up to 1861. would be tapped for their fair Either the corporate undistrib­ contribution to the war effort. The uted-profits tax should be restored, Treasury's recommendations as to or stockholders should be required surtax rates are clearly in line with to include as taxable income these this principle. Certainly, the masses undistributed-profits. 234 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY Elimination of Amortization ment contracts, with profits limited to 6-8 per cent. The amortization allowance, granted to industry as a concession, Selective Excise Taxes gives corporations the privilege to The problem of selective excise take an annual deduction of 20 per taxes has been discussed in the cent on new plant and equipment early part of this article. The Treas­ (ordinary depreciation rates aver­ ury proposes to raise $1,340,000,000 age 6 to 10 per cent). It is obvious in excise taxes, derived mainly that this privilege favors erection of from taxes on gasoline, beer, liq­ new plants rather than the conver­ uors, wines, soft drinks, cigarettes, sion of existing plants, and there­ candy and chewing gum. In making fore runs counter to our production concessions which allow an undue policy. The amortization privilege piling up of excess profits, the Gov­ hinders the war effort and should ernment is forced to turn to con­ be eliminated. sumer taxation to obtain the neces­ sary revenue. These taxes on con­ Profit-Limitations on Government sumption should be eliminated, and Contracts replaced by additional revenue from the pool of excess-profits and In 1940 industry demanded, as its other corporation and ability-to-pay price for cooperating in national sources. preparedness, the suspension of limitations on profits imposed under Integration of Estate and Gift Taxes the Vinson-Trammel Act. Congress With a Single $10,000 Exemption yielded. Originally enacted in 1934 (peacetime), it had been amended The President recommended that in June, 1940, so that any profit in exemptions in estate and gift taxa­ excess of 8 per cent on competitive­ tion should be lowered. At present ly bid contracts for ships and planes an estate of $120,000 completely (7 per cent on negotiated contracts) escapes estate-gift taxation ($40,000 was recaptured by the Treasury. gift exemption, $40,000 insurance The First World War experience is exemption, $40,000 estate exemp­ a striking testimonial to the need tion). for limitations on profits on Gov­ In 1941 the Treasury recom­ ernment contracts in order to re­ mended reducing the $40,000 figure strain excessively high prices and to $25,000. With personal income corrupt practices. Recent reports of tax exemption reduced to a $'750 Congressional committees testify to figure, the existing' estate-gift tax the swollen profits extracted from exemptions are shockingly unfair. government contracts. The Treasury's proposals to lower The profit-limitations provisions the gift-tax exemption from $40,000 of the Vinson-Trammel Act (sus­ to $30,000 and estate tax exemptions pended October, 1940) should be re­ to a single $60,000 exemption are vived and extended to aU Govern- entirely out of line with the realis- A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 235 tic changes made in the individual outstanding and future issues of and corporate tax rates. all governmental securities, includ­ What is urgently needed is a ing outstanding Federal securities. combined e3tate-gift tax system with a single exemption of $10,000 Capital Gains and Losses (plus a $10,000 life insurance ex­ For too long a time have tax emption) with a single set of grad­ privileges been accorded capital uated rates drastically increased for gains, and favors conferred upon all brackets. The hundreds of mil­ capital losses. The maximum tax on lions of dollars that would be thus long-term capital gains, under ex­ collected are eminently just con­ isting law, is only 15 or 20 per cent, tributions to war finances-inheri­ no matter how high the bracket of tances would not survive an Axis the taxpayer. Certainly speculation victory. should not be encouraged by tax privileges. The Treasury's proposal Taxation of Governmental to raise the maximum rate to 30 per Securities cent is a distinct and worthy im­ provement. The war requirements, The President's budget message however, demand that capital gains recommended legislation to tax all should be taxed at full rates (like future issues of state and municipal ordinary income). securities. The Federal Government no longer issues tax-exempt bonds. Mandatory Joint RePurrn; Secretary Morgenthau now proposes to tax all Interest on outstanding In 1941 Congress voted down that and future issues of state and local mandatory joint return provision, securities. This is a healthy pro­ although the House Ways and posal. However, the Treasury does Means Committee strongly urged not believe it is justified in taxing its adoption. The argument that outstanding Federal securities be­ joint return would destroy the in­ cause of contractual promises that stitution of marriage, lead to im­ such interest should be exempt. morality, and send women back to At a time when every section of marital slavery was the sheerest the population is called upon to hokum. The simple truth is that make its maximum contribution to wealthy persons have been escaping the war burden, it is unrighteous the higher surtaxes by transferring and unjust that any income from their properties to their wives. Thus Government bonds should escape (under existing rates) a wealthy taxation. With the nation's existence stockholder receiVmg annually in peril, are governmental bondhold­ $50,000 from his stocks pays ers to enjoy the unique privilege of a surtax of $19,380. But if he trans­ having their interest payments fers half his stocks to his wife, he shielded in tax-shelters? Today the will pay only $6,640 surtax on his war effort can countenance nothing $25,000 and his wife, by filing a less than the full taxation of all separate return, would pay the same, 236 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY thus saving $6,100 in surtaxes lowering such exemptions, declar­ (about one-third reduction). The ing that "the very lowest income tax of any family whose combined earners have all they can do to income is $3,500 or less would not feed themselves, and their families." be increased by the joint return re­ Any reduction in the already low quirement. personal exemption is, wittingly or Three hundred and twenty-three unwittingly, a disservice to the war million dollars in taxes were lost by effort: a worker without calories the defeat of 'the compulsory joint cannot work effectively and his return proposals. With higher rates, morale is undermined. Existing per­ the yield will even be greater. The sonal exemptions must not be low­ nation cannot tolerate slackers in ered-in the interests of the suc­ any field-production, military or cessful prosecution of the war. finance. The Treasury has again proposed compulsory joint returns Computation of PersonaL Exemp­ with special relief where the hus­ tions, Dependency Credit band and wife are working. This compulsory joint return provisiOn Under existing law, personal ex­ must be included in the 1942 rev­ emptions are allowed as a credit enue act. against net income. This operates to reduce the top bracket of income Personal Exemption Under and therefore the upper-bracket IndividruaZ Income Tax taxpayer gets a greater benefit than the lower-bracket taxpayer. Thus, Personal exemptions under the the $1,500 personal exemption re­ 1941-42 revenue acts have been cut sults in a tax reduction of only $150 from $2,500 to $2,000 to $1,500 for ( 4 per cent normal plus 6 per cent married couples-from $1,000 to surtax). However, to the man in the $800 to $750 for single persons. top bracket it means a tax benefit of According to studies in previous $1,215. ( 4 per cent normal plus 77 years, $2,200 to $2,500 was needed per cent surtax). to maintain an average worker's This discrimination in favor of family at the barest level of health the upper-bracket taxpayer should and decency (statistics of Dr. Mor­ be eliminated by allowing personal decai Ezekiel, Department of Agri­ exemptions (and credit for depen­ culture economist; Heller Commit­ dents) to be deducted in the lowest tee of University of Southern surtax brackets. This proposal has California). And those were the been endorsed by Colin F. Stamm, figures before the cost" of living be­ Chief of Staff of Joint Committee gan to skyrocket. Yet there are on Internal Revenue Taxation (in clamors to reduce existing exemp­ 1941 hearings) and by Dr. Dewey tions to $1,000 for married couples Anderson, Executive Secretary of and $500 for single persons. Secre­ T.N.E.C., in his monograph, "Taxa­ tary Morgenthau emphatically re­ tion, Recovery, and Defense" (page jected these clamors for further 263). A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY 237 Plugging Loopholes, Eliminating "On the whole the Treasury De­ Technical Inequities partment's plan moves in the right direction. It tries to raise the money President Roosevelt called atten- needed to win, and it generally tries . tion to the technical inequities and to raise the money according to the democratic principle discriminations contained in the tax of ability to pay." laws and urged the elimination of these defects in the tax system. A However, the tax program can be thorough revision of the tax laws further strengthened, as the edi­ should be made. We might also torial points out: mention the necessity of reducing depletion allowance to close a wide "But it seems that the Govern­ avenue of tax escape. Concerns en­ ment can make many improvements gaged in extracting certain of our in its tax plan. The Government's national resources, particularly oil, plan does not sufficiently carry out have been granted unjustifiable and the principle of taxation according excessive allowances for depletion. to ability to pay; nor does it fully apply President Roosevelt's dictum The Treasury Department has that 'under war conditions the coun­ recommended this change along try cannot tolerate undue profits.' " with many other progressive re­ forms. Tightening of interest de­ The adoption of the measures ductions, strengthening tax-free re­ proposed in this article would sub­ organization provisions are others stantially strengthen the program in which deserve careful scrutiny and the required direction. correction. Labor, progressive tax­ Business-as-usual interests, spe­ minded organizations and individ­ cial groups and, most important of uals can make a real contribution all, the appeasers will seek to shift here. the burden to the low income The proposals here made are not groups and away from those sources exclusive--many more will come able to pay. Already Senator Taft forward as the tax program gets has "predicted" that the new tax under way. schedules proposed by Secretary Morgenthau will be "very much re­ Conclusions as to Treasury Tax adjusted" by Congress to shift more Program of the burden of war costs from cor­ porations and wealthy persons to From this analysis, we must con­ the lower income groups. Already clude that the Treasury tax pro­ members of the House Ways and gram is basically a sound wartime Means Committee have gone on tax program which will ·stimulate record in favor of a general sales maximum production, mobilize our tax. Already Senator George, chair­ resources, strengthen the national man of the Senate Finance Commit­ unity of our people. tee, has indicated that the Treasury In the words of the Daily Worker tax program is unsatisfactory and editorial of March 10: that a general sales tax or, perhaps, 238 A TAX PROGRAM FOR VICTORY lowered personal exemptions will nation's war effort and ability to be considered, notwithstanding their pay. rejection by the Secretary of the The C.I.O. and the A. F. of L. Treasury. Last year many of the have brought forward vital points Administration's progressive pro­ of such a program. It is to be hoped posals were rejected by Congress. that the two organizations unitedly, This must not happen this time. and the Labor Victory Board, will The American people, the united advance these constructive pro­ labor movement must bend every posals and will help influence favor­ effort to defend and extend the able governmental and Congres­ Treasury's tax program, and pre­ sional action which will fully mobi­ vent its sabotage by politics-as­ lize the financial and capital re­ usual forces and appeasement ele­ sources of the nation for the most ments. effective prosecution of the war, The American people and their based on the principle enunciated organizations, especially the labor by the President that "a fair dis­ movement, should be on the alert, tribution of the war burden is should voice their proposals and necessary for national unity." Th£ rally public support for a tax pro­ tax program must be an instru­ gram based on the needs of the ment of victory! THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA

