1943

~ THE NEW STAGE pF THE ~WAR IN EUROPE EUGENE DENNIS ' - • FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK - ANDRE MARTY ' . SOME PROBLE~S OF CENTRAU;zED WAR PRODUCTIO~ V. J. JEROME

,, L THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES MAX WEISS • THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS LOUIS F. BUDENZ

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' ' \ \ ' ' ' ' VOL. XXII, No. 2 FEBRUARY, 1943 THE COl\fMUNIST A MAGAZINE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM-LENINISM EDITOR: EARL BROFDER

CONTENTS

The New Stage of the War in Europe Eugene Dennis. 99

Fr.mce's Hour Has Struck Andre Marty 114 Some Problems of Centralized War Production V. J. Jerome 126 Lincoln, Roosevelt and the Fifth Column. Milton Howard 135 The Nation and the Armed Forces Max Weiss 146 The President's Message to Congress Louis F. Budenz 157

Anglo-Soviet Trade Union Rela~ions Peter Kerrigan Hill The Communist Party of Great Britain on the Beveridge Proposals 168 Manifesto to the German People and the German Army 175 An Appeal to the People of Italy 181 Book Review 185

Entered as second class matter November 2, 1927, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. THE COMMUNIST is published Mcmthly by Workers Librarv Publishers, Inc., at 832 Broadway, New York, N. Y. (mail addresa, P. 0. Box 148, Station D), to whom sub­ scriptions, payments and correspondence should be sent. Subscription rate: $2.00 a year; $1.00 for six months; foreign and Canada $2.50 a yeiJr. Single copies 20 cents. PIUNTBD IN 'I'HB U.S.A......

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By By Vicente Vicente Lombardo Lombardo T T oledano oledano

The The United United States States and and Mexico: Mexico: Two Two Nations-One Nations-One Ideal Ideal .05 .05

By By Elizabeth Elizabeth Gurley Gurley Flynn Flynn

Women Women .05 .05 in in the the War War . .

The The Truth Truth About About .05 .05 Yugoslavia Yugoslavia

By By Mikhail Mikhail Sholokhov Sholokhov

The The Science Science of of .05 .05 Hatred Hatred

Stalin Stalin on on the the War War and and the the Second Second .01 .01 Front Front in in Europe Europe

