The Volunteer

Published As A Public Service By The VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE

799 Broadway, N Y. C. 10003 DECEMBER, 1976

The Political Future of Spain: Is Francoism Dead? Reunion In Florence By . By BILL WATSON (Nov. 29, 1976)

Watching Spanish politics from a articles on police torture) and FLORENCE, October 10 - On the distance used to be a relatively determined to get out the important face of it, it was incredible. Here simple process. There were rarely news. were about 1,000 veterans of the any fundamental changes in the The “opening” of the press itself from over 20 Franco regime, and the few changes reflects the most astonishing nations, including 68 of our own there were did not challenge the development since Franco’s death – from all over the United States, repressive character of the political life is quickly resuming its meeting in Italy over an October dictatorship or the firm grip - former vitality to the point that Spain weekend to commemorate the 40th stranglehold would be a better word - is becoming the most politically anniversary of the Brigades. General Franco maintained over conscious country in Europe. It was so long ago! Franco had political life. In fact, watching In virtually every region of Spain been dead almost 11 months, but his Spanish politics from the outside was preparations are underway for a regime was far from dead, and all the even an advantage, because one different kind of political future. veterans we saw - some for the first could learn more from IA Monde, Political parties are being organized; time in 37 or 38 years - all looked The New York Times, and Spanish the free trade union movement is anywhere from 10 to 20 years exile publications than one could gaining momentum; there is talk younger than they actually were. from anything published in Spain everywhere of reforming the In that beautiful Renaissance city itself. antiquated structures of Spanish in Tuscany. the home of All that has changed in the last education; women’s groups, Michelangelo and Leonardo da couple of years, especially since neighborhood associations, and Vinci, of Botticelli and Dante, time General Franco’s death. The press in professional organizations are rolled away in the beautiful golden Spain still lacks the guarantees of a asserting their initiative in ways that haze that seems to lie over the city all free press and is still timid on a would have been impossible a year the time. we were there - but we were number of topics (see, for example, ago. And with the resurgent also back in 1937 and 1938 and some the sentimental article on the democratic mood and activity has of the men on the platform had anniversary of Franco’s death in come the reassertation of regional fought with the Garibaldini and at Cambio 16 for the week of interests, not only in the traditionally least one of them November 22-28). But it is strong centers of Catalunya and the nonetheless an interesting press, Basque Country, but also in Galicia, Continued on pg. 4 willing to take risks (such as the the Levante, and parts of