BY JAMES S. ALLEN

HE meeting of Generalissimo of the Middle and Far East has be­ T Chiang Kai-shek with the lead- come a military necessity for an in­ ers of the Indian people symbolizes divisible victory and an indivisible the great role to be played by the peace. It has also become increas­ peoples of Asia in bringing about ingly apparent, especially after the the total defeat of the Axis. Next fall of Singapore and the reverses to the historic offensive of the Red in the Dutch East Indies and Bur­ Army on the Eastern Front, the rna, that the mobilization of the gathering of the representatives of peoples of all southwest Asia is not two nations which constitute one- only linked directly to the require­ third of the population of the world ments of the Far Eastern theater fired the enthusiasm of all the peo- of war, but has become militarily ples and reinforced their will to vic- necessary also from the viewpoint tory. For just as the epic Soviet of stopping a threatened Hitler of­ victories are paving the way for fensive into the Middle East from the U.S.S.R., the United States and Europe and preventing the juncture Great Britain by joint military ac- of Axis forces in India or Asia tion to defeat Hitler in Europe in Minor. 1942, the meetings of the Generalis- As this lesson was emerging simo with the Indian nationalist rapidly out of the ruins of Singa­ leaders indicate the perspective for pore and Indonesia, there dawned turning the tide of battle in the also the understanding, in some Far Eastern theater of war. cases very painfully, that the col- During the first months of war in onial powers within the United the Southwest Pacific it had become Nations had immediately to adopt abundantly clear that the strategy a new approach to their subject of the global war was making it im- peoples, taking fully into ·account perative for the United Nations to their aspirations for national lib­ release and mobilize the great pent- eration, if mobilization of the native up forces of Asia against Japan, populations was to be completely while directing their main blow and promptly effective. Thus, the against Nazi Germany, the focus of very course of the war and the the Axis. The participation, on their necessities created by it are begin­ own right and in defense of their ning to produce profound changes own lands, of the native populations in the old relations among the peo- 239 240 THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA ples, which in themselves will con­ Good Neighbor policy by the United tribute to victory and leave a deep States. impress upon the peace. · This truth is emphasized by the The great, writhing body of India great role which China has come now lies exposed to attack. And it is to assume as the leader of the becoming almost universally under­ Asiatic peoples. The untiring stood that this massive force can be struggle of the Chinese nation for galvanized into action to play a de­ national liberation, its succe'ssful re­ cisive role on a world scale, once sistance to the Japanese invaders the bonds of dependence are for almost five years, open up possi­ loosened and its limbs are freed so bilities for victory which otherwise that it can strike at the common would not have existed. She now enemy. In England, the problem of emerges as the protagonist of the India-and of the smaller Indias of liberation of Asia. These historic the EmpirE!--"played no small part words uttered by Chiang Kai-shek in bringing about changes for the at Bombay on February 21 cannot better in Churchill's Cabinet and in easily be ignored: opening up wide for discussion the "I hope Britain, without waiting necessity for a new colonial ap­ for any demand on the part of the proach, which by the inter-relations Indian people, as speedily as pos­ of global war has become closely sible will give them real political linked with the paramount prob­ power so they will be in a position lem of taking the offensive against to develop further their spiritual Hitler. From the viewpoint of the and material strength. national preservation of England as "The Indian people thus would well as of its allies, the problem realize that their participation in the raised by India now is assuming the war was not merely to aid anti­ aggression nations for securing vic­ importance which the arming of the tory, but also the turning point in Negroes and later the emancipation their struggle for their own free­ of the slaves held in our own Civil dom." War. Just as the initiative taken by Lincoln at that time released the The activization of India has be­ great power of the Negro people come for China as well a matter of against the slave-masters, immedi­ vital concern to its own national ex­ ate and decisive action now by the istence, which is now more than colonial powers of the United Na­ ever indispensable to the victory of tions, chiefly Britain, coupled with the United Nations. The advance of America's influence and initiative, the Japanese military-fascists to the can release the tremendous might Indian Ocean, and the loss of the of the colonial peoples against the Rangoon-Lashio railroad spur of the Axis. This is no less true in Latin Burma Road, have left India as America, whose further mobiliza­ the main channel through which tion of resources and peoples can the United States and England can be greatly stimulated through the continue to supply China. The deepening and extension of the stimulation of India's industries, THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA 241 arising from the full mobilization Council of the Southwest Pacific of that country, would also provide and the reception given him by the an important arsenal for China at British authorities in India. Presi­ its back door. New supply lines dent Roosevelt's recognition, in his from India into China, arranged as fireside speech of February 23, of a result of the Generalissimo's trip, the liberation struggles in Man­ emphasize how immediately and churia and Korea, and his assertion practically the fate of these two that "the Atlantic Charter applies great countries is linked. not only to the parts of the world The leading role of China is now that border the Atlantic, but to the making itself felt from one end of whole world," were indirectly a the Asiatic Continent to the other, tribute to the liberating role of from Korea to Iraq and Turkey. China. A Free Korean government-in­ These, however, indicate only the exile has its seat at Chungking, first steps toward the complete re­ while tens of thousands of Koreans orientation which still has to be are fighting in China's armies and made by the Western anti-Axis other thousands are active against powers in their attitude toward the Japan in Manchuria and in their Asiatic and colonial peoples. The homeland. Millions of Chinese, forces of Toryism and conservatism, loyal to the ~ause of their nation's not to speak of the pro-Axis ap­ independence, live throughout the peasers, are still reluctant to sur­ Southwest Asiatic area and are tak­ render voluntarily privileges and ing up the struggle there. China's rights accumulated over many years troops are in Burma and fighting of imperialist aggrandizement, even the puppet armies of Japan in Thai­ in the face of military disaster. This land. The Chinese government has is more true in England than in the just concluded treaties of amity United States, whose leading finan­ with Iraq and Iran (Persia), ar­ cial circles from their own special ranged for an exchange of ambas­ viewpoint would welcome a change sadors with Turkey, and is under­ in the British colonial system and taking similar diplomatic activities at least a measure of national free­ in other countries of the Middle dom for great colonial areas. How­ East. China has been spurred by the ever, even here white chauvinism, temporary military defeats of the which is directed principally against United Nations in the Pacific, to the American Negroes, constitutes take the initiative herself in weld­ an obstacle as well in developing ing the united front of the Asiatic the fullest cooperation with the peoples against the Axis. Asiatic peoples (the comment, for That the great role of China is at example, of Hanson W. Baldwin in long last being recognized by the the New York Times of February Western powers of the United Na­ 12-Lincoln's Birthday!-that the tions is shown by Churchill's in­ fall of Singapore is "a blow that has vitation to Chiang Kai-shek to take struck at the very basis of the white his place in the Supreme Military man's position in the Orient"). But 242 THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA the hammer blows of war are perative for total victory, particu­ knocking sense into many heads, larly by the United States and Brit­ and making them see the inevitable ain, the more quickly and with less necessity of some important changes sacrifice will victory come. in the world of old if the war is to be won. The New York Times, for * * * example, commenting editorially on If the Generalissimo's trip to Chiang's visit to India, writes: India has s~ch profound signifi­ cance, it is because China has come "India and China are no longer a long way toward nationhood dur­ suppliants at the white man's door. ing the last decade. The China of Not all the faded trappings of im­ perialism, not all the pomp of internecine wars, divided into war­ viceroys, not all the arrogance of ring principalities and autonomous the 'old China hands,' has much provinces, of spheres of influence meaning for them now.... and extra-territorial privileges, is "He [Chiang Kai-shek] may have definitely a thing of the past. Free achieved one of the most glittering China is experiencing a degree of diplomatic· victories in history-a unity which that country has never united front of India and China enjoyed in its history, and the parts against Japan. Good old Colonel at present overrun by Japan are Newcome would turn in his grave at such a vision. Kipling's soldiers considered merely temporary losseli and civil servants would be ap­ which will be restored to a com­ palled. But if this combination can pletely unified China with the in­ exist, it will be acceptable in Lon­ evitable defeat of Japan. don as in Washington and it will Since October, 1938, the Japanese suffice." (Feb. 19, 1942.) invaders have been stalemated by the remarkable resistance of the This comment· is indicative of the Chinese nation. Sixteen months great changes being ushered in by after Japan launched its new ag­ the war, of pending transformations gression against China in July, 1937, which arise from the military neces­ the military-fascist troops were un­ sities of a war against the forces of able to make any further impor­ fascist enslavement and retrogres­ tant advances, and subsequently sion. Not the least of these neces­ they have been pushed back on sary changes is foreshadowed by the some fronts, and are continpally new importance of China and India being harassed in the occupied in the development of anti-Axis areas. How is it to be explained strategy, for their full participation that China, with poorly equipped in the war will result in a really and disorganized troops and lacking profound alteration of all world re­ any important war industries at the lationships. These changes are in­ outset of the war, has been able to evitably being produced by the ma­ stop a fully equipped modern army, turing of the war into a fuller peo­ air force and navy; sustained by a ple's war. And the sooner they are highly developed industrial system? recognized as inevitable and as im- It cannot be explained merely by THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA 243 the wide expanses of the country considerable amounts of munitions and its complicated topography. from America did not begin to reach These factors could be turned to China before the spring of 1941, advantage only if there existed the that is, after Japan had already will and the force with which tore­ been stopped for almost three sist the enemy. The Southwest Pa­ years, and the total amount of ma­ cific area also presents wide ex­ terial aid received by China from panses that could be utilized for both England and the United States maneuver and resistance to prevent was far exceeded by the supplies the enemy from entrenching him­ which Japan was able to obtain self strategically. from these powers. Nor can the great feat of China The key to China's resistance is be accounted for merely by aid to be found in the National Anti­ from abroad, although this did play Japanese United Front, which and still is playing a decisive role mobilized the whole people--work­ in buttressing China's magnificent ers, peasantry, merchants and na­ resistance. From the very outset of tional bourgeoisie--and the re­ the conflict the Soviet Union, whose sources of the country against the support to the national liberation invader. This was by no means an struggle of the Chinese people dates easy thing to achieve. Since 1931, back to the early days of the es­ when Japan attacked Manchuria, tablishment of the U.S.S.R., has the Communist Party of China, in­ supplie!f large quantities of material creasingly supported by the pa­ aid, far exceeding that given by all triotic anti-Japanese elements of the other powers combined, and has the country, called for the organiza­ given political and diplomatic col­ tion of a unified national war of laboration to China on a world salvation against Japan. However, scale. Nor can one overlook the until the eve of the second Japanese non-appeasement of Japan by the attack, anti-Communist and pro­ U.S.S.R., as shown by the present Japanese elements continued to large-scale continuation of aid to dominate the policy of the Kuomin­ China, by the smashing blows at ·tang, the ruling party. Internal the Japanese armies when in the wars among the militarists con­ past they attempted provocation on tinued; political struggle between the Soviet Far Eastern frontiers and the Central government and the by the strong Soviet defenses in the local authorities persisted; civil war Far East which even today, while between the Kuomintang and the the U.S.S.R. is engaged in a life­ Communists, which began in 1927 and-death struggle against Hitler when collaboration between the Germany, is having the effect of im­ two parties ceased, reached such a mobilizing a large sector of Japan's stage that at its height in 1934-35 armed forces. But it is also un­ as many as one million soldiers fortunately true that, due to the were involved. former appeasement policy followed The self-sacrificing and states­ by the United States toward Japan, manlike role of the Chinese Com- 244 THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA munists in bringing about an end local population was organized and to this state of affairs and estab­ armed, thus establishing bases of lishing national unity, in the face partisan warfare in the rear of the of continuing provocations against invader, combining their actions them, is a great historic contribution with the activities of the regular to the whole anti-Axis front which armies. Democratic and anti-fascist is even now not yet fully appre­ the army, close contacts established ciated. What is important is to political work was intensified within recognize that the united front with the local populations, and the formed between the Kuomintang political and military work of dis­ and Communist Parties in Sep­ integrating the enemy from within tember, 1937, constitutes the back­ was undertaken. With the aid of bone of the national united front heroic workers, the Government in China. Without this agreement, was able to evacuate a number of which subordinated all differences important arsenals and factories and questions to the task of resist­ from territory about to be overrun ing Japan, the prolonged and ever­ by the Japanese. The scorched earth stronger resistance of China would policy was applied. In the interior, have been impossible. This achieve­ thousands of small munition and ment, under the most difficult con­ equipment enterprises were estab­ ditions of internal dissension, may lished to supplement the armament well prove to India that its own acquired from abroad and captured obstacles to national unity between from the enemy. the Congress, the Mohammedan As a result of the National United League and the "untouchables" are Front, and in active resistance smiilarly far from being insur­ against the invader, the Central mountable. Government of China became a The establishment of the United more representative government of Front in China made possible the national defense, rallying all groups organization of a single national and organizations devoted to na­ army, in which was incorporated tional independence, and taking the provincial troops and the Eighth some steps to introduce and extend and New Fourth Route Armies elementary democratic liberties for (formerly the Chinese Red Armies). the people. Great difficulties had to The basic principles developed by be overcome, difficulties that still the Eighth Route Army over many create obstacles: the economic back­ years of successful warfare against wardness of China, the need for superior forces were increasingly modern armaments, inertia of the applied throughout China, making old government apparatus, capitu­ possible the successful coordination latory "peace" tendencies of pro­ of mobile warfare and tactical Japanese elements in certain circles maneuvering against the enemy's of the Kuomintang, the constant re­ flanks and rear with the activities crudescence of anti-Communist ac­ of the partisan detachments in the tivities and tendencies in these rear of the enemy. Increasingly the circles. THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA 245 At times, the National United It was in this spirit that all anti­ Front seemed on the verge of a Japanese groups participating in the serious split, as a result of open at­ National United Front have been tacks by units of the Central Army able to overcome the most serious upon the Eighth and Fourth Route crises. These slogans can now bene­ Armies, their political workers and ficially be utilized as a model by partisan bases, the most serious oc­ all the United Nations. curring as recently as January, 1941, The political guide of the United against the Fourth Army. The Front, accepted by both Kuomin­ strongest "pro-peace" wing at tangists and Communists as well as Chungking favoring capitulation to by all participants, is the Three Japan was also the most anti-Com­ People's Principles of Sun Yat-sen, munist (for example, Wang Ching­ founder of the Chinese Republic. In wei, who went over to the Japanese a speech at Yerman on May 1, 1939, in 1938 and was later set up as the Mao Tze-tung explained the mean­ head of Japan's puppet government ing of these principles: in Nanking), for these elements knew that a break in the United "The principle of People's Na­ Front would create the best con­ tionalism is nothing other than the ditions for acceptance of Japan's overthrow of Japanese imperialism. The principle of People's Democ­ obnoxious peace terms. During the racy means nothing other than the most difficult period, after the out­ granting of freedom to the entire break of war ip Europe, when Japan people. The principle of People's was redoubling its "peace" offensive Livelihood means that the whole through the Wang Ching-wei ele­ people must be given work, food ments and Britain was engaged in and clothing."* attempting a Far Eastern Munich To those in China who wish to while internal friction was intensi­ omit the principles of Democracy fying, it was the stubborn adher­ and Livelihood, Mao points out that ence of the Chinese Communists these are just as necessary as Na­ and the consistent followers of Sun tionalism to bring about the regen­ Yat-sen within the Kuomintang to eration and mobilization of the the principles of the anti-Japanese whole people for the final defeat of United Front which greatly con­ Japan. tributed to saving China. Mao Tze­ Important to the success of the tung, the great leader of the Chi­ National United Front in China is nese Communists, advanced three the fact that the Three Principles guiding slogans for all honest Chi­ are advocated by the Communists nese patriots: together with the other participants "Insist on protracted war and op­ in the national front as the politi­ pose all forms of surrender! cal basis not only of the anti-Japa- "Insist on unification and oppose a split! "Insist on progress and oppose th: ~::d! ci~m~!fe~jis~~ss;h: ~;ti~fees~,.fh:nc~:: munists and China's Three People's Principles," ' retrogression!" in The Ctmtmunist for March, 1941.-The Editor. 246 THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA nese war but of national reconstruc.;. tiona! United Front and the Chinese tion after the· war. The United Government. China made it clear Front is conceived as an indis­ early in the conflict that it was pre­ pensable instrument for both war pared to ally itself with all sympa­ and peace. As early as December, thetic states and all forces opposed 1937, the Communist Party of China to Japanese imperialism in order to made it clear in a special appeal check military-fascist aggression. It that it considered collaboration of accepted the friendship and firm the party with the Kuomintang as cooperation extended by the Soviet lasting, and that collaboration is Union, which more than all the other necessary not only during the period great powers has consistently and of resistance to the Japanese ag­ staunchly supported the just war of gressors but after victory is ob­ the Chinese nation, has fully re­ tained in order by their joint ef­ spected China's sovereignty and forts to construct a democratic, rights. The Central· Government and "Three Principles" China. the Chinese Communist Party both The political basis of the National called for a world-wide united front United Front in China, resting upon of all the anti-aggression nations. three simple but indispensable prin­ This policy struck a responsive ciples, offers the foundation upon chord with all the anti-fascist forces which this united front can be ex­ of the world. During the days when tended to encompass all the peoples it was still possible to weld a world of Asia in a concerted defense front of democratic peoples against against the Axis enslavers and for the fascist warmakers before the the democratic reconstruction of outbreak of the world war, Com­ Asia after the war. China has rade Earl Browder, with an insight demonstrated that unity between which every day is proviu.g itself formerly antagonistic elements :for more brilliant, pointed out that: the achievement of an immediate objective can develop with the least "The fundamental interests of friction and with greater mutual China, the Soviet Union, and the confidence and trust if the perspec­ United States are in profound har­ tive of long-range collaboration, ex­ mony; the cooperative protection and advancement of these common tending into the peace, is adopted interests furnish the only possible by both sides. This lesson can also foundation for the stable organiza­ be applied to the development of tion of peace in the Pacific."* (July closer, more intimate and more 5, 1939) complete collaboration in the politi­ cal, military and economic spheres This community of national inter­ between the United States, the So­ ests, today operating on a world viet Union, China and Britain for scale and involving other members the defeat of the Axis and the crea­ of the United Nations, still pro­ tion of a just peace. vides the basis for the organiza- Another key to China's success * Earl Browder on tht SoYiet Union, Workers was the foreign policy of the Na- Library Publishers, p. 26. THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA 247 tion of victory over the Axis and of But to offset this, there are the a stable peace. Thanks particularly deeper involvement of Japan into to the rise of free China, the har­ far distant theaters of war, the un­ mony of common national interests folding offensive of the Soviet in the Far East has through the dy­ Union, which is delivering devas­ namics of war extended to involve tating blows against Hitler Ger­ all the Asiatic peoples. many, the accelerated mobilization The successes of China in its war of American resources and fighting of liberation against the Japanese power, the acquisition of new allies invader have secured for it a posi­ among the Eastern peoples, and the tion of leadership in the united strengthening of the world anti-Hit­ front of the Asiatic peoples and ler front of the United Nations. Sup­ entitle it to a corresponding posi­ ply of modern equipment to the tion of influence and partnership Chinese armies remains a problem, among the United Nations as a but a problem which can and must whole. The great lessons which are be met in relation to concentrating furnished by China's national war the main blows and supplies against -the national united front against Nazi Germany, the main enemy, the Axis aggressors, mobilization whose defeat is the precondition for and arming of the people, the coor­ smashing the entire Axis. The dination of tactical maneuver and favorable opportunity for a Chinese guerrilla warfare, the extension of offensive which now exists should democracy and the people's welfare, not and must not be lost before the united action with all the anti-Axis Japanese aggressors have been able nations - can well be applied to entrench themselves in their throughout the whole colonial newly acquired territories and util­ world in the struggle against Axis ize the war materials and resources enslavement. which they have seized. In fact, a Chinese offensive has * * * now become a necessity of the Today, China is in a position to global war, as a major military ac­ enter upon the third and final phase tion supplementary to the opening of her war of national liberation­ of the crucial second anti-Hitler the offensive against Japan. Despite front in Europe by America and the military reverses of the ABD Britain. This is not only a require­ powers in the Southwest Pacific, a ment of China's salvation, but will favorable situation has developed strengthen the national defense of for a Chinese offensive because of the United States, Britain and the the wide dispersal of Japan's mili­ whole anti-Axis coalition. Such an tary might. It is true that China offensive is not only China's affair, also has had to take up positions but the concern of all the anti-Axis along new fronts- in North powers because it is linked in with Burma and on the Thai frontier­ the situation on all the world fronts, to prevent a break-through toward especially the decisive Soviet-Ger­ Chungking along the Burma Road. man front, where the outcome will