By By Jurgen Jurgen Kuczynski Kuczynski

Economics Economics of of Barbarism Barbarism .15 .15

By By Jurgen Jurgen Kuczynski Kuczynski

300,000,000 300,000,000 Slaves Slaves and and Serfs Serfs .I .I 0 0

By By Loui.se Loui.se Mitchell Mitchell

Food Food Prices Prices and and Rationing Rationing . . $.01 $.01

LATEST LATEST PAMPHLETS PAMPHLETS ON ON THE THE WAR WAR THE NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE

BY EUGENE DENNIS

TALINGRAD, Leningrad and tory grow brighter, it is necessary S Moscow! Odessa and Sevasto­ to take stock, to realistically esti­ pol! mate the situation so as more ef­ The Red Army, celebrating its fectively to proceed to the speediest twenty-fifth anniversary this Feb­ fulfillment of the unsolved as well ruary 23 in a mighty offensive un­ as the urgent new tasks which now der Stalin's genius and intrepid confront our people and nation and leadership, has indelibly engraved all the other United Nations. these names in the hearts and minds It is imperative to do this because of all freedom-loving people. the present military successes of the For the epic defense of Sevasto­ Red Army, coupled with the initial pol, Stalingrad and the North Cau­ successes of the American and Brit­ casus in 1942, like the historic de­ ish operations in North Africa and fense of Odessa, Leningrad and New Guinea, are so impressive and Moscow in 1941-and the great So­ promising that some people in the viet offensives of last winter and anti-Hitler camp in the United now-are signal landmarks in the States are being lulled into a sense people's war of national liberation. of false security. Some are becom­ They are symbols of the immortal ing victims of defeatist-inspired struggle of the Soviet people and its passivity and complacency, and Red Army against the Hitlerites and seem content to cheer our Soviet their barbaric "new order." They ally from the sideline~;, to "praise are the forerunners of a free Paris, the Lord"-but without passing Warsaw and Prague, and of an anti­ the ammunition. Nazi Berlin and Rome. They are In this connection, it should be signposts on the highway of man­ remembered that the Munichites kind's road to victory over fascist and the other appeasers are not only tyranny, to ensure national freedom, purveyors of dark pessimism and liberty and progress to the peoples outright defeatism per se, but like­ and nations enslaved and threatened wise they try to foster irrational by Hitlerism. optimism and over-confidence so as Today, as the Soviet offensive to delay and obstruct an all-out drives on, as America and Britain military offensive, so as to halt the prepare to extend the highly signifi­ launching of the second front in cant operations launched in North Europe, so as to divert public at­ Africa, and consequently as the tention and to create disunity and prospects of a United Nations' vic- internal strife over post-war gg 100 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE "plans," as well as over "domestic" In view of this it is necessary that issues, so as to promote a "nego­ we analyze the present moment in tiated peace" with the Axis, a the war and take our bearings. This "conditional peace" a la Hoover. is doubly urgent so that we may And some honest but confused utilize the favorable turn in the war patriots are falling into the trap. now taking place and move full Many are becoming intoxicated speed ahead, so as to guarantee that with the recent changes in the mili­ the prerequisites which now exist tary situation, and are inclined to for smashing Hitler and Hitlerism in turn their attention away from the 1943 shall be seized and utilized in central and decisive military-politi­ time by -all the peoples and the en­ cal tasks which lie ahead, espe­ tire anti-Hitler coalition. cially from the need of developing a closer and more unified Allied * * * strategy and common fighting action By the end of 1942 a profound in the decisive European theater of change had taken place in the war, the war. Many are tending to lose in the relationship of military themselves in politics and business­ forces in Europe. Following' the as-usual activities, or in controver­ stubborn defensive battles of the sies over hypothetical problems of summer and autumn, the Red Army the morrow, pertaining to the future launched powerful offensives in the organization of post-war peace and Stalingrad area, on the Central reconstruction - forgetting that Front, in the Middle Don and in the without the military defeat of Hit­ Northern Caucasus. ler's Axis,· without the annihilation Along with these key blows, the of the Hitlerites, there can be no Italian-German coalition suffered victory, no freedom, no just and a series of defeats on a number of durable peace. other fronts. There was the rout Others in the camp of national of Rommel's forces in Egypt. There unity, however, are extremely pes­ were the successful Anglo-American simistic ancf circumscribed in their operations in Morocco and Algiers, approach, are limited in their un­ and the advance on Tunis. There derstanding and perspective. They are the first steps to form in North are disposed to doubt the possibili­ Africa a sizable anti-Hitler French ties of delivering the decisive blows Army. Dakar, which the fascists against Hitler this year. They are intended to convert into a base for inclined to minimize the fav­ their operations in the Battle of the orable possibilities now existing for Atlantic, and as a potential spring­ accelerating Hitler's defeat in 1943. board for attacking the Americas, Consequently they tend to delay now has become a base for A111er­ the development of a coordinated ica's armed forces. and all-out military offensive by all After two and a half years of · the United Nations now, and orien­ struggle for the French navy the tate on achieving victory in 1944 or Hitler imperialists failed in their later. objectives, as a result of the pa- NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 101 triotic and anti-Hitler stand of the paired the naval power of Japan. French sailors and officers, the Tou­ And in China, its heroic armies and lon workers, as well as a result of peoples virtually single-handed . the disintegration of the Vichy re­ have made certain headway against gime ana policy. It is true that the Japanese invaders, have France lost the major part of her strengthened their national unity, navy, but in so doing France re­ and are now in a position to strike gained her national honor and dig­ heavy blows against Hitler's partner nity, besmirched by the Quislings in Asia, particularly if the strategy and capitulators of Vichy. of the American and British forces If we add all these things up, in­ in the Southwestern Pacific and in cluding the potent fact that the con­ India is coordinated with that of ditions for creating and carrying our valiant Chinese ally. through the second front in Europe What, we may ask, is responsible closer to the vital centers of Ger­ for this changed and changing mili­ many have now become·much closer tary-political situation in the main and easier of fulfillment, especially theater of the war in Europe? This since America and Britain now have new relation of forces in Europe has powerful bases in Africa as well as been brought about by the patriotic, in England, we will correctly con­ self-sacrificing and resolute strug­ clude that by the end of 1942 a gle of the anti-Hitler forces on the radical change had taken place in field of battle, and primarily by the the entire course of the war-a matchless struggle of the Red Army. change which was clearly signalized In particular this new situation has and outlined by Stalin in his letter been brought about by the unprece­ tq Mr. Cassidy on November 14, dented heroism and defense of Stal­ 1942. ingrad which, as Stalin analyzed in Though it is beyond the scope of his historic address on November 6, this article to deal with the situa­ 1942, predetermined the defeat of tion in the Middle and Far East, Hitler's strategic plans for 1942. one may note in passing that on the It. is likewise the result of the un­ Southwestern Pacific front of the paralleled fortitude, skill and self­ global war, there, too, certain less struggle of the free Soviet peo­ changes were and are in the mak­ ple in the rear, in all the national ing, though of a limited and second­ republics, in the occupied territor­ ary nature in comparison with the ies, and in every field of Soviet en­ radical changes which have taken deavor. It is the result of the wise and are taking place in Europe and and steadfast leadership of Stalin at on the decisive front of the global the head of the Soviet government, war-on the Soviet-German front. of the brave and exemplary strug­ In Midway, the Coral Sea, the Solo­ gle of countless Soviet partisans, mons and New