SPANISH WORKERS BULLETIN (INFORMACION DE LA C.N.T.—F.A.I.)

AIL SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION AI.1. SO IAL ECONOMY TO THE COMMUNES ] Published in confederacy by [ TO THE WORKERS Freedom Group, London and Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation, Glasgow

Vol. No.2 Not 1936 One penny IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM Durruti, the well known Catalonian critical position and when the Asturias Anarchist and Troop Leader on the are free of Fascists, the Asturian com- Aragon Front, gave his views to a rades who fought so bravely in 1934, representative of the newspaper known what they owe to their brothers '' C.N.T.'' of which we quote the follow- in Castile and Galicia. Granada and ing.— Cordova too are in desperate plight and ' The enemy is now throwing all his the enemy hopes to save the situation resources into the attack on Madrid. by the capture of Madrid. Their whole But that doesn't mean that the enemy mind is set on taking the Spanish position has improved. On the contrary Capital. the pressure which we are exerting The resistance to Fascism cannot be against the Fascists on the Catalonian organised by words but by the taking and Levantine Fronts, is increasing up of strong positions. The shovel and daily. Do the Fascists what they will, the axe are as valuable as the gun. Huesca, Sarragossa and Terruel will Countless idlers and wastrels are living soon fall into our hands. When this in Madrid. They must all be mobilised. happens, the Fascists will have lost the Our strength on the Aragon Front con- war. These three points are of great sists above all in constructing new strategic value. With their fall, the entrenchments immediately after each whole enemy front from Calatayud to new advance however small. Our Burgos will collapse and his offensive militiamen know well their, cause action in the Sierras be greatly hind- depends on never i*etreating from any ered. . attack. The comrades of my columns Here we can put an army of 100,000 withstand every attack without flinch- men into the field. Oviedo is in a ing or yielding.

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The Central Sector must be fortifiedl accept and carry out the decisions of and Madrid placed completely on a war the Committees of the comrades to footing. Madrid must see to it that the whom they have entrusted the conduct forces of the enemy now being used of affairs. In war the elected delegates against us on other fronts do not obtain must be obeyed, otherwise operations any objective when thrown against cannot be carried out. In dealing with Madrid. slackers, we take them to task and by I am well satisfied with my column. dint of appeal to self-love generally My comrades are well supplied with succeed in turning them into good com- everything. When the hour comes, they rades. I am well satisfied with the fight and function like a good machine. comradesi who follow me and I believe I do not mean by that, that our militia- they have the same feeling about me. men are no longer men. No—our com- They lack nothing. They have enough rades at the front know why and for to eat, plenty to read and they have what they are fighting. They feel revolutionary discussions. No one themselves Revolutionaries, they fight, idles; constant work on entrenchments not for empty phrases, not for the goes on. defence of a more or less promising legislature, but for the capture of the We will win the war, Comrades! land, of the factories and workshops, of the means of transport, of daily Militia Regulations .of the C.N.T. bread, of the new culture. They know their lives depend on victory. 3. Every Militiaman must keep to the We are waging (as in my opinion, the rules of the Battalion Committee circumstances demand) war and revo- and of the Hundred—and group lution. At one and the same time Delegates? Revolutionary measures are being 1. The Militiaman cannot undertake taken, not only in Barcelona and the any warlike operation on his own Hinterland. They are also being account and has to fulfil, without carried out behind the firing line. discussion, his allotted task, be it at Every village we capture begins to the front or behind the lines. develop itself in a revolutionary manner. That is the finest thing of the 3. Every Militiaman who does not war, whenever I think of it, I am deeply observe the rules of the battalion. aware of my responsibility. Prom the of the Hundred or of the Group will very front line right back to Barcelona be called to account by his battalion. there are only fighters for our cause. 4. Serious offences are: — Desertion. Everyone works for the war and the Leaving post of duty, Sabotage, Revolution. That is our strength. Plundering and demoralising activi- A few words about the question of ties of word or deed. the moment—discipline. Many talk 5. The Militiaman is a Volunteer but of it but few hit the mark. For me, once joined up, his work as Soldier discipline is nothing more than respect of the Revolution, is to take his for one's own and others' responsibility. place and do his duty. I am against barrack-room discipline which leads to brutality, hatred and 6. Anyone, outside of the Militia, acting automatism. Just as little do I believe on his own account will be consid- in that falsely conceived freedom, ered a mutineer and liable to the which can't bear the necessities of war punishments decreed by his and is usually the refuge of cowards. Battalion. In our organisation, the C.N.T., the (Extract from " Frente Libertário " or very best discipline prevails, inasmuch Freedom-Front, organ of the Confed- as the membei's of the Confederation erate Militia.)