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fullest fullest the the when when time time a a at at Europe Europe Hitler Hitler of of defeat defeat the the for for portunity portunity

in in action action Allied Allied and and Soviet Soviet hamper hamper op­ the the created created has has offensive offensive cessful cessful

necessarily necessarily would would it it occur occur would would suc­ its its by by Union Union Soviet Soviet the the war, war,

this this And And offhand. offhand. dismissed dismissed be be if if world world the the of of front front key key the the On On

cannot cannot Front, Front, Eastern Eastern the the on on Hitler Hitler whole. whole.

by by offensive offensive an an of of effort effort the the with with a a as as Axis Axis the the of of fate fate the the determine determine

CHINA CHINA OF OF ROLE ROLE NEW NEW THE THE 248 248 THE NEW ROLE OF CHINA 249 us play our several parts, each of sure the development of a formid­ us being equally indispensable and able Chinese offensive. The devel­ dependent one on the other." opment of a common strategy and perspective of victory by the United A full realization of this well­ States, Great Britain and the Soviet expressed and basically correct Union, together with China, acting guide to victory requires especially in unison, pooling their common re­ the equal partnership in collective sources, concentrating their main leadership and common military ac­ blows against the Hitlerites and tion of the United States, the So­ fully releasing the largely untapped viet Union and Britain-the leading fighting power of Asia, is necessary coalition of the United Nations-in for ensuring Victory of the decisive a centrally directed offensive anti-Axis offensive against Hitler in against Hitler Germany this spring. Europe, while at the same time It also requires that these powers, striking shattering blows at Japan. especially America and Britain, es­ Toward this end, labor and the tablish a close alliance with China, people must exert their power and unify their strategy and action in initiative fully to apply and imple­ the Far East as part of the anti-Axis ment the anti-Axis policy of Presi- strategy on all fronts, and help in- dent Roosevelt. ' NATIONAL UNITY AND THE COMING ELECTIONS

BY RALPH V. BARNES

WTHAT is happening to our na- while containing certain elements of l'f tional unity? Is it growing truth, merely skim the surface of stronger or is .it becoming weak- the question. The full truth, which er? What is it that has to be we need, lies much deeper. done to consolidate further the The outstanding fact in our na­ unity of the American people for tional life is that the unity of· the the destruction of the Axis enemy? American people for the victorious These and related questions have prosecution of our national and been receiving recently considerable democratic war against the Axis is attention in our press, especially steadily growing stronger and is be­ in the light of the coming Con- coming more solid. Ever since Hit­ gressional elections, preparations ler's treacherous attack upon the for which are already on foot. The Soviet Union, the attack which answers to these questions must be placed our own national security in made fully clear, objective and imminent danger and which created profitable. the conditions for a united struggle It is maintained by some that our against the fascist aggressors by national unity is becoming weaker; all freedom loving peoples, ever that following a short "honeymoon" since that time the national forces of national unity which began with of the American people have been the attack on Pearl Harbor, old di- moving towards a common objec,. visions have again come to the fore- tive, towards a firm national unity front, threatening to weaken and for the preservation of our national undermine the unity of our peo- freedom and democracy from the ple. Others insist that there is assault of the fascist aggressors, nothing especially wrong with the towards closer collaboration and al­ national unity of our people but liance of all the United Nations. that the trouble lies with certain Not all classes and groups have attitudes of the government, which been moving to national unity with -so it is asserted-is not sufficiently the same rate of speed or with the frank with the nation, does not same determination. Certainly, the admit mistakes and fails to give the working people of our country have proper lead. But these explanations, demonstrated thus far a much 250 NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS 251 greater ability and readiness to progressively entering into the war serve the interests of national unity effort with increasing determination than have, for example, certain and effectiveness. The fighting spirit elements and groups among the em­ of our youth, of which we have ployers and among some of · the already seen magnificent examples big corporations. But also among on the battlefields, is steadily ris­ them, the predominant tendency ing. Most of the Negro people have has been to go along with and sup­ placed themselves unreservedly in port the national war effort and to the service of the war effort, ac­ collaborate in the national unity. tively seeking opportunities to con­ To be sure, the process of develop­ tribute their all to the common ment is very uneven and the diffi­ cause. The spirit of national unity culties to be overcome are sub­ and readiness for service is steadily stantial, but the direction in which rising among the American women, we have been going is unmistakable. as well as among our professional It is to greater and closer national groups. unity to win the war. Ever larger numbers of business­ The attack of Japan and the Axis men and business managers and upon the United States has had a technical personnel are joining most profound effect in consolidat­ hands with labor and with the ing and energizing this growing na­ farmers in the practical job of tional unity, and in speeding it up. speeding production and services for Our full entry into the war has the war effort. This is also seen in immeasurably accelerated the proc­ the development of Civilian De­ ess, arousing the widest masses of fense which some hidden appeasers our people to action. And the unani­ and hopeless reactionaries are at­ mous vote of Congress declaring a tacking as "boondoggling." This is state of war with the Axis has only seen, finally, in the efforts to de­ registered the already existing high velop a relationship o:f national degree of national unity in support unity between the Roosevelt ten­ of the government's war policies. dency in the Democratic Party and Have the effects of Pearl Harbor the Willkie and related tendencies and of our entry into the war begun in the Republican Party-efforts "to wear off"? No; that is not so. whJ.ch undoubteuly reflect, even And here are the facts: the ma­ though inadequately, pressure of jority of the American working the masses from below for closer class and labor movement continues collaboration and an all-out effort to grow more united, and is becom­ in the prosecution of the war. ing more determined in the promo­ Does that indicate a weakening tion of national unity and in the of national unity? Just the contrary. prosecution of the war, displaying It demonstrates the growing width daily an increasing initiative and and strength of national unity, influence in the national effort. Vast which is taking place in spite of masses of our farming population, and in struggle against the forces though not so well organized, are of defeatism, division and dis- 252 NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS unity,. But the forces of division Mr. Wendell Willkie has put his and appeasement are still with us. finger on a real menace when he The attack of the Axis on our coun­ singled out in the Republican Party try has not abolished them; it only those "that would simply follow a compelled them to resort to differ­ passive course." Of these he said: ent means and methods, more subtle and more. dangerous. It is "They go along. They vote the these, therefore, that the entire necessary war powers. But . they anti-Hitler camp, especially the Ad­ counsel that the Republican Party ministration and organized labor, should not develop an affirmative must now fully expose and more program at this time. It should decisively combat in order to fur­ await the inevitable reaction from this war. . .. They believe that the ther promote and consolidate our Republican Party will then come national unity for victory against back into office on an inheritance the Axis. of discontent." (New York Times, Feb. 13). * * * The forces of defeatism and dis­ And he added: "I have no faith unity have "accepted" the war. So in such a theory," which is con­ they say. They will not admit the sistent with his general position of justice of our cause. They still national unity. But what sort of a maintain that the war could have theory is this? It is a "theory" of been avoided, if only we had been defeat-defeat of our nation and willing to come "to terms" with victory of Hitlerism. Many of the the aggressors. But they are willing narrow political partisans in the to go along and ''to support" the Republican Party, who share this war. And from now on, they say, "theory," may not know it, but the they will criticize, not the war as fact is that this has become the such, but the "conduct" of the war. deliberate instrument of the pro­ At first glance such a position fascists and appeasers for under­ might seem perfectly loyal, al­ mining our national unity and for though not fully satisfactory. But sabotaging our common war effort. that would be taking a superficial It has become the instrument of and dangerous view of the matter. treason for the appeasers in the While there may still be some hon­ Republican Party, and also in the est people who have not yet come Democratic Party, and among the around to seeing the justice of our Norman Thomasites. It is necessary, cause and are thus going along therefore, to help the innocent "go with our war effort passively, the alongers" to become fully conscious political position of "going along" of the fact that they are being has become the new mask of the de­ manipulated by the supporters of featists and appeasers. It has be­ the Axis in our own midst. come the new weapon of the ene­ To meet effectively the new mies of our national unity and of methods and tricks of the appeas­ our national war effort. ers, it will not do any good and NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS 253 may do much harm to confine the with regard to Great Britain. But question to the formal right "to these attacks are proving less and criticize the conduct of the war." less potent. Ever larger sections of That is what the appeasers want. the ruling circles of our country, · Among other things, they seek to which are expected by the appeas­ undermine our war effort in the ers to be intimidated by these fears, guise of criticizing its conduct. The are drawing the opposite conclusion. question, therefore, is not the right Realizing that the danger to their to criticize but the nature of the position today-externally and in­ criticism: what is being attacked ternally-arises not from waging and what is being proposed. And the war against Hitlerism but from when we examine this, we find little failure to do so, the decisive sections difficulty in discovering the pro­ of our ruling circles are moved fascist and appeasement nature of powerfully to greater and more ac­ certain "criticisms" and in sepa­ tive support of our war effort, even rating these from genuine efforts through with considerable incon­ to improve and str~ngthen our war sistency and hesitation. Hence, the effort. appeasers are resorting to additional When the appeasers "criticize" methods of intimidation, exploiting the conduct of the war, they invari­ some of the old prejudices and illu­ ably direct their attacks against the sions of "isolationism." two most vital spots in the armor In his speech of February 23, of our nation. They attack our allies President Roosevelt dealt with this and they attack our national unity. method when he referred to those Why they do so is reasonably advices which tell us "to pull our simple. If they could succeed in planes and our merchant ships to separating the United States from our own home waters and concen­ the Soviet Union and Great Britain, trate solely on last-ditch defense." as well as from China, and the The President rightly rejected "such other United Nations, and if they foolish advice." And he should could also succeed in splitting apart have added: this is suicidal advice all the various classes and groups -advice that has its origin in the that make up the alliance of our camp of the defeatists and pro-fas­ national unity, the appeasers know cist appeasers, although it may be they would thus be preparing the repeated by people that are inno­ defeat ·of our country. And for this cent of its true meaning. This theory they are working. of concentrating on home "defense" The attacks on our allies take as something separate from fighting various forms. The most direct and the Axis where it can be crushed, familiar form is to arouse distrust and in closest alliance with the in the intentions of our allies, play­ United Nations, headed by our own ing upon fears of the "spread of country, the Soviet Union and Great . Bolshevism" with regard to the So­ Britain, this is a theory made to viet Union, and upon fears of im­ Hitler's orders, made for the pur­ perialist rivalry and "double-cross" pose of isolating us from our allies 254 NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS and bringing defeat upon us. This midst resort to indirect methods of has to be said clearly and plainly. attack upon our national unity. It is the theory of the same treach­ They try to intimidate business­ erous elements in our midst that go men regarding labor's organized into the making of the "Cliveden strength, its role and activities to Set" in Washington. help win the war; they try to in­ From the foregoing the conclu­ timidate those conservative circles sion is: merciless struggle against which distrust democracy and fear such defeatist and appeasement the coming forward of the demo­ "advices" and groups, the establish­ cratic masses of our people; they ment of a full economic, political exploit the differences between city and military alliance with the So­ and farm; they play upon anti­ viet Union and Great Britain as Semitic and anti-Negro and anti­ the joint leadership of the United foreign prejudices. And following Nations, and the development of the same "line" but working from common fighting action now by a different end, Norman Thomas America and its allies against the and John L. Lewis are seeking to main Axis enemy, Hitler Germany. weaken labor's ties with the camp Hand in hand with defeatist at­ of national unity. Norman Thomas tack upon our allies for the purpose tries to do this by making "Social­ of isvlating the United States, goes ism" the immediate objective of the the attack upon our national unity. working class; and by promoting And the form it takes is signifi­ labor and national disunity. Lewis cant. It is usually directed against attemps this by insisting upon the our working people, against the "paramount" interests of "trade labor movement and against the unionism" as against the broad class democratic forces of our nation and national interests of our work­ generally. The purpose is to split ing people and by trying to divide our internal alliance-the anti-Hit­ and disorientate the C.I.O. and the ler camp of our workers, farmers, labor and progressive movements. professionals, Negroes and business­ In this way, the camp of defeatists men which makes up the national and appeasers is laboring, and with unity of our country. a certain degree of success, to un­ The force that binds and con­ dermine and disrupt our national tinually strengthens this coalition unity, in order to bring about the of classes and groups is the common defeat of our country. goal which they all share today­ How this works out in practice the national independence and can be seen very clearly in recent freedom of our country, the defeat deliberations and actions in Con­ of the Axis enemy which seeks to gress. There we had both: attacks destroy this national freedom. To upon our allies abroad and attacks attack directly this common na­ upon our national unity at home- . tional goal is to expose a person as the complete pattern of the defeat­ a defeatist and appeaser. There­ ist strategy. It was led by such fore, the friends of the Axis in our people as the Republican Repre- NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS 255 sentatives Hoffman and Shaffer of of our people to carry the burdens Michigan, Fish o~ New York, Fad­ of the war effort. dis of Pennsylvania, Ford of Cali­ Moreover: these same hidden ap­ fornia, and the Democrat Martin peasers and hopeless reactionaries Dies of Texas; and in the Senate are deliberately encouraging all by the Democrats Byrd, McKellar tendencies of resistance to the and Tydings. quickest mobilization of our na­ To isolate our country from its tional economy to war needs. They allies, this gentry was brazenly in­ encourage and arouse resistance on dulging in baiting England and the the part of the heads of certain Soviet Union. To split our national large corporations to utilizing unity, these great "patriots" were labor's initiative and collaboration having fun at baiting labor, the toil­ with management for the realiza­ ing farmers, the youth, the Com­ tion of the government's war pro­ munists, the Office of Civilian De­ duction program. They encourage fense, and all anti-fascist and con­ resistance to integrating the efforts sistently democratic forces of our of the Negro people in our national people. Incidentally, they also effort. They are seeking to develop managed to weaken seriously such a situation of division and disunity important organs of national de­ among our people, which, among fense as the Public Works Program, other things, is primarily re­ the National Youth Administration, sponsible for the disgraceful and the Farm Security Administration unpardonable failure to release Earl and the Public Housing Program. Browder from jail. They are endangering the further The deliberate and open conspira­ development of our Civilian De­ tors against our national unity are fense. They laid the basis for con­ undoubtedly a minority in the halls tinuing the divisive and dangerous of Congress as they are a small work of the Dies Committee. They minority among our people. But still continue to sabotage the vitally where is the majority of Congress? necessary war measure of price con­ What is it doing to isolate the split­ trol, under the guise of helping ters and defeatists, to check their the farmers, holding up the war treasonable and dangerous manipu­ measure of relief and retraining, lations, to express in deeds the un­ while inciting prejudices against mistakable wish of our nation to labor for its demands for a wage close ranks and get on with the llCale essential for most effective war? Mighty little thus far. And war production and sufficient to the reason for it is that the spirit meet the rising cost of living and of conciliation with appeasement ior union security. They are play­ and of toleration with defeatism is ing around with financial measures still strong in Congress as it is in -sales tax on necessities of life­ certain agencies of the government. which are unnecessary for financing This spirit must be rooted out as the war but which would injure quickly as possible. An end must be the physical capacity of the masses put to the easy-going attitude of 256 NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS tolerating and conciliating the split­ by labor and the farmers, as well ters of our national unity, the in­ as by businessmen, much more rap­ citers of labor baiting and red bait­ idly and determinedly than hereto­ ing, the promoters of hostility to the fore-composed on the basis of na­ anti-fascist and democratic masses tional unity against the Axis and and organizations of our people, the for a victorious prosecution of the exploiters of anti-Semitic and anti­ war, and by the method of mutual Negro prejudices. the enemies of the concessions and of give and take. firmest alliance of the United Na­ Let there be a "rivalry" between the tions. An iron-clad unity of the na­ various classes and component parts tion must be presented against the of the national unity, not on the splitters and appeasers, for the sup­ issue of which will sacrifice least port and strengthening of the gov­ for the nation, but which is capable ernment's war effort. This is no time of doing most and is doing most for taking it easy. for the isolation and defeat of the And something else has to be appeasers and all other enemies of said. The classes and groups of our country, for the victorious our people that go into the making prosecution of the war, for the de­ of our national unity must realize struction of the Axis and of fas­ more clearly that theirs is a unity, cism. an alliance for a common goal, a In such a "rivalry" for national united national front. This means unity, differences on secondary and that every group and class in the conflicting interests will present no national unity, including the work­ danger, because then they will pre­ ers, farmers and employers, each sent no openings to appeasers for and all must be ready and willing driving wedges between the various to give the common national interest groups and classes in the camp of the right of way, to subordinate all national unity. The danger arises other interests, which may differ only when the defeatists and ap­ or be in conflict, to the national in­ peasers are allowed by the national terest: everything to win the war, forces to drive wedges between everything to defeat Hitler and the their various classes and groups. Axis. This also means a willingness Hence, the major duty of each of and readiness to make mutual con­ these groups and classes is to curb cessions, to follow the rule of give and isolate the defeatists and ap­ and take, on all questions or issues peasers in their own midst. Labor over which there are differences, has already begun to do so. It has and to do it in such a way as will, rejected the anti-national appease­ first of all, promote the national ment and splitting tendencies interest and common war effort of emanating from John L. Lewis and defeating the Axis. Norman Thomas and is steadily de­ Clearly, this is no blueprint; none veloping and applying a national is possible. Problems and difficulties standpoint and policy-the policy will arise continually and these of the working class as the back­ now will have to be composed- bone of the nation and the national NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS 257 war effort, and its most consistent of labor is to combat the influences anti-fascist and progressive class. of these appeasers, to reject their And it is along these lines that labor-baiting and democracy-bait­ labor should continue, more rapidly, ing, to curb and isolate the disrup­ more consciously. ters and enemies of our national Labor has to continue to free it­ unity, and to overcome speedily all self more thoroughly of the vicious attitudes of "business as usual." Our influences which would make the businessmen and employers of working class a mere passive sup­ labor must always be conscious of porter of the national war effort and the fact-as must all the rest of us which would subordinate, in the -that our national unity is an alli­ name of "trade unionism," the most ance or coalition of .various classes, fundamental immediate tasks of the of all patriotic Americans regard­ working class-the destruction of less of social origin, for a common the Axis and of fascism-to narrow goal, which is the winning of our group interests of a temporary and national war against the Axis. transitory character. Labor has to Everyth-ing must be subordinated strive to become the foremost ex­ to this goal, and all secondary and ample of political initiative, influ­ conflicting interests must be com­ ence and national service for all posed and resolved on the basis of other classes and groups in our so­ and within the anti-Hitler camp of ciety, aiming thus to show the national unity, not in conflict with American people, more than ever, it and not outside of it. Clearly, that• the working class is, in fact, anti-labor incitements and unwill­ the most dependable champion of ingness to cooperate with labor in the nation's independence and free­ the national war effort are one of dom, the most consistent opponent the surest ways of undermining our of the Axis and fascism. national unity. Therefore, it is es­ An equally serious "internal" task sential to curb, isolate and defeat of house cleaning confronts the the appeasers, the friends and al­ other classes and groups in our na­ lies of the Nazi-fascist Axis. tional unity, especially the employ­ This same spirit of "rivalry" for ers of labor, the capitalists. It is national unity and victory in the among some of them particularly war should dominate the develop­ that the defeatists and appeasers ing political campaign !or the com­ have their nests, their sources of ing Congressional elections. And sustenance, their social contacts. It American labor, especially the trade is among them, as a class, that union movement, can play a very "Cliveden Sets" originate and grow, important part, not only because of poisoning the atmosphere around its considerable organized strength them and breeding hesitations, and political influence, but also be­ weaknesses and capitulation among cause it is capable of and is render­ the supporters of the national war ing the most consistent champion­ objective. Certainly, the major duty ship of the national interest, of of our businessmen and employers the national war effort. It is capable 258 NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS of projecting and carrying through accept a position of narrow parti­ in the elections a genuine line of sanship whether of Flynn, chair­ true non-partisanship and national man of the Democratic National unity to win the war, and of gaining Committee, or of Martin, chairman the support for this line of the of the Republican National Commit­ widest masses of our people. tee. Flynn's assertion that only a Narrow partisanship can have no Democratic Congress can help our place in such a policy. People country win the war would be true should be elected to Congress, not only under two conditions. First, if because they are Democrats, Re­ the Democratic Party would elimi­ publicans, Laborites, etc., but be­ nate from its lists of candidates and cause they are the most dependable from its councils those defeatists and and reliable fighters for national open or hidden appeasers, as well unity for victory over Hitler as the extreme reactionaries, who and the Axis. Conversely, all those are still in its ranks and in public candidates should be defeated, re­ office, like many of the Southern gardless of party affiliations, who Congressmen; not only the Wheel­ are not reliable and dependable in ers, but also those such as Dies, the struggle for victory for our na­ Cox, Smith (Virginia), Tydings and tional and democratic war. And Byrd. Secondly, if the other political this -includes not only the well parties (Republican, Labor, Far­ known appeasers of the Wheeler, mer-Labor, etc.) would present to Fish and Nye stripe, but also such the voters for election only de­ hidden defeatists and enemies of featists and appeasers. This, of our national unity as Dies, Smith, course, may be the situation .and Hoffman, Cox, Ford, Shaffer, Fad­ lineup in many states and electoral dis, Byrd, McKellar, Tydings, and districts. But this is not inevitable, all others of the same category of it is not the only kind of a choice hidden appeasers and conciliators that is indicated by the situation. with appeasement. Where candi­ At any rate, the Democratic Party dates of all parties in a locality still has to demonstrate that many stand committed to the same gen­ of its candidates will be the most eral platform of national unity for dependable champions of our na­ victory, preference should be given tional and democratic war. The by the voters to those candidates leaders and followers of that party whose record and position offers the should proceed to make that demon­ most guarantees that they will fight stration. Above all, labor-espe­ whol.eheartedly and most consist­ cially the trade union movement, ently to unite the nation for win­ acting unitedly and in the closest ning the war, for stren~thening the collaboration with an other anti­ alliance and common fighting action Hitler forces-Democrats and Re­ of the United Nations, for the com­ publicans, Laborites and Commu- · plete destruction of Hitler and Hit­ nists-should take the initiative to lerism. help influence the selection, as well The people cannot and will not as the election, of the most capable NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ELECTIONS 259