Guinea, American of the magnificent labor heroism and Allied forces have successfully of the Soviet workers and collective repulsed the Japanese militarist­ farmers, of the employees and intel­ fascists, and have appreciably im- lectuals, who have performed new 102 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE miracles in socialist production and Last but not least, the new construction, in providing every­ changes which have taken place thing for the front, for victory. in the situation were prepared by This change in the situation was the growing collaboration among all also facilitated by the activity and members of the Anglo-Soviet­ the struggle of other millions of American coalition, by the strength­ people, by the unyielding activity ening of our alliance, by the realiza­ of the anti-Hitlerites in all coun­ tion of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of tries of the world. It was facilitated Mutual Assistance and the Ameri­ by the glorious struggle of the can-Soviet Lend-Lease Agreement. Yugoslav guerrillas in their national It was facilitated by the common liberation front and army and by skill, determination and high level the fighting partisans of Poland, of our respective military organiza­ Norway and Greece. It was facili­ tions, and above all by the fact that tated by the heroic action of the during 1942 the first beginnings of French sailors and metal workers, coordinated warfare against Hitler the Belgian and Luxembourg mine Germany and fascist Italy began to workers and the Greek longshore­ materialize through mass Allied air men, all of whom utilized the weap­ raids and the launching of the Ang­ ons of mass strike and organized lo-American offensive in North Af­ sabotage against the Hitlerites and rica in November. their Quislings. The great offensive of the Red The change in the situation was Army in the Stalingrad, Central likewise facilitated by the growing Front, the Middle Don and the Len­ struggle and the patriotic anti-Hit­ ingrad areas, as well as the mili­ ler activity of labor and the people tary action of the American and in the United States and Great Brit­ British troops in North Africa, ain. It was and is advanced by the created for Hitler Germany and her patriotic Americans and Britons European allies a situation the like who are forging the instruments of of which they have never faced be­ war essential for destroying Hitler's fore. Axis. It was and is facilitated by In contrast to last winter, when the greatest activity of labor and the the Red Army undertook its count­ people, including the Communists, er-offensive in one principal direc­ especially by the powerful mass tion, this year the Red Army ad­ movement launched during 1942 for vances on the five most important the opening of the Western Front. fronts. Unlike last year, in this of­ And this movement, it is now clear, fensive the German casualties are played an indispensable role in far heavier, and tens and tens of helping influence the foreign policy thousands of German soldiers are and the subsequent military opera­ surrendering, are being r.aptured; tions of our country, in helping furthermore, vast stores of booty counteract the policies of the small also are being taken. Moreover, but extremely active and powerful key fortified centers of great stra­ clique of Munichites. tegic importance, like Velikie Luki NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 103 and Schluesselburg, are being This growing necessity to scatter taken. The Red Army is now more her forces will yet become one of experienced, skillful and resource­ the main causes for Germany's final ful, and has greater reserves, ma­ def€at in the war. Especially will neuverability and striking power. this be so when the second front in It is true that the Hitler army Europe is opened, when Hitler will is still strong. But its strength al­ be compelled to divide his main ready has been seriously under­ forces and fight on two fronts in mined. Hitler's army is no longer Europe. For, if this materializes in the same as last year and, follow­ the near future, while the Soviet ing the defeat of Hitler's main offensive is under way, 1943 can plans in 1942, as in 1941, the rela­ mark the destruction of Hitler's tion 'of forces between the Red army and state and "new order." Army and the German army has definitely changed in favor of the * Soviet Union. And this again re­ veals the increasing strength of the The successful operations of the Soviet system, the growing power Red Army, the advances of the of the Soviet Army an'd its reserves, British and American forces in tlie high morale and unbreakable Africa, as well as the mass air raids solidarity and unity of the Soviet on Germany and Italy, have people, who are firmly united strengthened the fighting spirit of around their Soviet government of all anti-Hitler armies and the de­ free workers and peasants, led by termination of all peoples oppressed Stalin. by Hitlerism. Ftirther, these mili­ Even thou~h the Second Front in tary operations have resulted in a Europe has not yet materialized, al­ situation where the initiative hal! ready it should be noted that the now been wrested from the Hitler present Red Army offensive, the Af­ command. Meanwhile the reverses rican operations and the prepara­ of fascist Germany have lowered the tions for and the growing threat of fighting spirit in Hitler's army apd the second front in Europe make it in the German rear, and particu­ more difficult for Hitler Germany to larly they have undermined the maneuver its reserves. It compels spirit and morale of the armies of the Nazis to scatter their forces and Hitler's allies. particularly their equipment, from The war has entered its decisive Petsamo to the Black Sea, from stage. The period of developing Leningrad to Marseilles, from Den­ the strategic offensive by all free­ mark to the Balkans and, while the dom-loving peoples and nations main forces of Hitler are still de­ against fascist Germany and her al­ ployed on the Soviet-German front, lies has now arrived. This is true this new situation makes it more not only for the decisive powers in difficult for the Nazis to concentrate the United Nations coalition, not to the same extent as heretofore only for the people in the occupied all their forces on one single front. countries, not only for the neutral 104 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE countries. It is also true in respect Italy is actually on the verge of to the satellites of Hitler and of the complete economic ruin and catas­ camp of Nazi Germany itself. The trophe. Italy has become the tar­ recent anti-Hitler conference held get of heavy Allied air raids. And. in the Rhineland, and the mani­ the prospect exists that in the very festo published by the anti-fascist near future Italy may become the and opposition elements attending arena of military operations for Al­ the conference, representing diverse lied land troops. The crisis in Italy political groupings and social strata has reached the stage where various within Germany, bear witness to circles in the army command, in this development. And this matur­ the monarchy, in the Church and ing national front movement is ad­ within the fascist organizations vancing the struggle within Ger­ themselves-not to .speak of the many to put an end to Hitler's anti-fascist masses and organiza­ predatory war, to overthrow· Hitler tions whose activity and unity are and to establish a national demo­ growing-are more and more arriv­ cratic peace government. ing at the conclusion that the only Thus, at the beginning of 1943 a way to save the country is to break radical change has taken place not their military alliance with Hitler only in the military situation but no Germany and withdraw from the less basic changes have occurred in war. the political situation as a whole. Also, as a result of the blows of The Italian-German coalition finds the Red Army, disintegration and an itself in a very difficult position. internal crisis are growing in Hun­ This disintegration, which Stalin gary and Rumania, and despair is noted in November, is proceeding at gripping the other vassals of Hitler, a comparatively rapid pace and the such as Finland and Bulgaria. As a real possibility exists for breaking result strong opposition tendencies up this coalition into its separate are maturing even within influential parts, of completely isolating Nazi ruling circles, and the popular Germany and thereby hastening its movement for the creation of a na­ military destruction. tional front of independence and For instance, the turn of the war peace, for breaking the suicidal al­ on the Eastern Front and particu­ liance with Hitler and for with­ larly. the developing Anglo-Ameri­ drawing from Hitler's war, is enter­ can operations in North