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THE ARMED FIGHT AGAINST j who have allowed themselves to be irulu* FASCISM SHOULD REMAIN | enced by Bolshevism to the point of NON-MILITARIST. I demanding a Red Army. It appears more and more necessary to ask ourselves whether the militarism of the rebel generals will succeed in impos- ing its own form on the struggle of the Spanish revolutionaries, or whether, on the other hand, our comrades will succeed in disintegrating militarism by opposing to it methods of action which will result in the liquidation of the military front and the extension to all Spain of the social revolution. The elements of success at the disposal of the Fascists are the following:— Abundance of material, draconian rigidity of discipline, a complete military organisation, and terrorism exercised over the populace by means of Fascist police formations. These elements of success are found valuable in the tactics of a war of positions, of a continuous front, with the transport of massed forces towards the points where the decisive action is to be fought. On the popular side the elements of success are of a totally contrary order : Abundance of men, initiative and passionate fighting spirit amongst indi- dividuals and groups, the active sym- pathy of the working masses throughout the country, the economic weapon of the strike, and of sabotage in the regions occupied by the Fascists. These moral and physical forces, superior in them- selves to those at the disposal of the enemy, can only be fully utilised in a conflict of surprise attacks, ambushes, and guerilla warfare spread at large over the whole country. It is the determined will of certain Political elements in the Spanish Popular Front to fight militarism by opposing to il a military technique of the same kind, bv making war according to rule, with 'v'.ched battles of great army corps and concentration of military material, by decreeing compulsory mobilisation, by r.pplying a strategic plan under single command—%) short, by a more or less perfect copying of Fascism. We have published here the views of comrades

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 15 THE FIGHTING CALL. all certain. as well-as criminal wilfulness will not Headed by the forces raised in Seville only not prevent a new world carnage by Gueyso de Llano, the objective was —they are actually hastening the new to land '6,000 men of the Tercio and the holocaust whose flames are likely, to Regulars at Algeciras. From there the be more devastating than the last. . column would have advanced by Cadiz, One might grant the politicians Jerez, Seville and Cordova to Madrid. some modicum of reason had they taken where it would have joined Mola's a neutral stand against both contend- column from the North, composed of the ing forces in the civil war in Spain". rebel forces of Vizcaya, Vitoria, Burgos, It is the one-sideness of their attitude Valladolid, and Segovia, and the column which makes one uestion both, the of Cabanellas organised at Saragossa sanity and the integrity of the neutral- and reinforced by the Catalan rebels ity sponsors. Their stand is the more Coded was to bring. At Madrid, in reprehensible because the Spanish agreement with the desires of all the masses are the first to have risen elements concerned, Franco and Mola against the Fascist foe who has already zvere to give an official character to their taken root in a large part of Europe coup d'etat by deposing Azana on behalf and if not stopped, will do so in the of Sanjurjo, who would have set up an rest of the world. exclusively military Government, includ- Incidently, it must be.borne in mind ing Goded, Fanjul, Mola, Hermosa, that the workers of Spain are fighting Villega, Barrera,' Queipo de Llano, the ill-conceived offspring of war and Cabanellas, and some others, and under | the statesmen peace have brought the " presidency " of Franco. about. It is that which has given These were the plans of the con- \ birth to that hideous human aparition spirators. They had thought of every- 'that calls itself fascism. Instead of thing save of popular resistance and the •nipping the first sprouting in the bud, check it was going to inflict on them. the post-war politicians and statesmen —From L'Espagne Antifasciste ■ have kept up the flickering life-stream jof fascism. They have nourished and | strengthened the growth into a mons- Broadcast by Emma Goldman itrosity whose ravenous appetite can Whom the Cods wish to Destroy They only be satisfied by human flesh and First Strike Mad. whose lust for power knows no buonds. This old proverb has proved true in The foster-fathers of the ghastly crea- more than one instance in human his- ture have been a party to Mussolini's tory. It also applies most forcibly to ' egolomania that had already reached the political leaders of to-day. They j insane proportions by the conquest of maintain that neutrality to the heroic jEthiopea. What else but sanctions struggle of the Spanish masses will I loudly proclaimed in words as the stave off a new world conflagration. ! humanitarian and Christian means to Now it is only too true that political protect the rights of the Abyssinian leaders and statesmen have seldom people and never applied m deeds en- demonstrated clear thinking when con- abled Mussolini to conquer Abyssinia. fronted with calamitous issues.. But, The sanctionist helped this modern in their attitude towards the struggle!:imitation of Caesar to more that he in Spain, the Gods seem to have done [had bargained for. Not only has he their job more deliberately than before.^ Abyssinia, he also has all the political Were it only a question of a score of leaders of Europe in the plam of his politicians one would have no cause for. hand and his iron grip on all Europe alarm. Unfortunately they are at the as well. The same has been done for helm of the state, and their decisions the other child of the hideous fascist —motivated by utter mental confusion twins.