Political Future: Continued from pg. 1

Andalusia. could campaign against political government. Yet they will probably where this renewed political ac- change. The size of the vote, give it overwhelming support, tivity will eventually lead, no one can moreover, (425 to 59 with 13 absten- because they really have no responsibly say right now. No doubt tions) indicates that an obstructionist alternative. To vote "no" or to abstain some of this energy will prove short- campaign cannot even be organized could be interpreted - Undoubtedly lived; some of it will he dissipated in within the now fragmented would he interpreted -as support for factional in-fighting as parties and movement. The reason for Bunker's the Francoist system, something that trade union organizations jockey for failure cannot be assigned to the only a small fraction of the Spanish positions of power and influenced. It persuasiveness of Prime Minister voters are prepared to do, as the is quite possible that the first flush of Adolfo Subarez, though he government knows perfectly well political freedom will produce negotiated the government sponsored before the referendum is held. political confusion in the country as a vote with considerable skill. The Thus the government's real purpose whole, with centers of liberalism so- reason is that the Cortes members in the referendum is to legitimize its cialism in the industrialized regions can read the political realities of the position. It wants a popular mandate, of Catalunya and the Basque Country country as well as anyone. There is even if it is fraudulent, so that its and in some of the major cities and a no political future in Francoism, and hand will be strengthened in dealing conservative, perhaps even a anyone who wishes to engage in with the opposition when it comes Movement-style reaction in the rest political life in the next several years time to spell out the actual details of of the country. has to begin by accepting the fact the electoral law. Already the opposi- One political fact, however, is al- that the rules of the game are now tion, in a joint declaration issued on ready clear: a year after General changed. November 27, has made it clear that Franco's death Francoism is a dis- What precisely those rules will be, the referendum and the general appearing legacy. To be sure, the old of course, is a critical question. The elections will not have democratic forms of Spanish fascism persist, the fact that a major Francoist institution legitimacy unless they meet the military still casts a shadow over voted itself out of existence does not following conditions: political life, the trade unions are not mean that the interests embedded in 1) All political party and labor un- free, political parties are still illegal, Francoism have abandoned the ions, without exclusion, must be and the movement still controls key struggle to determine the political recognized as legal organizations political institutions. But nobody in future of the country or that the before the elections are held; Spain believes or, more to the point, government will not try to control the 2) The government must recognize is acting as though this state of democratic opposition by restricting and guarantee political and labor affairs is going to last for much its freedom of action. The political union freedoms so that campaigns longer. In the long run there is not a struggle in the next several months, can be conducted without harassment thing the present government, the therefore, will concentrate on the and obstruction; military, or the old guard Bunker can conditions governing the conduct of 3) The political apparatus of the do to prevent the upsurge of elections. The government has thus National Movement must be dis- democratic sentiment from sweeping far refused to spell out the terms of solved and the political neutrality of away the political legacy of General the electoral law for fear of com- the Administration guaranteed before Franco. promising the vote dissolving the the election campaigns begin This is why the November 18 vote Cortes. It has now scheduled a 4) True political amnesty must be of the Francoist Parliament to abolish referendum for December in which granted, not the selective political itself in favor of a democratically the Spanish people will be asked to amnesty that has thus far excluded elected Parliament is of historical confirm the Cortes vote by accepting more than a hundred Basque ac- importance. Nobody should be a multiparty parliamentary system. tivists. deceived that democracy has been The referendum has been rightly 5) Fair access to the established in Spain as a result of this called a political fraud, because the government-controlled radio and vote, but neither should those who Spanish people are being asked to television media must be guaranteed have been fighting for a democratic approve of a system whose real to all parties; Spain for forty years discount its character is still unknown. They took 6) The opposition groups and not importance. The November 18 vote no part in formulating the plan, they the government alone, must take part removes a major obstacle to political have no way of knowing whether it in negotiating the rules and reform. It takes away one of the most will guarantee political democracy, procedures used in both votes; visible platforms from which the ap- and their decision, regardless of what 7) The necessity of creating polit pointed holdovers of the old guard it is, is not binding on the ical institutions responsive to the in- By Milt Cohen embarking upon organizing the An- terests of the various regions of nual Dinner which we hope to make Spain must be recognized. The Chicago Post met on Nov. the largest in the history of this Post. How forceful the opposition will be 12th to hear a report on the 40th An- The theme of the 40th Anniversary in insisting on these conditions and niversary in Florence. It was well Dinner will be to honor the many how responsive the government will attended, three fourths of the women who have served in the be to these demands in the next Chicago Vets attending. The reports as nurses, several months will determine on the events' in Italy were ambulance drivers, administrative, whether Spain will have a genuinely enthusiastically received with many etc. It will take place on Sunday, democratic government or a mere questions asked. February 6th. democratic facade be-hind which the The Chicago Post felt we have to The Dinner Committee consists of old forces of Francoism will continue redouble our efforts to help the Frieda Wolff, Chairperson, Don to control the political future of democratic development in Spain MacLeod, Jack Lucid, Marion Spain. Francoism as a political giving the democratic forces all the Bender, Phil Muller, Curley Mende legacy is dead and gone, but the support possible - with our efforts and Zac and Sari Stadt. The funds political forces behind Francoism are directed against the U.S. govern- will go to aid political prisoners who very much alive. Only a determined ment's machinations to hinder the are still in the jails of Spain and a struggle by the opposition - a democratic development. campaign for full amnesty and struggle requiring great discipline As part of a program in this re- freedom in Spain. and political cohesion - will succeed spect, the Chicago Post is sponsoring in overcoming them and establishing a showing of the movie "Guernica", Dr. Eloesser Is Dead genuine democracy in Spain. both as a fund raiser and as an educational. Dr. Leo Eloesser, one of the most (Dr. William Watson is Associate Jaime Camino, the Spanish movie notable figures of the American Professor of History at M.I.T.) director whom we met in Florence, Medical Services in Spain, is dead. had his movie on the Spanish Civil He died on October 4 of a cardiac Franco Rally No Success War, the "Long Vacations of '36," arrest at the age of 95. His service as shown in the Chicago International a military surgeon extended from The much-touted nation-wide rally of Movie Festival. This may be the first World War I to Spain and World Spanish Fascists in Madrid on time it was shown in the U.S. It is a War II. November 20th, the anniversary of sensitive, excellent portrayal of what Already a world-renowned sur- Franco's death, was no success. the Spanish Civil War was all about, geon, Dr. Eloesser helped organize in The Falangists boasted that they as seen through its effect on a early 1937 the West Coast Medical would assemble from every corner of number of families. The movie was Unit for Spain and then led it for the Spain hundreds of thousands in and well received and, I feel, it would be rest of the war. around the Plaza Oriente. The N.Y. worth while our trying to have it Among its many signal contribu- Times reported that "tens of shown in tions, this unit provided exemplary thousands" attended. The Spanish different cities in the U.S. medical support under fire on the press estimate ranged from 50,000 to Teruel front where it set up a hospital 75,000 and judged the demonstration San Francisco of 200 beds. In the last stage of the a failure and evidence of the isolation By Ed Bender Brigade's action in Spain, Dr. from the people of the extreme right. Eloesser headed up the American The Archbishop of Madrid, Vic- The Bay Area Post held a mem- Hospital at Vich. ente Cardinal Enrique y Tarancon, bership meeting on November 14 Shortly after the victory of the denied the Fascists permission to with some 40 people in attendance. A Chinese Revolution, Dr. Eloesser celebrate a public mass. report was made by Ed Bender on the went to where he set up vari- A statement issued by the Cardi- 40th Anniversary celebration and ous public health systems and a na- nal's office noted that the Eucharist Italy and by Walter Schetrum who tional mid-wifery program. was a "sacrament of unity and a attended the 40th Anniversary VALB mourns the loss of a re- testament of love" and that this celebration in East Berlin. A lively markable servant of humanity whose meaning might be "deformed" at the discussion followed in which the place in the annals of the American rally. other participants in the Italian participation in Spain is forever celebration reported on their ex- assured. Post News - Chicago periences. The Bay Area Post is now