Africa have ing a new phase within these coun­ raised as an immediate prospect the tries. possibility of knocking Italy out of Moreover, the weakened position the war. Italy represented one of and the increased internal disinte­ the weakest links in the Hitler sys­ gration of the Italo-German coali­ tem even before the new military­ tion account for the failure of Hit­ political situation arose. And the ler's threats, provocations and eco­ change in the international situation nomic pressure to draw the so-called tells particularly on Italy, the vas­ neutral states into Hitler's predatory sal of Hitler Germany. war. The changed relation of NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 105 forces internationally infuses many evitably further hasten the down­ of the leading circles in these neu­ fall of Hitler's Axis. tral states with a certain immunity It is clear that the new military­ to Hitler's blackmail. It encourages political situation created in Eu­ the pro-United Nations forces, es­ rope at the end of 1942 opens pros­ pecially broad masses of the people, pects for realizing in all of the oc­ to reassert themselves, to come for­ cupied countries effective and suc­ ward more boldly in unity of strug­ cessful armed struggle on a wider gle against the Axis. This is par­ scale than has been possible here­ ticularly the case in respect to Tur­ tofore. It makes possible the strik­ key, Switzerland and Chile, and it ing of decisive blows for national is also true in some respects of freedom, the waging of a mighty na­ Sweden and Argentina. tional liberation war like the heroic If certain governmental forces in people of Yugoslavia, which can these neutral states are turning help bring about the destruction of away from fascist Germany, aban­ Hitler and his "new order" in 1943. doning any hf>Pe or expectations of This is particularly true in connec­ victory for the Axis, this does not tion with France, Poland and some signify, however, that Hitler will of the Balkan countries. leave them in peacE,). On the con­ It is likewise and especially clear trary, with the growing military that the changed and changing rela­ and political difficulties now facing tion of forces in the decisive Euro­ the !tala-German coalition, the pean theater of war, a change in greater will be the pressure exerted favor of the Soviet Union and all by the Hitler imperialists on the the United Nations, opens the way neutral countries. Certainly Hitler for the entire anti-Hitler coalition, will not hes1tate to use military in concerted fighting action, to re­ force to try and coerce and occupy tain and to utilize the initiative some of these countries, such as which it now has. It provides a new Spain, Turkey and Sweden. and priceless opportunity for Amer­ However, such adventures will ica and Britain fully to synchronize not save Hitler from defeat. These their strategy and military offen­ will merely lead to the further scat­ sives with that of the U.S.S.R., to tering of his forces. They will in­ take steps to giv~ German fascist crease the number of his active imperialism no chance to recover, enemies. They will intensify the to prevent Hitler from taking ad­ hatred of additional peoples for vantage of continued inaction on the Nazi Germany, as the occupation western front so as to try and ac­ of Vichy France has stirred and cumulate new strength and to pre­ further united all French patriots. pare for new thrusts. And if this situation would be fore­ In short, the present situation stalled or countered in time by the opens the way for winning victory resolute military action of the over Hitler in 1943, especially if United States and Great Britain, there is established a more unified such adventurous moves would in- Allied strategy, if there is realized 106 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE in time closer and more effective fensive opens new perspectives for coalition warfare by all members the speediest destruction of Hitler­ of the Anglo-Soviet-American al­ ism. Yet it is crystal clear that the liance on the European continent. task of organizing a second front in And the conditions for realizing Europe nearer to Germany's strate­ this are undoubtedly improving, as gic centers remains one of the de­ recent military-political develop­ cisive factors for securing victory ments (including the latest press re­ over Hitlerism in 1943. It is a vital ports regarding current negotiations keystone for strengthening the and projected agreements between fighting alliance of the United Na­ the Allied governments), seem to tions and for accelerating the crush­ confirm. ing of Hitlerism. It is one of the most effective ways to reinforce the • * * present and future collaboration of There can be no doubt but that all the United Nations. the prerequisites have been created What, we may ask, are the per­ for victory in 1943. Yet victory will spectives for an Anglo-American not come of its own accord. It still invasion of the European continent? has to be fought for. The Hitler There is no doubt that the prospects beast is seriously wounded, is grow­ for opening the second front are im­ ing weaker, but it is still resisting proving. For one thing, the unprece­ desperately and fanatically. dented results of the Soviet of­ In this connection we and other fensive, as well as the upsurge and anti-fascists are not unmindful of the scope of the armed struggles of the fact that victory was possible the peoples in the occupied coun­ in 1942 and that only the absence tries, tend to facilitate the plans and of a western front prevented its to accelerate the present prepara­ realization. tions which America and Britain are Today, of course, the military­ making for establishig a second political situation is different from front on the European continent. what it was a year ago. The rela­ Secondly, the unfoldment of the tions between and among the Amer­ . Anglo-American operations in Afri­ ican-Soviet-British coalition and ca, which facilitates the develop­ the other United Nations have been ment of a more unified strategy and strengthened and a closer coordina­ a greater degree of coordinated tion of their combined military ef­ fighting action of the Anglo-Soviet­ forts seem in the process of realiza­ American coalition, and which es­ tion. But, above all, the rela­ tablishes a new strategic base of tion of forces on the Soviet-German Anglo-American operations for at­ front has greatly changed. And the tacking Hitler in Europe, the prog­ outcome of the present offensive of ress in armament production dur­ the Red Army is destined to be ing the past year in Britain and quantitatively and, above all, quali­ the U.S.A., etc.-all this has brought tatively different from what it was closer the launching by Britain and last winter. The current Soviet of- America of major land operations NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 107 in Europe. And at this writing, in the heart of Europe, and while prep­ mid-January, it cannot be excluded arations are proceeding accordingly, that certain surprises in this con­ it must be noted that there is nection are in the making. not yet full comprehension in cer­ Moreover, as the President's mes­ tain leading circles in London and sage to Congress on January 7 in­ Washington of the urgency of the dicated, our government has reaf­ moment, of the burning aspect of firmed its strong determination to the time factor, of the need of fully extend its offensive against the synchronizing our offensive action Axis enemy, to concentrate its main with that of our Soviet Ally. There blows against Hitler Germany, to are certain tendencies even within reinforce the alliance of the United some circles of the anti-Hitler camp Nations. to consider that, in view of the However, our people, our nation changed situation on the Soviet­ cannot indulge in or succumb to German front, there is no need to any complacency, especially today strain American and Britain's war when so far our entire A.E.F. is en­ efforts to achieve a total war effort gaging fewer Nazi troops on the bat­ and an all-out military offensive, tle fronts than the Yugoslavian parti­ that the second front can be opened sans. To adopt a passive or a wait­ at "leisure," later rather "' than ing attitude to the supremely vital sooner. There are some who, influ­ question of creating the Western enced by Munichmen, entertain the Front immediately would have idea that we can "let the Red Army grave consequences for our national break Hitler's back, and then we security, would delay victory. can march into Europe practically The question remains, not whether unopposed at a future date, and in a the second front will be opened, for dominant position to determine this it will: the q'IJ£s~ion still is, post-war developments." when, how soon, and