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Hitler and his savage gang found centuries of liberal tradition acquiesce their innings in the utter madness of to such degrading position? And if the so-called peace treaty and their not, will that not mean a new world best support in the criminal indiffer- carnage ? ence on the part of all governments to In other words, the very thing the his reign of terror and this alone gave proclaimers of neutrality are hoping to National Socialism time and impetus prevent—will occur. Only the lack of to perfect the deadly military machine logical perception can remain blind to Not only the Swastika but also Hitler's its danger. Another thing would heavy boot is to be planted on the neck happen, if the anti-fascists were helped of Europe and Asia, as they have been to cope with the fascist epidemic in planted on the neck of the entire hap- Spain, that is poisoning all springs of less German people. life and health. Fascism exterminated Also, politicians never forget or learn in Spain would mean the purified anything. Else they would realise that waters in the rest of Europe and the bytheir neutrality to the Spanish de- end of Fascism in Europe would do fence of liberty they are rendering away with the causes of war. The /Spanish faseism precisely the same workers of the rest of the world and .service they have given to other Fascist other liberty-loving groups inspired by powers. They are doing more, they are the new social experiment of then- helping to create a formidable Fascist brothers in Spain would be enabled to alliance, that, if successful, would begin- a new transformation of their fetter the spirit of freedom for many own life. decades. It is. about neutrality, as it is about ■ Curiously enough the loudest spon- people, who can stand by a burning sors of neutrality proclaim that demo- building with women and children cracy must be maintained at all cost. calling for help, without moving a Yet, they fail to see, that democracy muscle to come to their aid—or to see was never in graver danger, and that a drowning person desperately trying neutrality, if maintained much longer to reach shore. No words of condemn- will stab democracy in the back. ation could possibly express the uni- Does any intelligent man or woman versal contempt for such cowardlv in- imagine that the two star fascist lords difference. Fortunately there are not -are giving Franco and Mola such many such creatures. In times of fire, generous support in armaments and Hoods, storms at sea or the sight of any money out of love for them? Certainly fellow-creature in distress, human they have been promised lucrative re- nature usually is at its best. Men, in turns for the co-operation which is to danger of their own lives and limbs, enable the Spanish adventurers to rush into burning houses, throw them- drown the Spanish people in a sea of selves into the foaming sea and bravely blood. Hitler and Mussolini whose carry their brothers to safety. ambitions are so modest want a mere Spain is in flames. The Fascist con- bagatelle. Just the largest part of the flagration is spreading. Is it possible Mediterranean, the Pyrenees as their that the world outside will stand by bulwork and with their cannons directed and see the country laid in ashes by the on France. This would of course put fascist hordes?—or will thinking and Hitler and Mussolini in a world key- ustice-loving people muster up enough position. A conquered Spain would, courage to break through the ban of therefore, mean the world dominion of neutrality and come to the rescue of Hitler and Mussolini. the Spanish people who are fightim;- Will France go back on her glorious Fascism to the bitter end. revolutionary past by her tacit consent I have faith in humanity. I have to such designs? Will England with infinit» faith. I know the government*

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 THE FIGHTING CALt. come and go. But the intrinsic quality of the 'Daily Mail' Jwve completely of human feeling and the sense of repudiated the accounts of atrocities human justice remains for ever. alleged to have been committed by It is to these that the heroic people Spanish Government troops which were of Spain appeal for help, for the means published by the ' Daily Mail' as coming to bring Fascism to its knees and save from these correspondents. Such stories the world from the new impending are deliberately fabricated in an office holocaust neutrality is certain to bring which sees in Hitler and Mussolini the in its wake. hope of humanity." On the other" hand, it has been proved beyond any doubt that the Church is directly connected with the Revolution. Documents such as those SPAIN 1840-1936 found during the destruction of Sagrada THE COMPLICITY OF THE Família (" Manchester . Guardian," CHURCH OF SPAIN AND THE 5/8/36) prove that the Church had been CORRUPTNESS OF ITS CLERGY. actively co-operating in the rebel "cause." The history of Spain (briefly descril ed If, therefore, many priests have been in another section of this pamphlet) amongst the dead it is only because they shows only too clearly how the Church were fighting or actively manifesting of Spain has always sided with the their sympathy with the rebels. But this reactionaries in their repeated attempts is not a basis for assuming that the to prevent the workers from emancipat- workers kill all priests and nuns at sight. ing and claiming the country and lhe For instance, the " Heraldo de Madrid " land which is theirs. To-day the Church (21/8/36) recounts an incident in which is merely repeating history. Unfor- a priest put himself in front of a Fascist tunately, there is a section of the Press firing squad which was about to execute in this country which, in an effort to several anti-Fascists, and who, when counteract the spontaneous sympathy ordered by a Fascist to " Get out of the which most people felt for the Spanish way, father." replied, " No, I prefer to workers in this struggle, has waged an die with my people." Further evidence " atrocities" campaign, printing daily is to be found in the number of religious pages of " atrocities" committed by men fighting with the anti-Fascists. As anti-fascists against priests and nuns the " Daily Herald" leader of 27th who, to use the Archbishop of West- August so rightly says, " Catholic priests minster's words, are " innocent of the have been killed not because they were fratricidal conflict which has been made Catholic priests but because they were in the occasion of their persecution." the rebel service." Eye-witnesses have Undoubtedly if one's only source of repeatedly pointed out that the destruc- reference are those newspapers who, tion of Churches have not been acts of only a year ago, praised Mussolini's vandalism but an act of self-defence, generosity in taking to Abyssinia a against snipers posted in advantageous' Fascist civilisation in the form of positions; churches have been used as mustard gas and incendiary bombs, it is ammunition dumps in many cases. (Dr. Montessori; Mr. G. Elvin). natural that the priests and nuns are : innocent. But the atrocity stories are The real cause for hatred against the merely the work of journalists seeking Church is well described by a Roman copy for such papers as the " Daily Catholic priest broadcasting from; Mail," and have been disproved else- Madrid. ".-,., Propaganda cannot where in this pamphlet. A further proof be blamed for creating mass opposition of the sensational nature of the " Daily to the Church in Spain. No Church had Mail " is reflected in a statement made greater means of propaganda than we by the Generalital of Catalonia which had. There is no other remedy but to says that " the two special correspondents protest when millions of pesetas are