Reunion: Continued from pg. 1 Carlos Conteras, followed Longo Nazis from ambush while the troops with an impassioned short address of the United Nations were invading at University City itself that night m stressing the importance of the the Italian boot and driving north November 1938 when so many Spanish struggle to the liberation of toward Rome. French, German and Italian comrades Italy from fascism. The partisan In all these towns these groups of died helping to stop Franco's "four movement of 400,000 guerrilla- veteran partisans insisted on columns marching on Madrid" stone- fighters - which was largely honoring the men and women of the cold. commanded by Luigi Longo - had a International Brigades, so there were Luigi Longo, whom we knew in powerful nucleus of Garibaldi daily bus-loads going out to Spain as Gallo, presided over the Brigade fighters. Scandicci and Prato, Pontassieve and opening meeting in the Palazzo dei Equally impassioned was a speech Borgo San Lorenzo and the rest. Congressi. It had been planned for by the famous French soldier Henry Each bus had veterans from France the Sala Verde but was transferred at Rol-Tanguy of the XIVth and Czechoslovakia, from Hungary the last moment to the great au- International Brigade. Tan-guy and Israel and Spain and elsewhere. ditorium because half of Florence's returned from a defeated Spain to be In these towns named Rifredi and 500,000 people seemed to be trying caught up in the defeat of his own Vie Nuove, Siena and Antella, to get in to witness the proceedings. republic. He joined the franctireurs American and Soviet veterans, Swiss Longo is much older, as we all are, and the Maquis and found himself in and Belgian and Bulgarian, Germans and he is recovering from a stroke, command of the French Forces of the from east and west, men from but the youth and vigor of this good Interior in the Paris area. Lieutenant- Holland and Austria, Romanians, man, who was Commissar-General Colonel Tanguy, together with British and Yugoslavs spoke in their of the Brigades, was amazing to General Leclerc, accepted the many languages or in Spanish more behold. surrender of the Nazi garrison. often than not. There were many "This gathering," he said, "must be The tanks that entered Paris on that speakers and the speeches got too a precise political act and at the same day of liberation were manned by long because these people had time, an impulse toward struggle. A Spanish refugee soldiers whom the something to say, the former political act because we intend to French government had held in partisans wanted to reply and their express our renewed solidarity with concentration camps for years after guests wanted to hear them, and the Spanish people, who are the defeat of the Republic. Yet they when they parted after the inevitable beginning today to gather the fruit of entered battle for the country that had festa, it was scarcely astonishing that a long, tenacious resistance. . .and, incarcerated them, riding tanks with they wept in each others' arms. It had once fascism is ended, to establish famous names painted on their sides: been a long time since they had seen the foundations and consolidation of Guadalajara, Brutete, Belchite, Ebro. each other. democracy. . ." It was an impulse to A short and most effective speech This seemingly "easy" struggle, he said, because the was delivered by , emotionalism had nothing to do with example of solidarity, heroism and commander of the veterans of the the fact that Italians, like the Spanish self-sacrifice of the International Lincoln Brigade, who noted that the and the French, seem able to tap their Brigades will stimulate the young speeches had been many and long emotions more readily and are not generation (of Spanish people) in and that the hour was late. He light- ashamed to display them. It had to d~ their construction of a new society ened the solemn mood of the time with the nature of the Spanish that will be more free and more just. ~at had passed with his infectious experience - specifically, the Spanish It is typical of the fascist "men- smile and his patent love for all war experience - which had brought tality" that Spain's monarchist comrades and friends within sight these committed people together newspaper, ABC, had the meetings and earshot of the podium. That love decades before and brought them in Florence covered by its Rome and comradeship, of course, were the together again with the same correspondent, Eugenio Montes, who hallmark of the entire reunion. convictions and emotions. reported on 15 October that, "The Because these events were not It had to do with the roar that went veterans, in nostalgia for the Madrid confined to Florence alone. In that up when a message was read from front, called for battle to in-stall area, famous for its Chianti classico, Dolores Ibarruri, La Pasionaria, who communism in Spain." there are many small towns with is 81 this year and does not travel The enemy dies hard but the enemy lovely names like Poggibonsi, very much, and who promised to was defeated in Italy too, and Oltrano, Castelfiorentino, Empoli "embrace you all in Madrid -the heart Vittorio Vidali, a short and powerful and Madonnone-Firenze, and in each of Spain." That day is getting closer man who was Inspector-General of of these towns there are groups of all the time the Brigades under the name of men and women who fought the November 12