with what Furthermore, there is the fact force? that the aggressive fighting mood While the prospects are becoming and offensive orientation expressed more favorable for resolving this by the President in his January central military-political question message to Congress are in jeopardy sooner rather than later, everything of being delayed and undermined must still be done to guarantee by internal reaction, by the renewed the most energetic prosecution of activities of the defeatists and ob­ the war, on the part of America and structionists within and out of Con­ Britain, now, during the present So­ gress. This danger .has become viet .offensive, especially during the more and not less menacing since first quarter of 1943, which is so the November elections, as Comrade vital and opportune for delivering Browder has signalized~ Especially heavy blows against Hitler. is this true since the latest develop­ Moreover, while the orientation of ments on the Soviet-German front the President is to speed the exten­ as a result of which the Axis and sion of our military offensive into its political counterparts in the 108 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE United States have prepared to re­ it is essential that the entire na­ new their desperate, cunning and tion, that all patriotic Americans, vigorous political offensive for a especially the working class, should "negotiated peace." In new and old be aroused to the urgency of the ways and forms, by paying lip serv­ moment, to the need of maintaining ice to the nation's war objectives, and extending the military-political they are trying to seize on mistakes initiative which now rests in the and weaknesses on the military and hands of the United Nations. the civilian fronts to organize divi­ This especially requires that the sion, class strife and partisan dif­ United States and Great Britain ferences, in order to try and disrupt should strengthen at all costs their the unity of the United Nations and main military bases in England and the unity within the United Nations. North Africa, and above all should It must be clear to all patriotic immediately undertake a direct at­ Americans, especially to all consist­ tack on the European continent, ent anti-fascists, that any tendency either from the west, north andjor or move to try and conciliate or the south. They should prosecute compromise with Hitler and the and expand the African offensive Axis, and with the pro-fascists and with the utmost vigor and boldness, reactionaries within our own coun­ in unison with the Soviet offensive, try, with the du Ponts, Hearsts and so as to rapidly attain its major Crawfords,' and with their political objectives, whch lie in the European spokesmen like the Hoovers,Vanden­ theater of the war. bergs and Tafts, the Wheelers, Rey­ In this connection it is becoming noldses, and Dieses, that this would clear to millions that the launching have the most serious consequences of the second front or fronts in Eu­ for the prosecution of our nation's rope is not contingent upon the war effort, for the national safety completion of military operations in and future of our country, for vic­ North Africa. Nor is the attack in tory. Or, to place the issue con­ the west dependent upon the con­ versely, it is becoming increasingly summation of certain deals now in clear that the further unfoldment the process of negotiation with of America's military policy will be various opposition elements in greatly affected by the scope· and Italy and Germany, irrespective of character of the struggle which the the possible value and expediency government and people will carry which such deals may offer. forward against internal reaction, To expedite the offensive against against the appeasers and obstruc­ Hitler Germany, it is extremely im­ tionists, especially by the struggle portant that public expression of the they wage against the defeatists and existing mass, popular support for reactionaries in the 78th Congress. the offensive policy outlined in the President's message to Congress on * * * January 7 should be encouraged and In the present crucial situation, organized. Everything should be in view of the changes in the war, done to reinforce the. mass public NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 10!) campaign for the second front now, best way to take advantage of Hit­ to explain why America's national ler's plight and growing difficulties, interests require the immediate this is the best way to advance the creation of a second front in Europe, common interests of the entire anti­ and why and how a major attack Hitler coalition. now against Hitler in the west in Furthermore, it is incumbent upon conjunction with the Soviet offen­ all patriotic Americans, both native sive, will ensure Hitler's downfall and foreign-born, to popularize and in 1943. And in this connection, it to organize the most active political is also necessary to strengthen the mass support and practical aid to mass movement for breaking Amer­ the national liberation movements, ica's relations with the pro-Hitler, partisans and armies of the peoples Ryti-Mannerheim government of of 'the occupied countries. This ~ Finland, and for pursuing a much especially necessary today in rela­ firmer anti-Hitler policy toward tion to and with the Yugoslavian na­ Franco Spain. tional liberation army and its anti­ Labor and the people are now fascist national front which has called upon to vigorously an9. created the National Constituent As­ unitedly support and implement the sembly. This is equally urgent so as government's war policies more to render every assistance to the than ever before, particularly fighting partisans and anti-Hitler around a common political-legisla­ national front movements among the tive program, such as advanced by French, Polish, Hungarian, Ruman­ the C.I.O., and in fact better and ian and Czech peoples, as well as more actively than the Administra­ among the German, Italian and tion frequently does itself. This is Finnish peoples. Likewise it is nec­ necessary so as to encourage the Ad­ essary that the spotlight and hatred ministration to openly and forcefully of American public opihion should challenge and take the fight more be further focused upon the Nazi at­ resolutely and energetically against rocities in the occupied countries, the defeatists, so ,as to implement especially upon the Brown-Shirt po­ the nation's war policy. groms against the Jewish people, so Labor and the people are now as to deepen the anti-fascist con­ called upon to act with greater sciousness of America, so as to speed tempo and unity, so as to strengthen the Western Front to avenge the the anti-fascist unity of the nation, barbaric and murderous policies of so as to help influence the govern­ the Hitlerites. ment to achieve a greater unification Secondly, in order to extend our of Allied strategy, particularly so as nation's offensive against Hitler and to attain full and timely common the Axis, it is vital that American fighting action by all the members of labor and all other patriotic forces the American-Soviet-British coali­ should continue and redouble their tion against the heart and core of the efforts to secure immediately a gi­ Hitler Axis-against Hitler Ger­ gantic increase in war production, many in Europe. For this is the through improved trade union and 110 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR ~N EUROPE labor-management activities in the nating from the governmental de­ factories and through the establish­ partments all pro-appeasement and ment of a centralized war economy obstructionist elements. For this it as provided in the Pepper-Tolan is necessary that labor should be Bill. It is necess~ry that the Ameri­ represented adequately in the gov­ can industrial giant, which has al­ ernment and in all war agencies. For ready made considerable progress in this it is especially necessary that production, should be further geared the government and its anti-Axis to produce in time every require­ policies should be reinforced by the ment for the offensive in Africa, for most energetic and persistent mass opening and sustaining the second support and pressure of labor and front in Europe, and for augmenting the people. aid to our Allies. In this connection, it is of the And here labor should bear in utmost importance that labor and mind the imperative necessity ot those whom it influences should combining the most energetic and wage a more concrete aFJ.d system­ effective work in the shops, factories atic struggle to unmask, isolate and and mines for expanding war pro­ rout the defeatists, in Congress and duction, with the most active and elsewhere, and to conduct the strug­ conscious political mobilization of gle against these forces in such a the workers for fully placing our way as will clearly differentiate be­ country on a total war footing, for tween the defeatists and the politics­ an all-out military offensive against as-usual forces. This struggle should Hitler in Germany. This is all the be unfolded in such a way, for in­ more imperative in view of the line stance, as to break up the develop­ of the cautious calculators and de­ ing' Congressional alliances between featists as expressed on January 14, the appeasers and the many con­ by Herbert Hoover, who stated that servative elements and groups who "our job is production ... to ag­ are often influenced by economic gressively tighten the rings around and partisan considerations into lin­ the European and Asiatic Axis . . . ing up in the anti-Administration by effective attrition" (Emphasis camp, into what inevitably becomes mine.