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found in the palaces of the Bishops while -hurches and convents. What was the poor die of hunger. . . ." burned was just the conspicuous tinsel Nearly £500,000 was found in the in churches which is of no value, the Bishop's palace in Madrid and handed wooden benches and doors besides the over to the Government (" Sunday educational implements, books of the Times," 25/8/36); 16 million pesetas most backward type, and the like: things were found in the palace of the Bishop of no value.. Their household affairs of Vich. A total of 30,000,000 pesetas were destroyed, as dignity forbade us to were confiscated in Catalonia alone use the leavings of these people. Hut all (" Manchester Guardian," 5/8/36). Our accumulations of good food, mattresses correspondent writes :—" Much amuse- and good linen were forthwith sent to ment was caused when it was found that the hospitals, which were overcrowded the ' Little Sisters of the Poor' in with the wounded. All this happened in Madrid, the poorest of the poor—only a peaceful, charming way, and people ex-Kint; Alfonso pretends to be more stood by in friendly talk glad to be rid destitute still—had nearly or quite a 100 of these unsociable neighbours. The million pesetas in paper money and priests and nuns had left long ago, mostly shares. All the bishops, etc., had con- in good order, sometimes a little siderable sums carefully hidden. But hurriedly, which made people smile, glad little gold is found; when packing in a to see the last of them. In this way such hurry, they generally took the gold, it things happen in real life. . - . . The appears, and left the paper money, which horror stories should throughout be was certain to be depreciated. treated with contempt and irony : it is a " Solidaridad Obrera " (30/7/36) pub- blind to prepare for callousness and lishes the correspondence that took place denial of sympathy when the real horrors between " innocent " nuns in Barcelona are perpetrated by the traitors and their with equally pious ones in Bordeaux. African hordes. . . . If the Generals The correspondence concerns the illegal win. the priests and nuns will be back in export of money, and, besides using dis- a minute, spick and span, and will have guised language to avoid interception, a good laugh at the usual English martyr these " innocent " women show that they stories." are practical where money is concerned, The foregoing is an extract from a more so with the money which has been brochure, " The Struggle for Libertv given to them for acts of charity! For in Spain, 1840-1936." Price 4d. instance, in one letter from la Sainte This brochure should be read by Marie des Angcs (20/6/36) to a Sister everyone who is desirous of the in Barcelona :—" If later on you send facts regarding Spain. It can be some Sisters to Perpignan or elsewhere, obtained from Tin is. Keèlí, White- take care to give each one 400 or 500 way Colony, nr. Stroud, Gloucester. pesetas. I say each one as if I meant England; The Freedom Group. that each one was travelling alone. If London; or The A.P.C.F.. GlasSgOW. they declared to be together, I doubt whether they would be allowed to take FREE EXCHANGE OP PRODUCTS with them 500 pesetas each. . . ." BETWEEN TOWN AND COUNTRY. We conclude this brief survey of the From Ce quil faut dire, Brussells. complicity and corruptness of the ' The peasants, as at Albalate do Church with a further letter from our Cinca in Aragon did not wait for orders correspondent in Spain. " Destruction from above to organise their lives. often took place—he writes—uncon- The region having been previously sciously, when objects instead of being purged of fascists, clergy and reaction- kept in museums or. at least, being made aries, they immediately took an inven- known to the public, mould away, tory of all existing- products and live neglected or ignored in inconspicuous stock, everything in exeess of the re-