"The Jornada de Paro (Day of Labor spokesmen denounced the Wilcox. Stoppage) on November 12 turned extraordinary counter measures out to be an unprecedented and as- undertaken by the government. All tounding success. Called by the the police forces were mobilized. "Home by Christmas" Coordinara de Organizaciones About 450 workers leaders were ar- Sindicales (Coordinated Labor Or- rested. Police attacked in some VALB has received a communi- ganizations) to protest the economic places, shooting down one worker in cation from the Committees of policies of the government, the Day Eibar. Civil Guards detained Solidarity of Catalonia urgently was in effect a test of the strength Communist leaders in their homes, requesting support for the primarily of the working class forces among them Ramon Tamames, campaign of amnesty for all fighting for Spanish democracy. Marcelino Camacho and Manuel According to COS (which is the Azcarate. political prisoners without new united organization comprising The government officially num- exception. the Comisiones Obreras, the Union bered the participants at 581,924. The Committees raise the de- General de Trabajadores and the The "NY Times,' for reasons known mand "para Navidad todas en Union Sindical Obrera) 2,030,800 only to it, reduced that figure to a casa" - everybody home by workers and farmers, professionals round 500,000. Christmas. This means the over and small merchants participated The map below, detailing the par- 200 politicals, mainly Basques from one end of the country to the ticipation by region, is from the im- other. The Day is being hailed as the portant weekly "Cambio 16." The and Catalonians, still in jail plus dress rehearsal for even greater, more government estimates are denoted in the over 100 newly condemned powerful actions in the future'. the black rectangles, the union Basque politicals now added to "Our forecasts of the participation estimates in the figures above the the toll. in the Day of Stoppage were far rectangles. Also demanded is the Tight of surpassed," said a statement of COS. The scope of the action can be return to Spain of all political The action was by no means judged by its extent in the Madrid exiles without hindrance or envisaged as an all-out general strike area alone as one example. 340,000 but as a more limited demonstration workers were involved; 150,000 in penalty. of the organized strength of the the metal trades, 70,000 construction Add your voice for amnesty. workers. The demands presented workers, workers in telephone and Write the Spanish Ambassador. were simple - a general raise of 6,000 insurance, municipal employees. Juan Jose Rozira, 2700-15th St. pesetas ($90) per month to meet the The largest, companies we're NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. skyrocketing inflation; a halt to the affected, among them Marconi, increasing layoffs; trade union Chrysler, S.K.F., Joho Deere, freedom; amnesty. General Electric, Telefuken, Babcock