An Address by Frederick Douglass with Foreword by James W. Ford

FOREWORD even among the most politically ad- vanced white and Negro masses in HESE are trying days for our the United States. Too little has T nation. They are even more been made known about him by trying than those in the national the official historians. Those who crisis of 1860, when the threat to have written the history of our the nation's existence demanded country in the decades since the just as today the integration and Civil War have either deliberately, utilization of Negroes to the fullest or out of an ignorance nurtured by in the ' struggle to preserve the prejudice, omitted Douglass' contri­ Union. Frederick Douglass' leader- bution to our nation. Falsification ship in clarifying the issues that by silence has to a considerable ex­ resulted in the raising of Negro tent concealed the real issues of that troops and their integration into the period from the masses. Union armies is graphically illus- In the Civil War the nation was trated in the following speech made faced with dissolution. The Union by that great Negro Abolitionist in had to be saved or liberty would Philadelphia, at the National Hall, have been lost for all. All true pa­ on July 6, 1863. triots rallied against those who Again the Negro people dare not aimed to dismember our country fail to appreciate their stake and and who, if they had been success­ their role in helping to win the war ful in defeating the Union, would today against the Axis powers, bave imposed the system of human without which the struggle for the slavery over the entire nation and rights of .the Negro people will be spread it throughout Central and set back for generations. Frederick South America. Douglass, one of the outstanding .:!g- Labor exercised an important role ures of the Civil War period, comes in determining the course of the forward now to challenge those who Civil War. It supported Lincoln and declare "this is not the colored stood solidly for the abolition of man's war" and who would mini- slavery. Of strategic importance mize the stake of the Negro people also was the active participation of in this titanic global conflict. Doug- Negro troops in helping to deter­ lass has not fully come into his own mine the successful outcome of the 262 NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT 263 war. No one understood this more obstruct every measure necessary clearly than Frederick Douglass. In for the fullest mobilization of our his speech Douglass makes devas­ human and material resources to tating arguments against wavering destroy the fascist Axis. and hesitation in regard to support­ Shameless policies of "Aryan su­ ing the war, by his brilliant analysis periority," such as blood seg­ of the two forces that were strug­ regation, can only contribute gling for mastery in the military to undermining unity of the drama of the Civil War. Although nation. There is not a single Ameri­ vacillation and weakness on the can patriot who does not glory in slavery question were found in high the sacrifices that Negro Americans places in the government, Douglass have made in giving the last drop nevertheless admonished colored of their blood to sustain this na­ men to join the Union Army and tion since its birth until the present fight for freedom and liberty. He moment. We must fight against the declared that· the logic of events appeasers in the spirit which Doug­ should convince all Negroes that lass indicated, of unity of white and their basic interests demanded their black. participation as fighters in the ranks A matter of the gravest concern of the Union Army. When Confed­ to all Americans anxious for the erate cannon shattered Fort Sumter destruction of everything that Hit­ at Charleston-the Pearl Harbor of lerism stands for is the widespread the Civil War-Douglass at once discrimination against Negro Amer­ "saw the end of slavery" for his icans in the armed forces and in people. He threw himself .into mo­ the industries, which militates bilizing Negro troops for the Union against their fullest mobilization for Army. He fought the Copperheads. the war effort. All Americans-Ne­ In the crisis today the nation is groes and whites--can never be fighting for its existence against satisfied until this blot is erased new would-be enslavers of the from American life. In the spirit whole of humanity, the Nazi-fascist and tradition of Frederick Douglass, Axis--the most fiendish imperialists this question is not placed as "con­ in all history. We have the McClel­ dition for support of the war"; lans, pro-Hitlerites and appeasers of rather, it is advanced in the inter­ today, black and white. We have our ests of most effectively prosecuting Lindberghs, Hamilton Fishes and the war. In the course of this war Coughlins; we have the Ku Klux the. struggle for democracy and Klan and our Cliveden Set, all of equality must be furthered. Unless whom constitute the most serious all unite effectively to defeat Hit­ obstacle to the war against Hitler ler, white and black will become the and are a Hitlerite camp of re­ chattel slaves of fascism. action at home. We have a group of The work of Douglass in rally­ Southern poll-tax Congressmen, ing his people in support of the war who, under the guise of supporting in the interests of national unity the government's foreign policy, was made easier by labor's support 264 NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT of the anti-slavery cause. The lead­ of the United States. In develop­ ership of Douglass, as history has ing further its policies for combat­ proved, was wise and sound. ing discrimination, the government Labor is immensely stronger to­ will help smash the nefarious ef­ da:r. It is the backbone of the na­ forts of the Axis-aiding demagogues tion. Its task of rallying the Negro and splitters, and will strengthen people in suppo:r:t of the war against national unity for dealing the death Hitler requires united effort in wip­ blow to the fascist Axis. ing out discrimination and lynching: "Events more mighty than men," This constitutes a basic part of the said Douglass, " ... have placed us in battle for production. It means help­ new relations with the government ·ing win the war on the battlefields. and the government _with us." It means helping the government The republication of this speech rall:r all the forces of the nation to of Frederick Douglass in The Com­ win the war. munist should serve, not alone to The crisis which faces the nation honor him, but to make more clear today requires national unity em­ the tasks we face today and to stim­ bracing all classes and peoples to ulate us fully to meet them. preserve the very national existence JAMES W. FORD.