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 THE FIGHTING CALL. 9 quirements of the community was car- peasants wished to blow up the dam ried to the town and given over to the but were persuaded by the Committee Committee of Exchange set up by our it was better to use the water for them- comrades from whence was delivered selves. They even decided to build a in exchange fish and other goods of further dam that more water might be which the peasants were in need. available. This system of exchange of produce L'Espagne Antifascist a. which our comrades are organising by means of committees set up for the pur- pose here, there and everywhere, is tending to become general,due partly to the shortage of money but also to Trie the native libertarium instincts of the Spanish peasant.'' FREE COMMUNISM AT GELSA. Fighting-call Immediately following the taking of the town, as at Pina, the growth of free Vol. 1, No. 2. November, 1936 id. Communism began. "Hear a word, a word in season, First, various committees were set up For the day is drawing nigh, with a view to normalising economic When the cause shall call upon us, life. The surrounding peasants showed Some to live, and some to die." themselves favourable to relying on the decisions of the said committees. As WM. MORRIS. a first measure of precaution the town was purged and the mayor also de- "OUR" COUNTRY. posed. A representative from the Spanish The committee for provisioning be- working class, Senor Gorkin, was gan to function and the effects rapidly refused permission to remain in ''our" made themselves felt. Since at Velilla country this week and was searched del Ebro, on learning the news a great like a dangerous criminal. Yet Burgos quantity of oil was offered in exchange emissaries are allowed full freedom. for corn. The Rhine is our frontier, according The peasants proposed to harvest the to Baldwin, who speaks for British cor nand place it in a store controlled Imperialism. But the real "frontier" by the committee of provisions—which of the British workers to-day is in should be the common granery. It was Spain. If the workers there are de- proceeded also to instai two auxiliary feated, we will soon feel the " Iron warehouses where all products of the Heel" of Fascism in Great Britain. first necessity should be deposited. As in Germany and Austria, even In order that everyone might have tame municipal reforms will be auto- recourse to these stores, bills were matically wiped out. posted up. The result was a success, The present U.A.B., which itself is besides foodstuffs, clothing was brought incipient Fascism, would then have which made it possess from reserves greater confidence in still further re- and prevent waste. ducing relief to the German level. The gardens situated on the heights On the other hand, if the Spanish of Jelsa arc fertile but lack water. A workers succeed in their determination rich fascist had had constructed some to smash Fascism and establish non- time before, a dam to irrigate his own authoritarian Socialism, the struggle gardens, but had refused the requests for emancipation will be made easier of the peasants for a little water. On for the workers all over Europe. " the expulsion of the fascists the The plan of International Fascism

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 10 THE FIGHTING CALL. is to smash the workers in one sector We can not understand how as> leader at a time. The German, Italian, of the socialist party M. Blum could Austrian movements have been make the declarations he did, while the destroyed. The workers of Spain are workers of Paris! were loudly clamour- now being besieged in their own ing for the lifting of the embargo of country. Hitler and Mussolini are arms for Spain. awaiting the fall of Madrid to recog- Avions pour l'Espagne! Avions pour nise the Burgos Government officially. l'Espagne! shouted the proletariat of Italy has even threatened Barcelona. Paris. Leon Blum replied: "I have In Gibralter as well as at Whitehall no evidence that to date there has been British Imperialists have shown their any single case of transgression by any antagonism to the workers of Spain. of the signatory powers of the neutral- Workers, the non-intervention farce ity pact." . . . The 24 Italian aero- is still in operation! Smash the em- planes arrived at Vigo, the presence of bargo! The workers of Spain require powerful German bombing planes over weapons of defence to counter the all our fronts, the German guns and forces of Franco, Hitler and Mussolini! bullets killing and maiming thousands Workers, accept the challenge and of Spanish workers, the transport of rally to the Spanish Workers. Away the Foreign Legion and Moors by with all sectionalism, partyism and German transport planes to help the careerism! Throw off all back-sliding Christian slaughter of the Spanish and in difference! The Spanish proletariat, the presence even of Ger- Workers are dying for the Internation- man and Italian pilots and instructors in the ranks of the insurgents, the al Working Class movement. Let us horrible human sacrifices and total do our part, each in his own locality destruction of Irun through the arma- and according to his means and ment supplied by Germany and Italy, ability. all this is known to the whole world. Demonstrate ! Agitate ! Strike ! But Leon Blum, he knows of " no Smash the Embargo! single case of transgression by any of Down with Hitler, Mussolini and the signatory powers of the neutrality their Spanish and British imitators! pact." Long live the Spanish Workers! This paragon of the people of France Long live the World Proletariat! goes on to say: "We must preserve The Journals " Freedom" and peace and we must avoid at any cost an " Advance " will in future be merged international war." Is it possible that and published under the title, " The this weather worn political leader does Fighting Call." not realise that he is playing directly We hope this into the hands of Hitler and Mussolini ? advance will give a new impetus to Is it possible that he does not realise Anarchist, Anti-Parliamentarian, and that by the continuation of his passive Working-class progress in the British fear of war, he is hastening the defeat ]sles. of his own country, this notwithstand- ing his race for which he apologised ? Is it possible that he does not realise ARMS for SPAIN that he is directly preparing a military If our experience in public and fascist coup d'etat in France? M. social life were insufficient to justify Laval and M. Laroque and all the con- our abstention from politics, the servative press of France are rejoicing speech of Leon Blum, the socialist head openly over the abject patriotism of M. of the French Government would be Blum. enough to confirm our profound dis- The workers of France must keep trust of politicians. up their demand. Aeroplanes for Spain !