International Solidarity with the Spanish Republic

Reviewed By Milton Wolff. the players they field are some Oriente and some of the Doctors who socialist, labor, liberal and cared for our wounded gave and are This collection of short histories democratic forces and leaders who giving their services to the Chinese from twenty-one TB veteran's or- have been disarmed by the tactic. People's Republic. And so it goes; ganizations, with forewords by Gathered in this book is the in- everywhere still engaged - building Ibarruri, Dahlem and Longo (Gallo), credible saga of men and women of socialism, helping democratic forces and an afterword by the six Vets all nations coming to Spain to fight, and resistance and liberation from different countries who made some to die, in a demonstration of movements in Spain, Chile, Africa up the Editorial Board that put the unity and international solidarity that and elsewhere. book together, is an important and is unsurpassed in history. This is not The book makes quite clear the timely addition to the huge library of to say that the solidarity was leading role of the Communist Par- books on the war already in print. universal or the unity without fric- ties of the different countries in the It is not just another book on the tion, but such as it was it commands defense of the Spanish Republic in Spanish Civil War repeating "old" the attention and the close study of this epic of international solidarity soldier's tales. Though oft repeated all who are now involved. and anti-fascist unity. Nor is sight items appear, there is an evident To one degree or another this epic lost of the fact that this outpouring of purposefulness that goes beyond the of unity, the willingness to sacrifice international support became a bare recording of history, that instead and the will to victory, as one of reality because not only Communist seeks to draw from those brave and them puts it, is repeated in each of but millions of freedom-loving, anti- bloody years some principles of life the twenty-one accounts. These are fascist, progressive people all over and struggle that were shaped then the stories of men whose commit- the world also embraced the anti- and remain operative still. ment is not limited to a single en- fascist cause. Briefly put, the lesson seems to be gagement, to a moment in time. For There were obviously some the essentiality of forging a United most of them the struggle began problems in getting this book Front of all socialist, democratic and before Spain, for many it still goes between covers. Contributions from working peoples' forces in those on. twenty-one different countries in countries where in one way or The Irish Volunteers came to the almost as many languages was one. another the crisis of Capitalism now defense of Madrid out of thirteen The six editors were similarly threatens its people with chaos and years of armed and political struggle separated by borders and language~ catastrophe. The United Front for the freedom of Ireland. And from Each article had to be translated, Against Fascism, forged and tested Spain into the battles of WW II and edited, perhaps retranslated, for the against great odds in Spain, is held then home... those who survived several language editions. Some of up as an example of what can be carry on the fight even as you read the flavor was lost, some names done. Underlined is the role played this, forty years later. omitted and some countries by anti-communism - or anti- The Austrians fought their own overlooked in the process. Since the sovietism - in defeating attempts fascists on the streets of Vienna in Editorial Board was European in made at workable united fronts in 1934 and in 1936 were skiing and location and Socialist in composition, other countries and between nations climbing' mountains making their there is understandably a European that, had they succeeded, would have way to Spain. And after Spain, they and Marxist cast to the work. broken through the "Non- carried the fight to other fronts. They In spite of this or perhaps because intervention" blockade strangling were with Tito, with the Garibaldis of it, I found the book readable, Spain and then, through collective and with the Maquis. Then with the informative and even inspirational - a security, gone on to abort the underground in Austria, organizing rare stimulant at this stage in life. aggressive aims of the Axis. the resistance, even in Dachau; In 1936, as recounted in the book rescuing priceless oil-paintings and Progress Publishers, Moscow. Hitler instructs Count Ciano, the everywhere at great peril carrying tactical field on which we must their Brigade banner into battle and "International Solidarity" is available execute the maneouvre (intervention finally bringing it safely to Vienna from VALB. Price is $2.50 per copy and aggression against the Spanish where it remains poised for a at the office, $3.25 by mail. Make Republic) is that of anti- victorious return to Madrid. checks payable to VALB or Hy Bolshevism." It proves to be a ers are Cubans who were with us at Wallach. only too eager to play and too often Brunete were with Fidel in the Larry Cane - In Memoriam