THE SPEECH OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

1\tfR. PRESIDENT and Fellow to look at the subject in a plain l '.1. Citizens- and practical common-sense light. ! shall not attempt to follow There are obviously two views to be Judge Kelley* and Miss Dickin­ taken of such enlistments-a broad son** in their eloquent and thrill­ view and a narrow view. I am will­ ing appeals to colored men to en­ ing to take both, and consider both. list in the service of the United The narrow view of this subject is States. They have left nothing to that which respects the matter of be desired on that point. I propose dollars and cents. There are those among us who say they are in favor • Judge Kelley: William D. Kelley, a Repub· lican of Philadelphia, who was a Congressman dur­ of taking a hand in this tremen­ ing the Civil War. In the House, he pressed con­ stantly for a more vigorous conduct of the war, dous war, but they add they wish the arming of the Negroes and emancipation.­ to do so on terms of equality with Editar. ** Anna Dickinson: Poet, Abolitionist orator. white men. They say if they enter In 1864, at the age of 21, she spoke in the House of Representatives for the benefit of the Freed­ the service, endure all the hard­ men's Relief Association. From the beginning of ships, perils and suffering-if they the war she advocated emancipation, and division of the large plantations among the freed Negroes. make bare their breasts, and with She was active in exposing McClellan's treason strong arms and courageous hearts on the battlefield.-Editor. NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT 265 confront rebel cannons, and wring The case presented in the present victory from the jaws of death, they war, and the light in which every should have the same pay, the same colored man is bound to view it, rations, the same bounty, and the may be stated thus. There are two same favorable conditions every governments struggling now for the way afforded to other men. possession of and endeavoring to I shall not oppose this view. bear rule over the United States-­ There is something deep down in one has its capital in Richmond, the soul of every man present which and is represented by Mr. Jefferson assents to the justice of the claim Davis, and the other has its capital thus made, and honors the manhood at Washington, and is represented and self-respect which insists upon by "Honest Old Abe." [Cheers and it. [Applause] I say at once, in long-continued applause] These two peace and in war, I am content with governments are today face to face, nothing for the black man short of confronting each other with vast equal and exact justice. The only armies, and grappling each other question I have, and the point at upon many a bloody field, north which I differ from those who re­ and south, on the banks of the fuse to enlist, is whether the colored Mississippi, and under the shadows man is more likely to obtain justice of the Alleghen~es. Now, the ques­ and equality while refusing to assist tion for every colored man is, or in putting down this tremendous re­ ought to be, what attitude is as­ bellion than he would be if he sumed by these respective govern­ should promptly, generously and ments and armies towards the rights earnestly give his hand and heart to and liberties of the colored race in the salvation of the country in this this country; which is for us, and its day of calamity and peril. Noth­ which against us! [Cries of That's ing can be more plain, nothing the question] more certain than that the speediest Now, I think there can be no and best possible way open to us doubt as to the attitude of the Rich­ to manhood, equal rights and eleva­ mond or Confederate Government. tion, is that we enter this service. Wherever else there has been con­ For my own part, I hold that if the cealment, here all is frank, open, Government of the United States and diabolically straightforward. offered nothing more, as an induce­ Jefferson Davis and his government ment to colored men to enlist, than make no secret as to the cause of bare subsistence and arms, consid­ this war, and they do not conceal ering the moral effect of compliance the purpose of the war. That pur­ upon ourselves, it would be the pose is nothing more nor less than wisest and best thing for us to en­ to make the slavery of the African list. [Applause] There is something race universal and perpetual on this ennobling in the possession of arms, continent. It is not only evident and we of all other people in the from the history and logic of events, world stand in need of their en­ but the declared purpose of the nobling influence. atrocious war now being waged 266 NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT against the country. Some, indeed, contest, woe, woe, ten thousand have denied that slavery has any­ woes, to the black man! Such of us thing to do with the war, but the as are free, in all the likelihoods of very same men who do this affirm the case, would be given over to it in the same breath in which they the most excruciating tortures, deny it, for they tell you that the while the last hope of the long­ abolitionists are the cause of the crushed bondman would be extin­ war. Now, if the abolitionists are guished forever. [Sensation] the cause of the war, they are the Now, what is the attitude of the cause of it only because they have Washington government towards. sought the abolition of slavery. the colored race? What reasons have View it in any way you please, we to desire its triumph in the pres­ therefore, the rebels are fighting for ent contest? Mind, I do not ask the existence of slavery-they are what was its attitude towards us fighting for the privilege, the horrid before this bloody rebellion broke privilege of sundering the dearest out. I do not ask what was its dis­ ties of human nature-of trafficking position when it was controlled by in slaves and the souls of men-for the very men who are now fighting the ghastly privilege of scourging to destroy it when they could no women and selling innocent chil­ longer control it. I do not even ask dren. [Cries of That's true] what it was two years ago, when I say this is not the concealed ob­ McClellan* shamelessly gave out ject of the war, but the openly con­ that in a war between loyal slaves fessed and shamelessly proclaimed and disloyal masters, he would take object of t)le war. Vice-President the side of the masters against the Stephens has stated, with the ut­ slaves-when he openly proclaimed most clearness and precision, the his purpose to put down slave in­ difference between the fundamental surrections with an iron hand- ideas of the Confederate Govern­ ment and those of the Federal Gov­ * George B. McOellan: .Major-General in the U. S. army in 1861. Bitterly opposed to emanci­ ernment. One is based upon the idea pation of the Negro people. McOellan ordered his soldiers to return to the.1.r owners fugitive slaves that colored men are an inferior who had come within the Union lines. He refused race, who may be enslaved and to take the offensive in the war, permitting the enemy to escape even after Union victories. When plundered forever and to the heart's Lincoln had removed him from command, Mt­ Clellan ran against Lincoln for the presidency in content of any men of a different 1864, on the Democratic ticket, calling for complexion, while the Federal Gov­ ctpeace." Marx said of McClellan: ~' ... his in­ ftuence acted as a brake- on the general conduct of ernment recognizes the natural and the war . . . McClellan and most of the officers of the regular army who got their training at West fundamental equality of all men. Point are more or less bound to their old com­ [Applause] rades in the enemy camp by the ties of uprit a~ corps . . . McClellan covered the traitors in the I say, again, we all know that this Union Army with his saving shield o o . Mc­ Jefferson Davis government holds Clellan knew how to keep every military traitor from court martial, and in most cases even from out to us nothing but fetters, chains, dismissal . 0 • McClellan wages war not in order to defeat the foe, but rather in order not to be auction-blocks, bludgeons, branding defeated by the foe and thus forfeit his own irons, and eternal slavery and usurped greatnesso"-Marx-Engels,_ The Civil. War in the Unit~d States 1 International Pubhshers. degradation. If it triumphs in this New York.-Editor. NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT 267 when glorious Ben. Butler* eternal Providence, all-wise and all­ [Cheers and applause], now controlling, have placed us in new stunned into a conversion to anti­ relations to the government and the slavery principles (which I have government to us. What that gov­ every reason to believe sincere), ernment is to us today, and what proffered his services to the Gover­ it will be tomorrow, is made evi­ nor of Maryland, to suppress a dent by a very few facts. Look at slave insurrection, while treason ran them, colored men. Slavery in the riot in, that State, and the warm, District of Columbia is abolished red blood of Massachusetts soldiers forever; slavery in all the territories still stained the pavements of Balti­ of the United States is abolished more. forever; the foreign slave trade, I do not ask what was the atti­ with its ten thousand revolting tude of this government when many abominations, is rendered impos­ of the officers and men who had sible; slavery in ten States of the undertaken to defend it, openly Union is abolished forever; slavery threatened to throw down their in the five remaining States is as arms and leave the service if men certain to follow the same fate as of color should step forward to de­ the night is to follow the day. The fend it, and be invested with the independence of Haiti is recog­ dignity of soldiers. Moreover, I do nized; her Minister sits beside our not ask what was the position of Prime Minister, Mr. Seward, and this government when our loyal dines. at his table in Washington, camps were made slave hunting while colored men are excluded grounds, and United States officers from the cars in Philadelphia; performed the disgusting duty of showing that a black man's com­ slave dogs to hunt down slaves for plexion in Washington, in the pres­ rebel masters. These were all dark ence of the Federal government, is and terrible days for the republic. less offensive than in the city of I do not ask you about the dead brotherly love. Citizenship is n() past. I bring you to the living pres­ longer denied us under this govern­ ent. Events more mighty than men, ment. Under the interpretation of our *Benjamin F. Butler: At first a pro·:~lavery Democrat of Massachusetts, Butler, in the course rights by Attorney General Bates. of the Civil War, became a staunch anti-slavery we are American citizens. We man. He was a Brigadier-General, later a Major­ can General, in the Union Army. Placed in charge of import goods, own and sail ships, Fortress Monroe, in Virginia, he admitted to it, even before the issuance of the Emancipation and travel in foreign countries with Proclamation, fugitive slaves whom he fed and American passports in our pockets; clothed and put to work for the Union. He re· fused to return these Negroes to their former and now, so far from there being masters, answering his critics with the statement that the ex-slaves had been Confederate property any opposition, so far from exclud­ and were therefore ncontraband of war." In 1862 ing us from the army as soldiers, the Butl~ became military governor of New Orleans after its capture by the Union Army. At New President at Washington, the Cabi­ Orleans he raised Negro troops, being one of the first to do so, and setting a precedent which later net and the Congress, the generals. became national policy. His Reconstruction policy commanding and the whole army of was that of the group of Radical Republicans under the leadership of Thaddeus Stevens.-Editor. the nation unite in giving us one 268 NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT thunderous welcome to share with no power on the earth or under the them in the honor and glory of sup­ earth which can deny that he has pressing treason and upholding the earned the right of citizenship in star-spangled banner. The revolu­ the United States. [Laughter and tion is tremendous, and it becomes applause] I say again, this is our us as wise men to recognize the chance, and woe betide us if we fail change, and to shape our action ac­ to embrace it. The immortal bard cordingly. [Cheers and cries of We hath told us: will] I hold that the Federal govern­ ment was never, in its essence, any­ "There is a tide in the affairs of men, thing but an anti-slavery govern­ Which, taken at the flood, leads on ment. Abolish slavery tomorrow, to fortune. and not a sentence or syllable of Omitted, all the voyage of their life the Constitution need be altered. It Is bound in shallows and in was purposely so framed as to give miseries. no claim, no sanction to the claim We must take the current when it of property in man. If in its origin serves, slavery had any relation to the gov­ Or lose our ventures." ernment, it was only as the scaf­ folding to the magnificent structure, Do not flatter yourselves, my to be removed as soon as the build­ friends, that you are more impor­ ing was completed. There is in the tant to the government than the Constitution no East, no West, no government is to you. You stand but North, no South, no black, no white, as the plank to the ship. This rebel­ no slave, no slaveholder, but all are lion can be put down without your citizens who are of American birth. help. Slavery can be abolished by Such is the government, fellow white men; but liberty so won for citizens, you are now called upon the black man, while it may leave to uphold with your arms. Such is him an object of pity, can never the government that you are called make him an object of respect. upon to cooperate with in burying Depend upon it, this is no time rebellion and slavery in a common for hesitation. Do you say you want grave. [Applause] Never since the the same pay that white men get? world began was a better chance I believe that the justice and mag­ offered to a long enslaved and op­ nanimity of your country will pressed people. The opportunity is speedily grant it. But will you be given us to be men. With one over nice about this matter? Do you courageous resolution we may blot get as good wages now as white out the handwriting of ages against men get by staying out of the serv­ us. Once let the black man get upon ice? Don't you work for less every his person the brass letters U. S.; day than white men get? You know let him get an eagle on his button, you do. Do I hear you say you want and a musket on his shoulder, and black officers? Very well, and I have bullets in his pocket, and there is not the slightest doubt that in the NEGROES AND THE WAR EFFORT 269 progress of this war we shall see the nation. The greater includes the black officers, black colonels, and lesser. Because the State refuses, generals even.* But is it not ridicu­ you should all the more readily turn lous in us in all at once refusing to to the United States. [Applause] be commanded by white men in When the children fall out, they time of war, when we are every­ should refer their quarrel to the where commanded by white men in parent. "You came unto your own, time of peace? Do I hear you say and your own received you not." still that you are a son, and want But the broad gates of the United your mother provided for in your States stand open night and day. absence?-a husband, and want Citizenship in the United States your wife cared for?-a brother, will, in the end, secure your citizen­ and want your sister secured ship in the State. against want? I honor you for your Young men of Philadelphia, you solicitude. Your mothers, your are without excuse. The hour has wives and your sisters ought to arrived, and your place is in the be cared for, and an association of Union army. Remember that the gentlemen, composed of responsible musket-the United States musket white and colored men, is now be­ with its bayonet of steel-is better ing organized in this city for this than all mere parchment guaran­ very purpose. tees of liberty. In your hands that Do . I hear you say you offered musket means liberty; and should your services to Pennsylvania and your constitutional right at the close were refused? I know it. But what of this war be denied, which, in of that? The State is not more than the nature of things, it cannot be, your brethren are safe while you * Negroes held about &eYenty-five commissions in have a Constitution which proclaims the army during the Ciyil War. One mem~er. of the First North Carohna Volunteers, W tlham your right to keep and bear arms. N. Reed, rose to the position of Lieutenant­ ColoneL-Editor. [Immense c1!!eering]

270 270

* * • • • •

Germany, Germany, feel feel linked linked with with the the glori-

Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Greece, and and not not least least in in was was the the world world conflagration. conflagration.

fighters fighters against against Hitler Hitler in in France, France, them them all all too too long, long, and and the the result result

front front and and likewise likewise the the anti-fascist anti-fascist The The bourgeois bourgeois democracies democracies tolerated tolerated

of of the the Nazi Nazi armies armies ,on ,on the the Soviet Soviet the the result result was was Petain Petain and and Riom. Riom.

guerrilla guerrilla fighters fighters behind behind the the lines lines Hitler. Hitler. France France tolerated tolerated them, them, and and

gendarmes gendarmes in in the the Reich Reich court, court, the the tolerated tolerated them, them, and and the the result result was was

years years ago ago among among the the brown-shirt brown-shirt feat feat of of the the Nazi Nazi armies. armies. Germany Germany

gant gant enemy. enemy. Like Like this this man man nine nine making making possible possible the the first first great great de­

united, united, are are able able to to destroy destroy the the arro­ cleared cleared out out its its traitors, traitors, thereby thereby

progressive progressive humanity, humanity, which, which, purge purge them. them. The The Soviet Soviet Union Union

forces forces in in all all the the world, world, with with all all of of drels, drels, others others let let the the scoundrels scoundrels

linked linked with with the the tremendous tremendous popular popular us. us. One One country country purges purges its its scoun­

the the Reich Reich court, court, and and felt felt himself himself that that can can serve serve as as precious precious lessons lessons to to

power; power; he he looked looked past past the the walls walls of of Recent Recent history history is is rich rich in in examples examples

enemy; enemy; he he saw saw not not only only the the enemy's enemy's can can patriots? patriots?