-E.D.); that is, production for an obstructionist bloc to the war a war of "attrition," for giving Hitler effort. time, and not production for the of­ Likewise it is essential that the fensive now, for the second front Administration itself should pursue immediately. a bolder and more resolute policy, Thirdly, it is more necessary than particularly in respect to Congress, ever that national unity around the that it should carry on the fight government should be further con­ against the appeasers and the fifth solidated and that the government column still more determinedly. it11elf should be further strengthened Equally important is the need to with additional representatives of achieve a greater degree of united the most able, reliable and consistent action within the labor movement, patriots, anti-fascists, and by elimi- as well as between the Willkie Re- NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 111 publicans and the Roosevelt Demo­ tions in our national economy, and crats. This should be forged around for strengthening national unity and :all decisive war issues and measures, . our nation's war endeavor. This too relating not only to questions of mili­ will be one of the concrete ways to tary and foreign policy, i.e., ensur­ carry forward in the most effective ing the speediest opening of the sec­ manner the struggle against the de­ ond front in Europe, strengthening featists, against the Vandenbergs the fighting alliance of the Ameri­ and Tafts, the Hoovers and Hearsts, can-Soviet-British coalition, to ex­ the du Ponts and McCormicks. tending and augmenting Lend Lease, Above all, it is neceGsary to realize etc., but also to the so-called domes­ that today as never before the tic issues of taxation, the poll tax, speediest realization of the second etc., which are now being sedulously front in Europe, the solving of all utilized by the appeasers and obstru­ other vital military and political tionists as a means of trying to af­ questions, depends to a considerable fect adversely our nation's military extent upon the united action of policy for extending the offensive. If labor and the people, and their col­ this is done it will encourage and laboration with all patriots, with all ~ttimulate the Administration to anti-Hitler forces. It depends great­ challenge and fight the hidden and ly upon the anti-fascist understand­ open opponents of victory, particu­ ing, the initiative, the greatest activ­ larly those within Congress who give ity and resoluteness of the organized lip service to the nation's war ob­ labor movement. It depends to a jectives, while they attack and sabo­ large extent upon the unity of action tage each specific war measure, par­ of the working class and people ticularly essential appropriations for within our country, and upon the Lend Lease and for other vital gov­ promotion of international trade ernmental war agencies and expen­ union unity and solidarity with the ditures, and through the proposed anti-fascists of all lands, especially creation of new Dies' and other upon the friendship and closest col­ witch-hunting and diversive investi­ laboration of the American-Soviet­ gating committees---'-all as a means British peoples and coalition and the of combatting the national war ef­ fighting alliance of all the United fort as a whole. Nations. And not least of all, it de­ One of the most important issues pends upon the political and or­ here is that everything should be ganizing initiative, the firmness ·and done by labor and the people to. ad­ Marxist - Leninist understanding, vance the struggle in support of a and the patriotic, anti-fascist mass centralized war economy and for activity of the Communists, of the fully realizing the President's vanguard of the working class, in Seven-Point Program for economic our people's and nation's war of stabilization. This is vital for ad­ survival and freedom against Hitler vancing war production, for over­ and Hitlerism, for victory in 1943, coming certain strains aqd disloca- for national independence, demo- 112 NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE cratic liberties and a just and dur­ Whatever may be the outcome of able peace. the current consultations and agree­ The preconditions have been ments now reported under way, establish~ for attaining victory there are many signs pointing to a over Nazism-fascism in 1943! These closer understanding and a closer must be grasped and utilized in fighting alliance of the United time! Labor and the people-all Nations and its leading coalition. As patriots-must unite and act now! we have outlined above, the turn The war policies of the Commander­ which has taken place in the war, in-Chief for extending the offensive and the factors responsible for this must be vigorously supported and change, point to this--developments implemented! The anti-Hitler unity which can be of great significance of the nation must be strengthened for hastening victo11y, for crushing and enhanced! The most effective Hitlerism, for promoting a just and coalition warfare of the American­ durable peace. Soviet-British coalition, the estab­ In any event, there can be no lishment of the second front against doubt but that the trend and moves Hitler in Europe, must be forged, which will bring about closer col­ now! Tempo, boldness, initiative, laboration and joint fighting action resolute struggle of the people, com­ of and by all the members mon fighting action and a single uni­ of the American-Soviet-British fied anti-Hitlerite strategy-this is coalition should and can hasten the the road to victory! launching of the second front, as This is the way to achieve victory well as affecting positively and fav­ in 1943! orably the present and future course * • * of the alliance of the United Na­ POSTSCRIPT: tions. As we go to press on January 22 Yet, precisely because of the im­ there are growing indications that mediate and the potential value of certain new steps and measures are any present or pending agreements now being taken by members of the and understandings between the American-Soviet-British coalition to U.S.A. and Britain together with the establish a more unified Allied Soviet Union, as well as with China, strategy and coordinated military is essential that the American peo­ strategy. These discussions and ple should not curtail their mass ac­ moves point in the direction of facil­ tivities. They should not lessen itating the extension of Anglo­ their support and pressure for open­ American land operations to the ing and sustaining the second front European continent, toward achiev­ and for strengthening further the ing a more coordinated global strat­ firmest and closest fighting unity of egy, as well as toward effecting a the American-Soviet-British alli­ necessary change in Anglo-Ameri­ ance. The American people should can policies in respect to North not and cannot absolve themselves Africa. of their own direct responsibilities NEW STAGE OF THE WAR IN EUROPE 113 for supporting and helping imple­ to counteract and defeat the appeas­ ment our Government's anti-Axis ers and fifth columnists, in order policies. to fully and rapidly realize past and Suffice it to point to the Roose­ present anti-Axis agreements, it is velt-Molotov-Churchill agreements imperative that labor and the peo­ of June, 1942, concerning the crea­ ple be vigilant, active and united. It tion of the second front in Europe­ is nece~sary that they vigorously which were sabotaged and blocked support, reinforce and help guar­ by the Munichites and the "cauti­ antee the timely execution of all ous calculators." It is true'that since pledges and agreements entered into then the situation has changed; new by our government with its Allies, agreements will now carry new po­ especially' to strengthen and aug­ litical weight and influence and can ment the collaboration and fighting now be fulfilled with greater speed alliance of the American-Soviet­ and assurance. However, in order British coalition.-E. D.