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avions pour l'Espagne! And the work- frustrated by the constituted powers of ers of England and the workers of capitalism. France must opeu their eyes to the But the workers of the world must present grave situation of danger in defeat the treacherous manoeuvres of which they are placed. There is no capitalism under the guide of aposteis honesty where powerful private inter- of peace and security. ests are at stake. There is no chance There is not a single convincing for even democracy when the fanatical argument to prevent the supply of arms hordes of fascism are threatening to to the legally and democratically con- fetter the working classes. It is a stituted government of Spain. struggle to the end to free the world Outstanding conservatives of Eng- proletariat once and for all from the land and France have recognised the enslavement of the power of the lords manifest dangers to the democrats- of of high finance. the world in the event of a fascist We are waiting for the workers of victory in Spain. With the mediter- France and the workers of England to ranean and the Atlantic routes under compel their governments to supply us the.domination of international fasc- with arms in defence of our common ism, the Pyrenees lined with fascist cause. fortresses and heavy cannons pointing to France, what will remain of security AN APPEAL TO THE WORKERS and peace ? Will England and France AND INTELLECTUALS OF passively cede their colonial interests FRANCE AND ENGLAND. and African possessions to the hordes The intellectuals of all the democra- of fascism in order to avoid a new war ? tic countries, the spokesmen of the And in the logical sequence of events, proletariat, the powerful syndicalist will England and France bow to the (leaders, the most distinguished politi- ferocious will of Hitler and Mussolini, cal figures of France and England, all and accept he fascist rule, and wih it have repeatedly declared that the the mediaeval ideology of slavery for pleople of Spain are fighting for all the the masses, all in the name of peace democrats of the world, that the de- and security? fending forces of Spain are offering We anarchists and all the Spanish their lives generously in defence of all proletariat refuse to believe in the the free men of he world. triumph of brute force over social and' The workers of France and England economic justice for the working are imbued with an intense sympathy classes of the world. We refuse to for us. They have identified them- believe in the weakness of the workers selves with the cause of the Spanish organisations of France and England proletariat. We know their syndical and political But while the heroic defenders of strength. We believe the workers of Spain are laying down their lives for England and France will realise the the idea, and the ideal of freedom, our danger of the vile manoeuvres of im- spmpahisers and fellow workers abroad perialistic interests. quieten their conscience by sending us Workers of England! Show your their messages of love. Even the solidarity with the workers of Spain generous contribution of funds they your comrades in arms, fighting your send us, become a cruel irony in the fight, the fight of all peoples against face of the barriers the governments of their oppressors. friendly nations have set up to prevent Prevail upon your leaders, if they our legitimate purchase of armament. are not tools of big interests to make The agitation of braver and more de- your unanimous protests known to cided workers organisations for aero- your governments. The embargo of planes and cannons for Spain is being arms for the workers of Spain must be

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa cm unesp* Cedap 14 12 THE FIGHTING CALL: lifted now and at once, to avoid the The Trade Unions of England, com- slaughter of the Spanish proletariat by prising 3,000,000 members represented German, Italian and Portugese fasc- in the Plymouth Congress, voted ists, in open aggression against the unanimously to give all the necessary Spanish people. help to the Spanish people. 15,000 Long live the proletariat of Spain! people assembled in Traflalgar Square Long live the proletariat of the and initiated a subscription of £500 in World! behalf of our fighters* They also in- augurated an active campaign in fav- WORKERS OF ENGLAND! our of lifting the embargo of arms for Five hundred years ago wars were as Spain, following a similar decision of cruel and blood-thirsty as they are to- the brave miners of South Wales. day. They were, however, much The co-operatives of London contri- simpler and did not depend so much bute £1000 to the Spanish syndicates. on technical consideration. To-day in In Belgium the World's Peace Con- Spain, two-thirds of the population gress ended with the cry of: Arms for have been engaged for nearly two Spain! as a guarantee for the world's months in fighting heroically with peace, menaced by the support given scarcity of arms against an enemy to the Spanish traitors by international greatly in inferior in numbers, but fascism. more than abundantly supplied with The metalurgical industries of Paris the most modern elements of warfare, declared a general strike in sympathy supplied by the warring nations of Ger- with the legitimate government of many and Italy. Spain and as protest against the French On the side of the people are the Government's attitude, which is en- legions of men and youths of the dangered not only our defence, but *l staunch proletariat of Spain. Only the defence of the whole democratic ' | yesterday workers of factories, peace- civilisation of Europe. Other French ful peasants of the land, shop and syndicates and workers unions make office clerks. To-day a most heroic and similar resolutions and protests. mighty army of the popular militia. From across the ocean, Mexico has On the Aragon, Andalusian, Extrema- shown the beautiful example through dura and Basque fronts, the aggres- her workers in munition plants who siveness and effectiveness in combat of contributed two hours' wages every the militias, the enthusiasm of the day in favour of their comrades in Spanish proletariat is to-day the ad- Spain. The railway workers contribute miration of the world, and the con- 5 per cent of their wages. sternation of the fascist generals. From Gibraltar, too, we hear of the Their regular troops are mostly kept friendly attitude of the English sailors in barracks in fear of wholesale deser for the cause of the Spanish people. tion, and in going over to our militia And even the Musulmen of Morocco have shown us their sympathy by their It is only with German and Italian aeroplanes, machine guns, the Foreign avowal against the Ryfs whom the traitor. Franco deceived with false Legion of Africa and the Moors that the insurgents have been able to show promises. any fight at all. Against these criminal And so all the workers of the world, forces the whole democratic world has all men of liberal sentiment are enthusi- been showering us with messages of cally and unconditionally on the side sympathy and encouragement.. In re- of Spain in its fight against fascist sponse to our insistent calls for mater- vandalism. Only in Germany, Italy. ial help, Ibe workers of all friendly and Portugal the voices of solidarity nations are at last beginning to bestir can not reach us, because in these lands themselves towards definite action. the people are gagged and are reduced