only only the the temporarily temporarily victorious victorious against against Roosevelt Roosevelt and and other other Ameri­

The The accuser accuser in in the the dock dock saw, saw, not not would would be be the the accusers accusers and and witnesses witnesses

can can Cliveden Cliveden Set Set and and Fifth Fifth Column Column cal cal generals generals have have attacked. attacked. done. done. He He

rious rious other other members members of of the the Ameri­ many many peoples, peoples, and and so so many many equivo­

George George Sylvester Sylvester Viereck, Viereck, and and va­ peoples, peoples, or or rather rather the the leaders leaders of of so so

in in which which perhaps perhaps Dies, Dies, Lindbergh, Lindbergh, dated dated by by the the Nazi Nazi terror terror as as so so many many

hold hold just just such such a a trial trial in in Washington, Washington, let let himself himself be be confused confused and and intimi­

his his allies, allies, in in case case of of victory, victory, would would planes, planes, attacked. attacked. but but he he He He did did not not

Can Can anyone anyone doubt doubt that that Hitler Hitler and and had had no no armies, armies, no no tanks, tanks, no no air­

the the terms terms of of peace peace in in Washington. Washington. scorned scorned to to be be on on the the defensive. defensive. He He

declared declared that that he he intended intended to to dictate dictate nist nist revolution." revolution." But But this this man man

A A Japanese Japanese general general not not long long ago ago stag, stag, allegedly allegedly to to start start a a "Commu­

nations. nations. charge charge of of setting setting fire fire to to the the Reich­

statesmen, statesmen, labor labor leaders, leaders, classes classes and and fend fend himself himself against against the the Goering Goering

in in Riom. Riom. This This goes goes for for individual individual tribunal. tribunal. He He was was supposed supposed to to de­

of of the the Leipzig Leipzig trial trial in in Leipzig Leipzig end end shirt shirt torturers torturers faced faced the the Nazi Nazi

lessons lessons of of the the Reichstag Reichstag fire fire

and and standing standing the the midst midst of of the the brown­ T

HOSE HOSE who who In In Leipzig, Leipzig, do do not not nine nine heed heed years years the the ago,, ago,, a a man man

BY BY HANS HANS BERGER BERGER

FROM FROM LEIPZIG LEIPZIG TO TO RIOM RIOM FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM 271 ous Red Army and Soviet peoples, must remember that fact, precisely with the fighting forces of the in these days, nine years after that United States, Britain, China, the remarkable trial, now that all the Netherlands Indies, Australia, and conditions are present to crown the all of the United Nations. first defeat of the Hitler dictatorship The best "propagandists" of the in Leipzig with the final military Nazis could do nothing against the defeat of the Hitlerite Axis on the ringing indictments of this veteran battlefields. leader of the working class, schooled and proven in struggle, who shat­ * * * tered the lies of the brown-shirt accusers and exposed the rotten Hitler came to power, not by his weaknesses of their regime. Goeb­ daring and that of his gangster bels seemed very · small, Goering bands, but thanks above all to the contemptible indeed, when con­ disunity of his opponents, for which fronted with this man, whose hero­ the leaders of bourgeois democracy and Social-Democracy bear the ism and penetration, drawn from frightful responsibility. Unfor­ deep Marxist-Leninist understand­ tunately there are learned and un­ ing of the movement of hi~tory, learned fools in many countries who together with long experience in the speak of the "Hitler revolution" and fight against reaction and unshak­ believe the stories spread by the able faith in the working class, en­ Nazi dictatorship about its heroic abled him to defy the Leipzig exploits in "seizing power." Since "Court" and to expose the Nazi dic­ when were the old reactionaries in tatorship to the entire world as the Germany, the steel and coal mag­ real incendiary. By his example he nates, the Prussian Junkers, the re­ showed how people must combat the actionary generals, the Freikorps Nazi dictatorship, .how the offensive bands, all of those figures which against fascist barbarism must be were at the helm in Germany in the waged: unitedly, without fear, with­ first World War, revolutionaries? out vacillation, with iron determina­ But it was precisely they who tion. So mighty was the movement brought Hitler to power. It was tpey inspired by this man among all who used the reactionary puppet peoples that it was able, not only Hindenburg to put Hitler and the to save him, but to lay the basis for Nazis in power "in legal form," al­ the United Front and People's Front though the Nazis were in the minor­ which coalesced the popular forces ity in the elections. They were able of democracy and peace into mighty to do so because of the policy of militant movements against fascism the Weimar democracy which was and fascist aggression. aided by the Social-Democratic pol­ The Nazi dictatorship was hardly icy of the "lesser evil"-a policy, a month old when it suffered its for which thousands of Socialists first signal defeat, at the hands of paid with their lives, and Which is Georgi Dimitroff, in Leipzig. We now rejected by hundreds of thous- 272 FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM ands of Social-Democratic workers the Junkers and generals, in their and many Social-Democratic leaders fear of the counter-action of the in France and Germany,, in Poland masses, helped the Nazis out of their and Czechoslovakia, in the Scandi­ crisis and put them in power against navian and many other countries, the will of the German people. No who are increasingly taking the serious person can doubt that had path of national unity and common not the majority_ of the German action with the Communists, the workers been held back by the Radical Socialists, and all other divisive policy of the Social-Demo­ patriots, the path of united struggle cratic and reactionary trade union against the Nazi enslavers and their leaders from united struggle with Quislings. the Communists, the Nazi party How discouraged the National­ would have been knocked to pieces Socialists felt a month before "seiz­ and the establishment of the Nazi ing power" can be seen from Goeb­ dictatorship prevented. bels' diary, which he published him­ But it was not a spirit such as that self. In December, 1932, he made of Dimitroff at Leipzig that ani­ the following entry: mated the leaders of the Weimar "Deep depression throughout the Republic. They put their hopes in organization. One feels so worn out, Hindenburg, even in a peace agree­ one longs for nothing but a week's ment with Hitler, in the "crack-up" escape from the whole business. of Hitler; in the suspension of par­ "Phone call from Dr. Ley [Leader liamentary rules; they hoped that of the German Labor Front]: The he would content himself with de­ situation in the party is getting stroying only the Communists-they worse from hour to hour. put their hopes in everything except "The year 1932 has brought us eternal ill-luck. Outside the peace of the power of common action against Christmas reigns in the streets. I am Hitler. They denounced the Com­ at home, alone, pondering over my munists and all consistent anti-fas­ life. The past was sad, and the cists who proposed such common future looks dark and gloomy; all actions as provocateurs. chances and hopes have quite dis­ One wonders whether Goebbels is appeared. keeping up his diary today, and "For hours, the Leader paces up whether we shall some day be able and down the room in the hotel. It is obvious that he is thinking very to read some such entries as these: hard. He is embittered and deeply wounded by this unfaithfulness (of "The situation on the Russian Gregor Strasser). Suddenly he stops front is terrible. One defeat after and says: 'If the party once falls to another. Frightful losses of men pieces, I will shoot myself without and materiel. Morale among the more ado.' " soldiers and the population dete­ riorates constantly. Production is This was the Nazis' situation and dropping. Everywhere there are the morale of the Nazi "heroes" one leaks. If the English and Americans month before the big capitalists and attack us we are lost. Our only hope FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM 273 is that our opponents will repeat All who had refused, while there their old mistake. One month before still was time, to fight in the com­ we came to power the situation mon cause with the Communists, seemed as hopeless as now. Will our had the common fate of the perse­ opponents help us out of this fix as cuted, martyred, murdered, in con­ they did then, by their indecision and disunity? That is all that could centration camps and jails. This save our party and our rule. Other­ common fate cut across all lines of wise we are threatened with col­ class, of party, of philosophy, of lapse. The Fuhrer paces up and religious faith, striking the whole down in his headquarters, and I people. have never seen him in such despair It was Dimitroff at Leipzig, as now, when he receives one bad spokesman of the Communists, of report after another from the front." the working class, of the democratic masses, who beat back this ~ffen­ When the Hitler regime was sive of the brown barbarians and placed in power it felt by no means proceeded to the counter attack. secure. It feared that its opponents, in spite of all, would unite for a concerted blow. The Nazi leaders * * * knew very well that they had not the majority among the German Dimitroff's counter-attack at people, that the mass of the working Leipzig called forth a profound re­ class hated them, that everything sponse among the workers of progressive in Germany was the Europe and America who faced the mortal enemy of the Hitler regime. threat of fascism. They now had be­ They therefore hit upon the desper­ fore them, not only the horrible ate provocation of setting fire to the warning of a crucified German Reichstag in order to declare the people, but a stirring example of Communists "incendiaries," drive working class heroism and success­ the Communist Party into illegality, ful resistance to the Brown beasts. throw the Communist representa­ In the months and years immedi­ tives out of Parliament, and con­ ately following Leipzig, tremen­ demn every collaboration with the dous popular struggles bore witness Communists as a crime. In short, to the powerful influence of Dimi­ they did just what the appeasers troff's counter-attack: the great in­ and fifth columnists would so very ternational protest movement which much like to do in this country. forced his release; the momentous But those who hoped that the barricade-struggle of the Austrian Brown storm would direct itself workers in February, 1934; the rise only against the Communists, and of the United Front and People's that they could save themselves at Front, blocking the path of fascism the Communists' expense, were in France and in the epic struggle speedily and terribly disillusioned. of Republican Spain. Their fate followed immediately But this movement for world­ upon the fate of the Communists. wide anti-fascist unity, for the de- 274 FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM fense of popular liberty and peace, "court" of Hitler's henchmen in was prevented from achieving its Riom. They are accused of not hav­ goal. Through the policy of Munich­ ing betrayed France outright, like ism, supported or countenanced at Petain, Laval, Bonnet, Weygand, that time by the leaders of the Schneider-Creuzot, Doriot, and all Second International, Hitler was that gang which was able, quite able to extend his fascist aggression. unmolested, to organize the defeat Because of the policy of pro-fas­ of France in every sphere. These cist appeasement, Ethiopia, Austria, "rescuers" of France, the saboteurs Spain, Czechoslovakia and China of the alliance with the U.S.S.R., were sacrificed, and one easy victory the organizers of Munich, the in­ after another was presented to competent and treacherous generals, Hitler. Those who fought against the fifth column bands, the French such a policy were denounced as henchmen of the Gestapo, the big­ "Communistic war-mongers," in industry saboteurs of armament, the the style of Hitler. These reaction­ professional red-baiters, the profes­ ary forces successfully sabotaged sional crusaders against everything the policy of collective security. that is socially and politically pro­ They broke the domestic · front of gressive--.:.in brief, the . Petain re­ struggle against the Hitler regime gime, are judging at Hitler's orders and its henchmen. Many of those those men who, great as their po­ who capitulated to the policy of litical guilt is, did not go over into Hitler's henchmen believed, until the camp of the open betrayers of their fall, that they would escape France. The accused at Riom did not catastrophe at the expense of the purge France of the Petains, and Communists and of the Soviet now the Petains are purging them Union. Did not Daladier, during the at the command of Hitler. Soviet-Finnish war, actually appeal In reporting the proceedings at to Hitler to come to the aid of the Riom, the New York Herald Trib­ Finns? Did not certain Social­ une of March 12 quotes Leon Blum Democratic leaders at the same time as paying tribute to the Soviet "coolly" state the proposition that Union and the Communists, and no one need be averse to a Franco­ saying: British war against the Soviet Union? "Russia today is still fighting the same enemy we were fighting two In consequence of all this, the years ago, and the Communist Party French people are now paying a is furnishing the large part of the frightful price. Reaction and fas­ hostages shot in the occupied zone." cism do not let themselves be con­ ciliated by concessions, but merely But how much better it would utilize them to reach the goal more have been if, in the days of the gov­ easily. ernment that was supported by the Today Daladier and Blum stand Popular Front, Blum had fought as defendants before the so-called resolutely in defense of the Franco- FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM 275 Soviet pact; if he had not sup­ Can anyone deny there are ele­ ported the "non - intervention" ments in our country who are try­ which surrendered Spain to Franco; ing to prepare the same fate for the if he had opposed the anti-Commu­ American Continent as that which nist splitting policy of reaction in the Petains, Darlans, Lavals and its torpedoing of French popular Doriots prepared for France? unity. How much better it would Are there not appeasers and Quis­ have been if the anti-Hitler Na­ lings who are trying to throttle the tional Front which is now being voice of the working class and sup­ forged, had been consummated in press its rights as Hitler's hench­ France when such a front could men did in France? have averted the disaster of Nazi It is these foes of America's se­ occupation. curity who seek to disrupt our Undoubtedly Blum's position at growing national unity and the the trial reflects, however inade­ anti-Hitler front of the United quately, some of the profound Nations, as Hitler's henchmen suc­ changes which are taking place ceeded in doing in France; who among the French Socialists and seek to substitute a fight against the courageous anti-Hitler struggle everything progressive and na­ which the majority of them are tionally unifying for the fight now waging, hand in hand with the against Hitler; who are continuous­ De Gaullists, the Communists, and ly sowing distrust of our allies, of the Radical Socialists. Regardless England, of the Soviet Union. It is of the past and without trying to these same elements, too, who try forecast the future role of Blum, to divert the country from its de­ all opponents of Hitler will greet cisive task by creating internal na­ these remarks and the efforts of tional and racial conflicts, campaigns Blum to indict his accusers, the against Negroes, Jews, the foreign­ Nazis and the Men of Vichy. born, etc. It is they who sabotage production and would rather lose * * * the war than see their swollen profits restricted. They who did not heed Dimitroff It is these same forces of appease­ and the lessons of Leipzig have ment and defeatism which oppose, landed in Riom, with the French by every method, the policy of reso­ people under the yoke of the Nazi lute offensive against the fascist dictatorship. enemy. Is not Riom a horrible warning Against this handful of Cliveden­ for all peoples? For Americans who ite appeasers-and their Norman sincerely strive for the preservation Thomas types in the workers' midst of our national existence and the -stands the overwhelming majority destruction of the piratical Axis? of the American nation and the solid For every one who is not in league front of American labor. Strength­ with Hitler? ening the bonds of our national 276 FROM LEIPZIG TO RIOM unity, forging indissoluble unity with our great ally, the Soviet with the worldwide forces of the Union! United Nations, we must take the In the spirit of Dimitroff at Leip­ offensive on the military front in zig, in the spirit of the Red Army, Europe, by opening together with of the Soviet people, of MacArthur, Great Britain, a second front; we we must understand the grim warn­ must strike at the fascist beast in ing of Riom in time. We must pro- . his lair, join forces in a political and ceed from defense to a united of­ military alliance, in common action fensive, to achieve victory! LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