114 114

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MARTY MARTY ANDRE ANDRE BY BY

STRUCK! STRUCK! HAS HAS HOUR HOUR FRANCE'S FRANCE'S FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 115 enemy remains an enemy, and Duchesne" of 1792, glorious "Father France's salvation lies only in a Duchesne" with his battle cry life-and-death struggle!" "Hatred for tyrants! Victory or There is no doubt whatever that death!" was again come to life. The the sacred flames of ToUlon were militant workers' organ l'Humanite, smoldering, rising and spreading for hero of the national front of strug­ a long time. The flames were gle for France's liberation which fanned by everything and primarily never ceased to exist, has increased by the monstrous crimes of the Hit­ its circulation to unprecedented ler occupationists, by the medieval proportions. tortures to which they have been On March 28, a flash of the first subjecting French patriots, by the signal pierced the gloom enveloping shooting of hostages in batches of France. On that day the workers' fifty and a hundred men, just as on quarter of Saint Nazaire, encour­ the eve of Valmy! They were aged by the heroic struggle of the fanned by the systematic plunder Red Army which had inflicted de­ and depletion of France, a land feat upon the German hordes at built up by numerous generations Leningrad and Moscow, rose in of Frenchmen in the course of fif­ struggle against the German in­ teen centuries of hard labor. vaders as troops landed by the Brit­ The French people gradually ish fired their first shots. For three straightened their backs. They days the invaders were unable to straightened to the accompani­ cope with the daring patriots. Saint ment of countless insults, repeated Nazaire has shown that the people day in and day out from month to of France have not reconciled month. Sabotage, this grim ex­ themselves ,to capitulation and are pression of the wrath of the French impatiently waiting for the landing people, was growing in plants, fac­ of Allied troops to plunge into a tories, railway depots, in all offices. bold attack against their hangmen. Tightly clenching his teeth, the Amid darkness of Hitler's penal peasant defended the fruits of his night France is engaged in a long labor against requisitions and mech­ and difficult underground struggle. anized robbers. Thousands of bril­ Severe struggle was the reply of the liant representatives of French French working class to the new thought - engineers and doctors, onslaught of Hitlerites when they men of science and letters armed presented a demand for shipment with the logic of Descartes, armed of millions of French workers to with common sense, this splendid Germany. Neither false promises gift of the French people, exposed nor the closing of thousands of the barbaric Teuton ideology. France's enterprises, nor further A brave army of illegal news­ threat of unemployment and starva­ papers was tirelessly undermining tion could induce the French work­ and exposing the lies emanating ers to go to Germany. from Vichy, that branch of the dia­ The order about forcible shipment bolical Goebbels' kitchen: "Pere of workers to Germany was an- 116 FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK swered on September 4 by a wave revocable truth in a dazzling halo of of strikes. The largest iron and light: Henceforth no other relations steel works, aircraft factories in are possible between the French both occupied and unoccupied zones nation and the Hitler horde except of France, enterprises in Paris, those of struggle, of a life-and­ mines in the North, Pas de Calais death struggle. and Moselle, railway shops and sta­ tions were brought to a standstill as * * * soon as lists of workers scheduled for shipment to Germany were At present all of France is occu­ posted there. German trains were pied. Hitler's victory is no glorious derailed and sent crashing down victory. It is one of those victories embankments to their destruction in which signify defeat. But now industrial districts of the country, France can proudly say: There are on the fields of Normandy and Brit­ defeats which mean victory! For, anny. German storage houses were by kicking his flunkeys out of consumed by fire. Matters reached Vichy, Hitler has himself destroyed such a pass that in the center of the screen which hid his beastly Paris in Besancon, in the North, face from part of the French people. daring patriots began to attack Henceforth Hitler banditism is re­ German detachments, killing and vealed to the French people in all exterminating Hitler's soldiers. of its ugliness. The wild chase for Thus were acts of retaliation carried people has begun throughout out. France. In feverish haste, Gestapo Every new defeat suffered by Hit­ , trucks have carried off Reynaud, ler in the Soviet Union inspired the and Mandel and, together with French workers, backed by the tl:iem, also Borotra, a Vichy Minis­ whole population, including also ter! Thousands of people of all many factory directors. The landing shades of political opinion are being of American troops in North Africa transported from France to Ger­ was greeted with enthusiasm many, their only guilt being their throughout France. Occupying the hatred for Hitler Germany. whole of France's territory, tramp­ In the meantime, throughout oc­ ling on his own pledges, ignoring cupied France, Hitler cutthroats are the capitulators of Vichy, Hitler engaged in notorious "scientific" wanted to prevent an outburst, but, plunder of the country. They seize contrary to his expectations, he everything they can lay hands on: merely hastened the national up­ vegetables, fruit, wine, and the last surge throughout France. big iron and steel works and mines Toulon was a splendid manifesta­ which survived in formerly unoccu­ tion of the true feelings of the pied zones. There is not a single French people for the hated foreign Frenchman now in the former non­ invaders. For, shining in the glow occupied zone who has not seen of the fire which enveloped the with his own eyes the brutality and sinking French ships, was the ir- crUelty of the Hitler gang, which FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 117 has transformed murder and plun­ discipline by all men--officers, petty der into a state institution. officers and sailors-without excep­ There is not a single Frenchman tion, but in some places dock work­ who still has any doubt about the ers came to their assistance. Their role of Vichy men: The German machineguns 'and rifle fire delayed "Consul" tolerates them inasmuch the German invasion irl order to as they limit their activities to slav­ prevent French ships from falling ish circulation of monstrous fables into the hands of the enemy. Taus fabricated by Goebbels and continue Toulon became not only a remark­ their service in fulfillment of Ges­ able example of heroism, but also tapo orders. And the conclusion? a splendid example of the unity The conclusion is clear to every­ of all Frenchmen for struggle body. Henceforth the French people which will lead to the liberation o:f can count only on their own France. Toulon has an irresistible strength. The last of their illu­ appeal because it has been inscribed sions have faded away together with in the blood of the heroes who made the smoke from the Toulon explo­ the supreme sacrifice to strike a sions. blow at the enemy. But Toulon was not merely an There is no doubt whatever that act of destruction, and not only a the occupation of the whole o:f splendid example of heroism. No, France will result in even more its meaning is far greater. Many implacable hatred for the occupa­ naval officers and yesterday's reac­ tionists and traitors and, most im­ tionaries had ,faith in Vichy, in portant, it will unite all sections of Hitler's word. But the sailors and the population in a national front petty officers were mainly workers struggle for the liberation of France. from big enterprises throughout The landing of American troops in France, and in the past frequently North Africa means the creation of clashed with their superiors. As a powerful support point for the regards the Toulon workers, they opening of the second front on the at one time expressed their thoughts continent of Europe. The formation and sentiments by electing a Com­ of a new French army is already be­ munist, a Toulon ordnance worker, ginning in rich North Africa; this as their deputy. But despite all in­ army will soon be able to stretch trigues of the contemptible traitors, out its helping hand .. to the French especially sent by Vichy, the ap­ people. pearance of German tanks and And there is no doubt that the bombers in Toulon was a signal for appearance of Allied armed forces national unification of all these peo­ on the European continent will ple--sailors and their officers, work­ greatly accelerate and make easier ers, all-regardless of their social an uprising of the French people. status, political outlooks, religious Saint Nazaire affords indisputable beliefs. proof in this respect. The French The order to scuttle the ships was people know that liberation does not only carried out with exemplary not come from the outside. There