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 14 THE FIGHTING CALL.

calist reform. The Regional Agri tion and the improve—-ment of the cultural- Committee will work ii soil must be achieved. These this direction. The different com- experimental farms are of great munities can settle pacts or educational importance for the alliances according to local neces- entire peasantry. sity. The application of these reforms Congress of the Catalan Agriculture must be adapted to the local circum- Syndicates of the C.N.T. stances with the greatest possible This congress was held on September freedom towards the idea of federalism. 5th and Gth in Barcelona. The syndi [These resolutions were adopted by all cates of all Catalan regions were Catalan regional federations of the represented. The most important C.N.T. 1 resolutions adopted were:— 1. Collectivisation of the land.—In At a mass meeting of the C.N.T. in behalf of the small proprietors and Barcelona, Francisco lsgleas pub- to encourage production, they will lished the Resolutions of the have the right to cultivate as much National Assembly of the C.N.T., land as they are capable of without recently celebrated in Madrid:— prejudice to the collective interest. Workers of Cataluna! Workers of 2. All expropriated estates will be con- Spain! trolled by the syndicate, the pro- The fight against fascism has led us ceeds of the collective work to be to the Social Revolution. This is not distributed equally among the the moment for hesitation or wavering peasant. politics, but for concrete action and ^1 3. The syndicate will control the practical realisations. the entire production including In all sincerity we must state that that of the small proprietors still the government of July 19th, indirect- I cultivating their own land. ly had a hand in the military con- il I. The syndicates of the different spiracy. The government knew, just *l districts must keep in constant as we knew it, what was being touch with each other and arrange prepared, and yet no arms were given the distribution of work. to the people who demanded them. 5. It is the syndicates task to realise Had the workers been armed, the the total liberal socialistic order insurrection would not have spread, under the following conditions:— but suppressed from the very first (a) Where there is no danger of moment by the sovereign will of the friction with the small proprietors, people. The government, not having total collectivisation must be armed the masses, failed in the carried out. struggle against fascism. A few days (b) All big landed estates must be ago it resigned. Had it not resigned, expropriated at once and together fascism would have triumphed, be- with confiscated land be collecti- cause this government had neither the vised in accordance with above energy nor the capacity to repress the resolutions. rebellion of the military fascists. (c) The syndicates must try to con- We shall destroy fascism. We vince the small tenants and the would have destroyed it already, if small proprietors of the conven- international fascism were not support- ience of collectivisation. Large ing the insurgents. But we shall experiment farms must be estab- triumph in spite of international lished in all parts to introduce fascism and mercenery troops. the benefits of modern technical A new government has been progress. Electrification, irriga- appointed. But this new government

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 THE FIGHTING CALL. 16 also does not possess the energy and our proposal. Then the Assembly will capacity necessary to smash fascism. meet again to fix the line to follow. And fascism must be smashed immedi- The CNT shows the people the way ately to shorten our struggle. To this to victory. In Cataluna where all end the C.N.T. has called a National efforts were joined, immediate victory Assembly in Madrid. All Spanish was achieved. The same attitude must regions were represented. The be taken in the rest of Spain. Assembly examined the present situa- The life of the whole nation must tion in Spain and arrived at the con- be constructed on a federal basis and clusion that to triumph in the cruel it is not advisable that an archaic and hard struggle against fascism, all government should continue in Madrid. efforts must be co-ordinated and the The National Assembly of the CNT union of the proletariat must be main- has told Largo Cabalerro that a tained. The economic and social life National Council of Dfence must be of Spain must be reconstructed. created to replace the government. We have come to the conclusion that This is the only solution towards n the new government does not corres- rapid defeat of fascism. pond to the need of the people. We We appreciate the co-operation with have laid before the TJ.G.T. and the the. armed government forces who are government the following Resolution fighting at our side, but we demand of the Assembly:— that the Military Bodies must be There is no possible solution without transformed into Popular Militias. a more effective co-ordination of all The TJGT and the government must efforts. The creation of an organism accept this program of the CNT for such co-ordination and the economic towards the construction of a new re-construcion of the rear guard. The society. They must understand that proposal of constituting in Madrid a the only way to beat down blood- National Council integrated by repre- thirsty fascism in Spain is the absolute sentataives of all political sectors en- union of the proletariat. gaged in the fight against fascism. Note.—We invite correspondence of a This Council would be formed by five healthy nature. delegates of he UGT, five of the CNT and four Republicans. Local provincial, reional and nation The Pen and the Chisel al federalism in all aspects of political Prom L'Espagne Libre. and economical administration, to re THE ARTISTES AND THE SOCIAL place the old Ayutamientos (Muni- REVOLUTION. cipal Governments), Diputaciones The Union of Artists, Painters, (Provincial Governments), and Gobier- Sculptors and Designers, affiliated to nos Civiles (Local Civil Governments). the C.N.T. has issued a manifesto from The transformation of the govern- which the following extracts are taken ment ministries converting them into To All Artists departments. We, artists, have formed ourselves The creation of popular militia to into a trade union at the moment when safeguard the public order. al lthe forces of the modern world are The creation of war-militias with ,in conflict to decide the direction human compulsory* character. Symplification history shall take. of commands, the creation of the single We propose to make a practical military direction and the constitution alliance of the pen and the chisel, in of a Popular Court and provisional Catalonia, so that the genius of man •Turidical Body. shall receive no cheek in the hard battle The CNT has allowed the UGT and in the midst of which we live the Government 10 days to respond to The artist-rebel has up to now always