BY A. B. MAGIL

HE present war is the fourth ocracy, in the second and third, T great national war which the Wall Street financial-capital. American people have fought. The Our four national wars have oc­ first, in 1775-1783, created our na­ curred in different historic epochs; tion; the second, the War of and class alignments, specific prob­ 1812, preserved it from re-con­ lems and issues have not been the quest and consolidated the same. Yet they have also had much achievements of the Revolution and in common. In all four, national the gains of Jeffersonian democ­ political unity had to be created as racy; the third, in 1861-1865, pre­ the fulcrum of military activity, a served our nation against a threat national unity based on a coalition from within; the present, the most of classes and embracing every sec­ momentous, is being waged to pre­ tion of the population, from the serve the gains of a hundred and most radical to the most conserva­ sixty-six years of national indepen­ tive, that stood for victory over the dence against a threat from with­ nation's enemies. In all four the out. All four have been true national national struggle has been inter­ wars because in each what has been woven with the social, but the at stake has been the existence of conflicts among the collaborating the United States as an independent classes have been subordinated to nation and the freedom to work out the overriding common interest: na­ its own destiny. In a very real tional survivaL However, in the sense, therefore, Pearl Harbor is our War of Independence, in the War Lexington and Fort Sumter. ·In of 1812, and in the Civil War-and contrast, the Mexican War, the there is no reason to assume that Spanish-American War, and the this will be different today-the first World War were not national very effort to further the national wars; far from involving the exis­ cause effected important changes tence and freedom of our nation, and brought to the fore the ener­ they involved only the plunder and gies, the courage, the vision of the power of a reactionary minority­ common man. in the first case, the southern slav- All four national wars have also 277 278 LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE been part of an international move­ "The two great objects of Great ment for larger freedom and democ­ Britain· in regard to the American raey. And our own struggle has in trade must be: 1, to oblige her each case been greatly aided from American subjects to take from abroad: in the War of Indepen­ Great Britain only, all the manu­ factures and European goods which dence, by the French alliance; in the War of 1812 by the general she can supply them with; 2, to regulate the foreign trade of the democratic sympathy; in the Civil Americans so that the profits there­ War, by the protests of the workers of may finally center in qreat and enlightened liberals of England,.. Britain, or be applied to the im­ which prevented that country from provement of her empire."* entering the conflict on the side of the South, by the sympathetic ac­ But capitalist development in the tivity of Russia, and by the response new world collided with colonial of solidarity from the people of Ire­ dependence on the old; American land and many other countries; in trade, nascent American industry the present war, by the united na­ American land-hunger, growing tions and peoples of both hemi­ American culture and national con­ spheres, headed by the world anti­ sciousness strained at the none-too­ Hitler coalition of the United States, maternal shackles placed upon them the Soviet Union and Britain; and until they broke free. And what be­ in all four, by the countless thou­ gan as a limited constitutional sands of brave men of foreign birth struggle of British subjects for eco­ who fought for liberty under the nomic concessions within the em­ American flag. In turn, our struggle pire grew into a torrential revolu­ has in each case strengthened the tionary war of the American nation liberating forces of other countries. for independence. This war could Paralleling this solidarity of the not have been started or won had peoples has been the international­ there not been created a broad unity ism of reaction: the aid given to our of the nation that overcame tremen­ enemies by minorities in our own dous odds and literally snatched population-appeasers and traitors. victory out of the jaws of defeat. It was the Stamp Act of 1765 that I. The War of Independence evoked the first cohesive effort on a national plane in the struggle The American Revolution had its against England. The Sugar Act of origins in the basic economic con­ the previous year had hit at the New flict between the merchants, plant­ England traders; the Proclamation ers, artisans, and small farmers, of of 1763, by banning westward ex­ the colonies and the imperial mer­ pansion, had particularly affected c:.>.ntile system of Britain. The ob­ Virginia, and blocked westward ex­ jectives of British policy were pansion of all classes. But the Stamp bltmtly stated by the royalist gov­ Act, by placing a tax on all legal ernor of Massachusetts, Sir Francis * Cited by Ernest L. Bo&art, Economic History Bernard: of the American People, p. 164. LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 279 documents, newspapers, pamphlets, tics of these organized patriots that calendars, playing cards and other stirred l!lp the colonies and helped items, bore down on almost all prepare the first step toward na­ classes and all sections of the coun­ tional unification: the Stamp Act try. The Stamp Act became the syn­ Congress in October, 1765. And thesis and symbol of the colonists' throughout the ten years that blazed grievances and the precipitant of the path to the armed fight for in­ national unity. It also brought upon dependence, it was these little peo­ the scene a new force: the indepen­ ple, the unknown carpenters, join­ dent action of the common people. ers, smiths, sailors, calkers, rope­ Out of the Stamp Act agitation was makers, small tradesmen, etc., who born the Sons of Liberty, the or­ goaded on the wavering merchants ganization of the democratic masses and planters, thrust them aside . which became the bellows that when necessary, and drove forward fanned high the revolutionary flame. the movement that eventually over­ Their outstanding leader in the threw British rule. Their role has period prior to the War of Indepen­ been admirably summed up . by dence was that remarkable profes­ Professor Merrill Jensen: sional revolutionist and selfless pa­ triot, Sam Adams of Boston. "In Charleston, Philadelphia, New The Sons of Liberty, varying in York and Boston the radical parties f.tructure in the different colonies were the foundation of the revolu­ and not always operating as a tionary movement in their towns formal organization, consisted main­ and colonies. It was they who pro­ ly of artisans, mechanics and day vided the organization for uniting laborers, who were led largely by the dispersed farming population. militant merchants and lawyers. which had not the means of organ­ izing, but which was more than These masses were in part the be­ ready to act and which became the ginnings of a working class, in part bulwark of the revolution once it sections of the petty bourgeoisie. A had started. Located at the center working class in the modem sense, of things, the town radicals were with its own clearly defined class able to seize upon issues as they physiognomy, did not yet exist, and arose and to spread propaganda by the workers shared the outlook of means of circular letters, commit­ the petty bourgeoisie. However, not tees of correspondence, and provin­ only their immediate interests, but cial congresses. They brought to a focus forces that would otherwise their future as an independent class have spent themselves in sporadic was bound up with the development outbursts easily suppressed by the of capitalism and the unfolding of established order."* bourgeois democracy, both of which required political independence. The Sons of Liberty were to our Today even a liberal historian like first Revolution what the Abolition­ A. M. Schlesinger refers disdain­ ists and Radical Republicans were fully to the Sons of Liberty as "the mob." But it was the ag~essive tac- • The Articles of Conf«leration, pp. 10-11. 280 LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE to the second: the prod in the con­ As the tide of struggle rose, the science of America, the fire in the cleavage among the merchants engine of freedom. Creating their widened, the smaller merchants and own revolutionary law and the in­ smugglers siding with those who strumentalities for its execution, favored active opposition. When the they became the vanguard of a final break came, a further realign­ mighty host, the harbingers and ment took place. The dilemma that forgers of national unity. faced the conservative sections of What were some of the problems the bourgeoisie was exemplified in of national unity in our first great two of their political representa­ criais? Firat, the problem of securing tives: Joseph Galloway and John collaboration of the classes that Dickinson, both of Pennsylvania. were adversely affected by the Galloway, who had been a close oppressive acts of the British Gov­ lieutenant of Benjamin Franklin in ernment. Necessarily excluded were the Pennsylvania Assembly, served those who sided with the Crown: as a delegate in the First Continen­ certain of the wealthiest merchants tal Congress, but when the second and planters, the landed gentry of congress met after the Battle of the northern seaboard, the clergy of Lexington, he refused to participate the Anglican Church, and the host and subsequently became an active of officials and retainers of the Brit­ Loyalist. Dickinson, on the other ish Government. But not everybody hand, though he sought to limit the who did favor resistance was pre­ ·struggle and refused to sign the pared to go all the way. Most of the Declaration of Independence, re­ large merchants repeatedly shrank mained with the patriot side. Thus, back from the boldness of their own from the impecunious agitator, or­ non-important agreements, sought ganizer, and "Jacobin," Sam Ada,ms, to appease the authorities, to check to the well-to-do conservative law­ popular outbursts, and to direct all yer, John Dickinson, the arch of activity into legal and constitutional national unity was built. For, channels. In Boston, for example, neither merchant nor mechanic the majority of the merchants re­ could advance their disparate class pudiated the famous Tea Party. And interests so long as both were sub­ when Sam Adams in 1774 organized ject to a foreign power and their the Solemn League and Covenant, country was a mere chattel. pledged to non-intercourse with This cooperation of classes was to Britain, he showed his distrust of a greater or less degree achieved the merchants by placing enforce­ first within the individual colonies. ment in the hands of the common The second problem of national people, of those "two venerable unity, therefore, was to bridge sec­ orders of Men stiled Mechanicks tional differences, to link up the and Husbandmen, the Strength of separate colonies for joint action. every Community."* This was begun through the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, through va­ • Cited by John C. Miller: Sam Adams, Pi011eu in Propag•nda, p. 302. rious appeals, declarations and peti- LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 281 tions issued by colonial legislatures revolution in Europe, but for the and congresses, and through a new early Communist movement.* and powerful revolutionary organ, And finally, the most important the Committees of Correspondence. q_uestion of all for effective national These, originating in the Sons of unity: the mobilization of the peo­ Liberty, acquired a new importance ple. Merely with the vanguard or­ in 1772 and 1773 when such com­ ganized in the Sons of Liberty and mittees were set up by towns and with patriotic merchants, planters legislatures throughout the colonies. and lawyers the fight could not be Jared Sparks, writing more than a won. The masses had to be aroused, hundred years ago, described the made conscious of their stake, role of the Committees of Corre­ brought into the main stream of re­ spondence in the following sistance and attack. Through town words: meetings and demonstrations, through the organization of local " ... the primary movement was militia, through the work of a re­ to bring the people to understand markable group of journalists and their interests and act in concert, pamphleteers, the greatest of whom and the first means used to attain was Tom Paine, and .through the this end was the establishment of official declarations of colonial and committees of correspondence in intercolonial congresses, different parts of the country. These rounded committees were chosen by the peo­ cut and culminated by the glowing ple in towns, counties, parishes, words of the Declaration of Inde­ districts, or smaller neighborhoods. pendence, the common folk were . . . So necessary was this system in stirred into action. One of the most itself, and so well adapted to pro­ important instrumentalities for this mote the general welfare that it purpose were the various non-im­ was acceded to everywhere, and in portation and non-consumption a short time committees were so agreements directed at British universally appointed throughout goods. the colonies that the friends of lib­ erty had speedy and direct chan­ In order to make these effec­ nels open with each other in every tive, every member of the com­ part of the continent."* munity was urged to refrain from buying British products and to boy­ Out of this activity grew finally cott those merchants who failed to the First Continental Congress in cooperate. The first such mass boy­ 1774 and the Second Continental cott came out of the Stamp Act Congress in 1775, which became the Congress of 1765; it is the original central directing body of the War ancestor of that embargo policy of Independence. And the Commit­ which Communists and other pro- tees of Correspondence served as a *In 1845-46 Marx, Engels and their co-workers model, not only for the bourgeois established Communist corresponding committees in Brussels, London, Paris and o~her cities. These laid the basis for the foundmg of the * Life of Gouv-erneur Morris, Vol. I, p. 30. Communist League in 1847.

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INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE OF OF WAR WAR OUR OUR FROM FROM LESSONS LESSONS 282 282 •

LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 283 parent state."* Nevertheless, when * * * the time came, Gouverneur Morris put his fears on a shelf, conquered America's first great national war his trembling, and cast in his lot had more than its share of traitor.~. with those who broke away from The fight for independence from. the parent state. After the war, he, foreign rule also necessitated a like John Dickinson, became one of struggle against the enemy within. the pillars of the reactionary Fed­ the Loyalist appeasers and traitors, eral Party. Thus social stresses and who constituted a formidable mi­ strains, as in our own day, threat­ nority. No quarter was shown to ened at times to tear the arch of these supporters of foreign des­ national unity . apart, but despite potism. The Lindberghs of that everything, it held for the dura­ time, far from being given govern­ tion. ment jobs, were driven into exile, The keystone of the arch that one hundred thousand of them, their stretched from Sam Adams and property confiscated, their names. Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson hated and scorned. Nor were family and Gouverneur Morris was George connections of any avail. Benjamin Washington. The greatness of Wash­ Franklin's own son, William Frank­ ington cannot be grasped by dissect­ lin, who was the royal governor of ing his qualities, for, as in the case New Jersey, was clapped into jail of Lincoln, the whole was greater for Loyalist activity. Besides the than the sum of its parts. Washing­ Loyalists, open and concealed, the· ton earned the right to be called patriots also had to contend with the father of our country.· His treason in their own ranks. That of achievement in whipping motley Benedict Arnold was the most. bands of raw recruits into a na­ flagrant, but it was by no means. tional army, his military skill, his the only example. The relentless­ unwavering devotion to the patriot struggle waged against these enemy cause, his rocklike determination agents strengthened the American under adversity that would have cause. Concerning the unmasking; broken a lesser man made the final of Arnold, Carl Van Doren writes victory more the fruit of his work in his definitive work on the opera­ than that of perhaps any other tions of t}le fifth column in our· single individual. Valley Forge, independence fight: where Washington shared the suf­ fering of his ragged men, has be­ "No event in the course of the come for all time a watchword of whole Revolution did so much to, heroism and self-sacrifice and un­ intensify patriotic sentiment. Afte1· conquerable fighting spirit. And Arnold few patriots could continue Washington was more than military to hold in their minds a lingering leader of the Revolution; he was the image of the war as a conflict be­ symbol of national unity and the tween political parties. This was be­ national will to victory. tween nations, and Arnold had not merely gone over from Whig to· • Cited by Jared Sparks, op. cit., Vol. I, p. 25. Tory, but had betrayed-or tried to" •