By Irving Weissman

Our dear comrade, Larry Cane, the present exposes, just such an the effectiveness of the VALB. died unexpectedly Monday, unforgivable campaign was carried Larry was a radical in the literal November 8th. He was 64 years old. out against Larry and his family in sense of the word: he always went to Larry, a member of our National the late 40's and throughout the 50's. the root of a matter. Above all, he Board, was a man of great physical The- FBI saw to it that he should not held truth to be sacred. He remained and moral courage. He fought with hold a job for more than a few devoted to democracy and socialism; the Mackenzie Papineau Battalion in weeks. It was typical of Larry's thence derived his unwavering Spain and in World War II he was modesty and staunchness that he took support to the struggle of the decorated with the Silver Star by the these blows as to be expected from democratic forces in Spain. His United States and the Croix de the enemy, that he did not bend, and support was free of outmoded con- Guerre by France. He won battlefield that he did not parade his integrity cepts; he was sensitive to the new commissions and left the U.S. Army for even his closest friends to admire. events and currents which have so a captain. In both wars Larry's zeal Larry, whose blood had never altered the Spain we knew forty was not the mindless zeal of some known frontiers, continued to bear years ago. He has left us as a legacy one who happens to be, by genetic Spain in his heart. He went back to the determination to carry on as he accident perhaps, a good military Spain while Franco was still alive, did, in a spirit of breadth, open man. Larry had a natural aptitude in and made contact with the student mindedness and tenacity. military matters but his excellence movement there. He took a group of stemmed above all from the students to the battlefields around VALB Mourns Cane Passing dedication that had been with him Corbera and made a film with them, from his youth onwards to do all in pointing out the positions the The Veterans of the Abraham his power to bring about a better Fifteenth Brigade had held. This film Lincoln Brigade mourn the sudden world. was shown to student groups. Thus passing of Larry Cane. Hoping to take advantage of Lar- they became acquainted with their Soldier, hero and lifelong fighter ry's intelligence and prestige, the own hidden history and with the for Spanish democracy. Larry will be forces of rottenness in American soc- solidarity that had helped sustain the sorely missed by his fellow veterans. iety tried to induce him to work for Republic. Larry's heroism in Spain continued them. He scorned their offers. Today in World War II where as Captain the FBI campaigns of provocation, Larry's last job took him all over Cane he earned the Silver Star and violence, burglary and job the States. He used his travels to the Croix de Guerre. harassment are common and contact vets everywhere and to tie As a member of our National documented knowledge. Long before together loose knots so as to increase Board, he helped initiate activities to support the Spanish people in their forty year struggle against Franco fascism. His overriding wish was to return to a free and democratic Spain. Though that visit is now impossible, we pledge to do all in our power to make Larry's hope a reality. We extend our love to his wife Grace and his children David and Lisa and Joshua.