Centro de Documentação e Apoio à Pesquisa unesp* Cedap 14 THE FIGHTING CALL. 16 been treated as a pariah, without hope READ:— " The Bourgeois Role of Bolshevism "— if he refused to bow to humiliating A.P.C.F. servitude. The hour has come when he will reclaim his right to live in a society " Leninism 01 Marxism "—Rosa Luxemburg. where he will be considered as a pro- ducer, not a parasite. 1 The Anarchist Revolution " —G. Barrett. Art can never be mass production or colleetivised, its value will always lie "The Two Communisms"—R. Corn. in the artist's own individuality. But MAN! P.O. Box 115, San Francisco. Cali- personal gifts confer on their possessor fornia U.S.A. (Subscription--1 Dollar no right but that of being free to ex- per annum). press himself in his work. VANGUARD 45 West ' 17th Street, New Once the privileges conferred on York City, N.Y., U.S.A. Subscription, intelligence, talent or knowledge have 1 Dollar per annum. TÈRRE LIBRE Marchai, 89, Rue d'Angou- been abolished, no artist, however leme, Paris, lie, France. Sub., ,'! Fr. great, will be able to consider himself 50 per annum. the superior of the most humble worker PLUS LOIN Librarie Franssen, 11, rue de nor entitled to claim special favours. Cluny, Paris, 5e, France. Subscription, His talents will find their reward in the 12 Fr. per annum. work itself. The role of art in society LA BROCHURE MENSUELLE. BIDAULT, Rue de Bretagne, Paris, 3e, France. is not to gratify a limited elite and Subscription, 12 Fr. per annum. afford it one more pretext for drawing L'EN DEHORS E. ARMAND, Cite Saint- social distinctions. It is middle class Joseph 22, Orleans, France. Subscrip society that has introduced this concep- tion, 12 Fr. per annum. tion of art for an elite in order to sanc- SOLIDARIDAD LUIS GOTrífiifKRT^G \ 1 tion its unjustifiable privileges. 1361, Montevido, Uruguya. Subscription, The prime object of the unions of 1 Dollar per annum. L'ADUNATA REFRATTARI 295, Layfavette artists and intellectuals will therefore Street, New" York, N.Y., U.S.A. Sub- be an intense propaganda to spread scription, 1 Dollar i year. culture among all men, till they succeed "THE FIGHTING CALL," "ADVANCE" in making felt the need for all in the and "FREEDOM" may be obtained of: personal life of every one just as one dollets, 66 Charing Cross Road, W.C.2. feels the need of a bed. a table or a Roberts, 63 Theobalds Road, W.C.I. chair.. Bookshop, 10 Coptic Street, W.C.I. Parton Bookshop. Parton Street, W.C.I. In the trade organisation of the Boon's, 871 Harrow Road, N.W.10. artists and craftsmen, working groups Combes, 8 Kentish Town Road, N.W.I. of painters, sculptors, etc., will form ■Socialist Bookshop, 35 Bride Street, E.G.4. and become specialised. As in an Worker's Friend, 163'Jubilee Street, E.I. Bakunin Press. 145 Queen Street. Glasgow. orchestra, each retaining his own indi- Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation. viduality will collaborate in the func- 31 Rosehall Street, Glasgow. tion of a common aim in the fraternal Books & Books Ltd., 54 Victoria Street, atmosphere of the studio, as with the Manchester. great artists of the middle ages and of H. A. Jenkins, 17 Northcote Road, Norwich. the Renaissance. The I.L.P., Broadwav Market, Southend-on- Sea. Davenant Bookshop, 41 High Street, Oxford. In order that Bulletins from Spain can be Leech's News-shop, 287 Netherton Road published as received, moneys are urgently Glasgow, W.3. required. All donations Bhould be forwarded to the Secretary, Freedom Group (Spanish Pubhihed in Confederacy by The Freedom Group Workers' Committee), 106 Cunningham Road, 106 Conningham Road, London, W.12. and The London, W.12., or to Treasurer, A.P.C.F., Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federatioa Glasgow, and printed by Voluntary Labour at 31 Rosehall Street, Glasgow. 81 Roiohal] Street, Glasgow,

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