284 LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE betray-his country. . . . Arnold as and anti-Soviet circles among the traitor helped fix a powerful new monopolists. These elements, under image of the United States in the the guise of a "negotiated peace," minds of its people." * plot for America a fascist dictator­ ship and collaboration with the The exposure of Arnold and other Nazi gangsters rather than support traitors and the ruthless treatment a just war for national liberation of the Loy:.>Ests are a cue for us and democracy which is being today. Our government has shown waged by our country in alliance excessive tolerance toward the con­ with the Soviet Union, Britain, and temporary Arnolds and Silas Deanes the other United Nations. It is pri­ and Charles Lees. A Laura Ingalls marily fear of the peoples that of the America First Committee is drives the Lindberghs and Woods, sent to jail after it has been shown as it drove the Galloways and that she received money and in­ Bouchers in 1776, openly or covertly structions from a secretary of the to side with their country's ene­ German embassy. But Laura Ingalls' mies. other bosses, General Robert E. Wood and Charles A. Lindbergh, are welcomed into the government * * * service. A George Hill is sentenced What about the peoples of other to prison for perjury, but his great­ countries? They responded warmly er crime, that he was hand in glove to America's fight for freedom. In with the Nazi agent, George Sylves­ England itself support was not lack­ ter Viereck, goes unpunished, while ing. And patriots of other lands, Hill's employer, the appeaser and men like Lafayette, de Kalb, Ro­ Red-baiter, Hamilton Fish, is per­ chambeau, Kosciusko, Pulaski came mitted to pose as a patriot. Presi­ to America to aid the democratic dent Roosevelt denounces the Amer­ cause. The German, Baron von ican Cliveden Set as disrupters of Steuben, helped organize and drill national and international unity, the Continental Army; the Jew, but when the New Masses and the Haym Solomon, contril>uted his skill Daily Worker expose the identity in finance; the Scotchman, John of these appeasers, most of the press Paul Jones, became the oustanding either rushes to their defense or naval hero of the war. The largest casts over them the protecting cloak contribution in manpower was made of silence. And Father Coughlin by the Irish. Thomas H. Maginnis continues to spout treason unmo­ in his book, The Irish Contribution lested. The patriots of 1776 were to American Independence, esti­ not nearly so tender with the Rev. mates that fully one-third of the Jonathan Boucher. officers and a large proportion of the Appeasement today has its source soldiers were of Irish birth or par­ in the most reactionary, pro-fascist entage. When hostilities began, thousands of Irishmen flocked to • Secret Histor1 of the American Revolution, p. 394. this country, seeing their own cause LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 285 in America's battle. "Probably in to having Britain lose hers to the no part of Europe," writes Michael American people. From the stand­ Kraus in his essay, America and the point of France that would weaken Irish Revolutionary Movement in Britain and help restore the colonial the Eighteenth Century, "were the balance of power. There were divi­ effects of the American Revolution sions in the French government felt more immediately nor more about going to war with England, deeply than in Ireland. Horace but Benjamin Franklin's skilful Walpole, who heard all and dis­ diplomacy and the news of Bur­ creetly told some, wrote that 'all goyne's surrender at Saratoga, plus Ireland is America mad.' It was the sympathy of the French people added, 'So is all the continent.' "* for the American cause, finally The Americans, on their part, cvercame these hesitations and expressed their solidarity with the France signed a formal alliance with Irish, the Second Continental Con­ the United States. gress issuing on May 10, 1775. an If there were any hesitations address to the Irish people con­ among the American leaders when demning the wrongs against their the French alliance was ratified, country. Thus the founding fathers history has preserved no record of were themselves what today would them. If there were any members be called in certain circles "foreign of the Continental Congress who agitators.'' said: "We are being dragged into an imperialist war between Britain * * * and France in which our own fight for liberty will be submerged," The America of 1776, even as the their objections were not committed America of today, needed allies in to paper. The fact is the vote in the its fight for existence and sought Congress for the French alliance them everywhere: in France, Spain, was unanimous. Benedict Arnold, in Holland, Germany, Italy. We were the address To the Inhabitants of then what the Soviet Union is in our America which he issued when he own time: a vanguard country, the sold himself to the enemy, tried most politically advanced in the to cover up his treason by saying world. Yet this did not deter those he had opposed this compact with clearheaded realists, the founding a despotic monarch. This pseudo­ fathers, from seeking alliances with Left demagogy has been emulated regimes of a different political in a similar situation by a more system. France was a particularly recent breed of traitors knows as likely prospect. For, having lost her Trotskyites. American colonial empire to Britain America was a weak country as in the Seven Years' War, the France compared to France, and the aims of Louis XVI was not at all averse of the French king were certainly not those of the American patriots. • Included in the volume, -The Era of the But the forces of history were mov­ Amaican Revolution, edited by Richard B. Morris, p. 333. ing through the action of democratic 286 LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE America, and these outweighed French military and financial assis­ everything else and shaped the tance proved one of the decisive character of the war. In 1916 Lenin, factors in winning America's fight in distinguishing between a progres­ for independence. And in turn the sive national war and a reactionary American Revolution provided an imperialist conflict, cited the Amer­ impetus to the French: six years ican experience: after the Treaty of Paris ended our struggle, the people of Paris "England and France were en­ were storming the Bastille. Thus, gaged in a seven years' war for col­ onies, i.e., they waged an imperialist despite the calculations of Louis war (which is as possible on the and his class, by helping to free basis of slavery, or of primitive cap­ America, France helped free her­ italism, as on the basis of highly self. developed modern capitalism). France was defeated and lost part of * * * her colonies. Several years later the The independence won at such North American states started a war for national liberation against Eng­ sacrifice had to be given bone and land alone. Out of enmity toward muscle in the years that followed. England, i.e., in conformity with Most liberal historians have seen their own imperialist interests, only the social side of the conflict France and Spain, which still held between Federalists and Anti-Fed­ parts of what are now the United eralists that arose during the con­ States, concluded friendly treaties stitutional convention and continued with the states that had risen for over twenty-five years. But against England. The French forces there was at issue, besides basic together with the American de­ feated the English. Here we have a attitudes toward democracy and the war for national liberation in which popular welfare, something else. imperialist rivalry is a contributory The differences between the party element of no great importance, of Hamilton and the party of Jef­ which is the opposite of what we ferson were in fact a continuation have in the war of 1914-16 (in under new conditions of the strrug­ which the national element in the gle for national independence. Austro-Serbian war is of no great The Federalists represented those importance compared with the all­ wealthy merchant capitalist inter­ determining imperialist rivalry)."* ests that prior to 1776 had repeated­ By "a contributory element of no ly sought to come to terms with great importance" Lenin meant that Britain; during the war most of France's imperialist motives were of them either secretly sympathized no great importance in determining with the British or entered the fight the character of the war. However, reluctantly under pressure of the

• uThe Pamphlet by Junius," The Communist, democratic masses. With the war October, 1941, p. 885. On another occasion Lenin over, these wealthy merchants once cited the tactics of the American patriots in arguing for alliances between the Soviet state more began to operate largely with and capitalist states when necessary. (A Letter to British capital and credit and Americdn Workers, International Publishers, pp. 14-15.) sought political accommodation LESSONS FROM OUR WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 287 with the former enemy. This course filet between two internationalisms found ready acceptance among the was the form under which the na­ majority of the Federalist leaders. tionaL struggle 'for a strong and An additional factor driving the free America took place. "I still Federalists toward alignment with hope the French revolution will the bulwark of reaction abroad was issue happily," wrote Jefferson to fear of democracy at home. As a Edward Rutledge on August 29, result, they adopted policies in both 1791. "I feel that the permanence domestic and foreign affairs that of our own leans in some degree on had the effect of maintaining a that, and that a failure there would status of semi-colonial dependence be a powerful argument to prove on Britain. Hence the Jay Treaty that there must be a failure here."* with England in 1794, which evoked And earlier, on February 4, 1791, stormy protest demonstrations in in a letter to George Mason: "I con­ this country-"the most humiliating sider the establishment and success treaty to which an American has of their [the French] government ever put his signature."* Hence the as necessary to stay up our own, treasonable negotiations between and to prevent it from falling back Federalist leaders and British agents to that kind of half-way house, the during Jefferson's administration. English constitution."** And hence the secessionist conspira­ Just so, in a later time, did an­ cies in New England which reached other great American, Earl Brow­ their climax with the Hartford con­ der, leader of the Communist Party, vention in 1814. urge collaboration with the most ad­ In their struggle to defend and vanced country. of our own epoch, buttress their hard-won indepen­ the Soviet Union, as necessary for dence the American people again the defense of America. For this he, had as their ally France-this time like Jefferson, was reviled as a "for­ free, republican France. It was, in eign agent"; but today his proposal fact, the French Revolution and is national policy. Tom Paine's magnificent defense of Though Washington was strongly it in his reply to Edmund Burke, influenced by Federalism, in regard The Rights of Man, that brought to to France he was closer to the posi­ a boil the simmering conflict be­ tion of Jefferson. In a letter on tween the hosts of Hamilton and January 3, 1793, in which Jefferson Jefferson. To an extraordinary de­ chided William Short, charge d'af­ gree American political life became faires at Paris, for his hostility to divided between the friends of the Jacobin phase of the French Britain and the friends of France, Revolution, he wrote that one of the former consisting of the wealthy Short's dispatches "induced him and privileged classes, the latter of [Washington] to break silence and the overwhelming majority of the to notice the extreme acrimony of common people. Actually, this con- *Works (edited by Paul Leicester Ford), Vol. • Oaude G. Bowers: Jefferson dnd Hamilton, v, p. 377. p. 271. **Ibid., Vol. V, pp. 274·75.

CoMMUI

· · 1861.-Editor] 1861.-Editor] and and

1941, 1941,

July, July, the the

in in

IndependMice," IndependMice," of of War War Second Second

1776 1776 of of day day own own our our for for lessons lessons the the America's America's in in Reaction Reaction of· of· Treason Treason uThe uThe Strong, Strong,

Robert Robert and and Meyer Meyer Frank Frank by by article article

excellent excellent

the the in in

draw draw will will and and War, War, Civil Civil the the with with

done done be-en be-en already already has has this this since since it, it, preceding preceding

years years the the in in role role Jefferson's Jefferson's and and 1812 1812 of of War War

deal deal will will article article supplementing supplementing [A [A

** **

the the of of discussion discussion detailed detailed a a I I omitting omitting am am

together. together. share share must must

155. 155. VI, VI, Vol. Vol. *Ibid., *Ibid., p. p.

all all and and alone alone win win can can none none which which

foreign foreign the the ended ended 1812** 1812** of of War War the the victory victory the the for for struggle struggle common common

fruit: fruit: rich rich bore bore it it and and history history of of in in nations nations anti-Axis. anti-Axis. all all uniting uniting

seed seed the the of of full full was was work work his his But But China, China, with with together together Britain, Britain, Great Great

Paris. Paris. of of agent agent an an branded branded be be to to Union, Union, Soviet Soviet the the States, States, United United

late late too too not not but but Moscow, Moscow, of of agent agent the the of of alliance alliance all-round all-round an an requires requires

an an day day his his of of Dieses Dieses Martin Martin the the by by it it systems: systems: economic economic and and political political

called called be be to to soon soon too too lived lived He He tude. tude. their their of of regardless regardless nations, nations, friendly friendly

atti­

plague-on-both-your-houses plague-on-both-your-houses other other with with collaboration collaboration closest closest the the

a a

adopted adopted

and and

flipflop" flipflop" "a "a call call 1776, 1776, in in as as requires, requires, Hitlerism Hitlerism and and

today today

would would

people people certain certain what what Hitler Hitler against against liberties liberties and and security security

did did

Jefferson Jefferson

engaged.) engaged.) is is country country national national our our of of defense defense the the that that

our our

which which in in

war war

present present the the of of deeply deeply more more learn learn we we should should all all

reverse reverse

the the

reactionary, reactionary, to to gressive gressive of of least least Not Not morale. morale. and and appeasers, appeasers,

pro­ from from

developed developed

conflict conflict

(That (That

and and traitors traitors against against vigilance vigilance ple, ple,

sion. sion.

peo­ the the of of mobilization mobilization the the unity, unity,

oppres­ national national

and and

conquest conquest

of of

national national for for struggle struggle the the about about

war war a a became became this this Napoleon, Napoleon, under under

learn learn to to past-much past-much the the of of rience rience

when, when, France France against against turned turned he he ain, ain,

expe­ the the from from learn learn to to much much have have

Brit­ by by led led coalition coalition European European the the

we we yet yet conditions; conditions; historic historic different different

against against war war her her in in France France lutionary lutionary

totally totally under under occurs occurs Axis, Axis, fascist fascist

revo­ supported supported ardently ardently Jefferson Jefferson

Nazi­ the the civilization, civilization, of of enemy enemy

while while that that significant significant also also is is It It

greatest greatest the the against against battle battle epochal epochal

original.-A.B.M.] original.-A.B.M.]

present present Our Our time. time. own own our our of of

the the in in [Emphasis [Emphasis

object."* object."* first first

a a as as

problems problems the the up up light light help help to to 1861 1861

friendship friendship

its its and and

country country

this this of of

and and 1812 1812 1776, 1776, in in struggle struggle cratic cratic

sidered sidered anchor anchor sheet sheet the the

as as

France France

demo­ and and national national of of tradition tradition

con­ he he that that added added He He stituents. stituents.

rich rich the the having having in in fortunate fortunate are are

con­ your your to to

imputed imputed be be

might might

say say

people people American American the the souls, souls, men's men's

you you what what that that and and country country your your of of

try try again again once once that that times times these these In In

representative representative the the

yourself yourself sider sider

* *

* *

* *

con­ should should you you that that and and allies, allies, OUJ;" OUJ;"

to to offensive offensive equally equally were were versations versations

Federalists. Federalists. the the appeasement, appeasement, and and expressed expressed had had you you con­ your your in in

neo-Loyalism neo-Loyalism of of party party the the too too ended ended sentiments sentiments the the informed informed been been had had

and and existence existence America's America's to to threat threat he he that that added added He He expressions. expressions. your your

INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE OF OF WAR WAR OUR OUR FROM FROM LESSONS LESSONS 288 288 l'i II,

' ' ·' A magnificent guide' and background to the epochal ·· events which ~re reshaping the world today_!. - . I

< •• ') .THE ~ROWDER LIBRARY I ' . ' These. books by Earl Browder, 'General Secretary .of the CQmmll- nist _Porty, written b~tweeid~e yeors . 193~ end the early porto{ 1941, constitute a .. pe.,etrating· onclysis ~f the hi.storicel bo_ck- · ~ ~. I ' ground of th'e rpresent peqple's;wor ogelnst the Hitj er. A~\s. ~nd ~ ' ( .l .. o'f the forces which led ' t~ jts oJtbreok. -· . . . '. ·•• ._ ; , • •·• t • / : " • r ~ ... : ' ; t • · · · What -fs C~mm~~ism 1 . . . $2.00 ., .· I ;. ' - • ·, ' . ' ' ' . I 2...• .25 ...... ·.. r.h~ .. ~~~-pte;.s · ~ront ., /" .;, ~- _~ - ...... , :·\

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Commun'ism and Cultu/~ • - ~ ' . • ·I· . .05 JJ

The Road t~ Vi~tory . . • . • '! j ..05 1 ' I J.~;, "fit l' . ~ '- '- ,.. I · Earl Browder on the Soviet Union • 1 : ·.05 r '\ • 'Re.ligion and Communi~m • • • ,. .o~ w \ (

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