STEVE NELSON NATIONAL COMMANDER

Larry Cane is decorated with Silver Star somewhere in France in WW II PAUL SCHREIBER Crawford Morgan: and young in the Great Depression unrolled with such classic and telling In Memoriam simplicity that it became a veritable Witness for VALB "J'accuse", the condemnation of his Paul Schreiber, for several years a condemners and all they represented. member of the National Board of By Benjamin Goldring The prosecutors spun out that VALB, died suddenly on December Morgan was fervently opposed to 11 of a heart attack. He was a resi- Crawford Morgan was a comrade fascism and sought to extract the dent of New York City. whose qualities were deep and per- implication that in taking up arms In Spain, Paul first saw action at vasive. A telling and public, de- against fascism he had thus acted the Battle of Brunete as a machine monstration of this was given by him against the interests of the U.S. His gunner in the Washington Battalion. as witness for VALB - in the answer was that, on the contrary, He later served with the MacKenzie Attorney General's prosecution of defense of Republican Spain was Papineau Battalion. VALB before the late Subversive defense of the American people. Back home, until his untimely Activities Control Board in 1954. It became clearer and clearer that death, he was continuously active in Morgan was one of the most ef- the prosecutors were becoming less the labor and peace movements and fective witnesses of that long era of and less inclined to tangle further in support of a Free Spain. the Unamerican Inquisition. Not only with Crawford Morgan. In the end He leaves behind his widow Carrie one of the effective black witnesses, they were glad just to be rid of him. and sons Allan and Jeff. but one of an color, occupation, He was too much the exemplary VALB, in great sorrow, extends its educational or other background. "premature anti-fascist" for them. He deepest sympathy to his family. Morgan, under cross examination, vindicated the Abraham Lincoln We have lost a most devoted remained just Crawford Morgan and Brigade. comrade. what he said flowed directly and He was Crawford Morgan. lucidly from his life's experiences

SPAIN COMMUNISTS related simply and without OPERATE OPENLY sentimentality. This was anything but Again "Men in Baffle"

MADRID, Nov. 28 - Two mem- easy, especially for a Black man and Alvah Bessie's great war classic, bers of the Spanish Communist in the super charged political lynch- "Men in Battle," is being re-issued Party's executive committee were atmosphere of the era. The again, this time in an inexpensive arrested today while handing out prosecuting attorneys were young, edition by Pinnacle Books. This party membership cards and detained bright, alert, and prepared. Crawford makes the fifth English language for several hours, legal sources said. met and speared their well-planned edition. Publication is expected in More than 30 Communists have attacks so cleanly that they hung April, 1977; the probable price, been arrested in the Madrid area limp. $2.75. since last Monday when the party Morgan was cross-examined on began a campaign of open acts de- arrests and or convictions in signed to establish it publicly after California. His narration of what it almost 40 years of clandestine life. meant to be unemployed, penniless MADRID, Nov. 28- The Christian Democratic leader, Joaquin Gimenez, and other opposition leaders met here last night and set tough conditions for negotiations with the Government on the referendum and general elections next year. They demanded legal status for all political parties, including the Communists, full civic rights, gov- ernment neutrality in the campaign, an equal share of media coverage and dissolution of the National Movement, the only party allowed by Franco. Brigade banner is displayed at memorial service in Florence. Visible, from loft to right, are vets Aaron Harris, John Rody and James Yates.