of of in in capitulation capitulation rally rally the the France France easier easier of of erably erably liberation liberation the the

consid­ for for made made fight fight to to which which desire desire who who Communists, Communists, Frenchmen Frenchmen

persecuting persecuting all all by by if if only only blow blow heavy heavy a a victorious victorious be be France France can can rising rising

dealt dealt up­ have have popular popular this this propaganda, propaganda, But But for. for. Hitler Hitler preparing preparing

of of decade decade a a and and by by of of poisoned poisoned dreaming dreaming who, who, are are those those Frenchmen Frenchmen

with with even even of of millions millions collaborating collaborating what what is is closely closely invaders invaders Hitler Hitler

are are Communists Communists French French the the else, else, the the against against uprising uprising national national A A

everything everything above above nation nation French French yoke., yoke., foreign foreign the the from from ation ation

the the of of liber­ interests interests her her the the France France Placing Placing bring bring will will which which

enemy. enemy. common common the the against against uprising uprising general general a a for for paredness paredness

Frenchmen Frenchmen pre­ all all of of their their unity unity solid solid strengthen strengthen and and will will ate ate freedom, freedom,

immedi­ of of the the for for champions champions campaign campaign a a ardent ardent ducting ducting people, people, French French

con­ is is Party Party Communist Communist French French The The exhaustion. exhaustion. and and weariness weariness of of

the the why why is is symptoms symptoms That That the the reveal reveal imperialists. imperialists. Germany Germany ler ler

fascist fascist German German the the under under slavery slavery to to Hit­ of of countries countries vassal vassal All All anger. anger.

labor, labor, penal penal to to forever forever condemned condemned and and agitation agitation of of state state a a in in are are tries tries

burden, burden, of of coun­ beasts beasts of of occupied occupied status status the the the the in in to to ple ple people people The The

peo­ French French the the reduce reduce to to enemy, enemy, peace. peace. for for long long passionately passionately masses masses

the the to to out out Italian Italian sell sell the the and and because because betray betray also also who who but but vasion, vasion,

those those and and in­ against against France France of of her her defend defend to to dependence dependence necessity necessity

in­ the the for for fight fight to to wish wish who who those those the the of of because because only only not not Italy, Italy, pying pying

between between but but "Lefts," "Lefts," and and "Rights" "Rights" occu­ feverishly feverishly are are They They Tunisia. Tunisia.

between between not not now, now, barrier barrier a a is is in in and and Libya Libya in in also also defensive defensive the the

There There background. background. the the to to relegated relegated on on are are troops troops German German front. front. man man

being being now now are are France France in in ferences ferences Soviet-Ger­ the the of of sectors sectors important important

_ _ dif- religious religious and and political political old old All All on on defeat defeat suffered suffered already already having having

government. government. campaign, campaign, winter winter 1942 1942 his his upon upon

and and system system state state their their choose choose to to embarking embarking is is Hitler Hitler executioners. executioners.

sovereignty sovereignty and and freedom freedom the the have have Hitler Hitler the the at at blow blow mortal mortal a a ing ing

people people French French the the will will then then only only strik­ for for present present at at favorable favorable ally ally

and and Then, Then, France. France. of of independence independence exception­ are are conditions conditions that that well well

the the of of restoration restoration the the soil, soil, French French very very realize realize people people French French The The

from from invaders invaders Hitler Hitler the the of of ing ing countries! countries! neighboring neighboring on on

oust­ the the or or destruction, destruction, wi-th wi-th nation nation attacks attacks predatory predatory in in not not an'd an'd vaders, vaders,

French French the the threaten threaten would would which which in­ the the against against struggle struggle in in strength strength

Germany, Germany, Hitler Hitler by by people people French French gathered gathered unity unity French French Germany, Germany,

the the of of enslavement enslavement either either tives: tives: Hitler Hitler and and imperial imperial to to Contrary Contrary

alterna­ following following the the with with faced faced France. France. indivisible indivisible and and united united a a

now now is is nation, nation, whole whole the the class, class, created created triumphantly triumphantly and and France France

working working The The enemy. enemy. the the of of hands hands of of confines confines the the beyond beyond kings" kings" jected jected

the the from from navy navy French French the the wrested wrested re­ and and traitors traitors slaves, slaves, of of "horde "horde

Toulon Toulon in in which which organization organization the the drove drove ago, ago, years years fifty fifty and and dred dred

of of state state and and unity unity same same the the scale scale hun­ one one 1792, 1792, in in masses masses popular popular

national national a a on on reaching reaching of of question question of of upsurge upsurge mighty mighty the the how how know know

a a is is unity. unity. national national of of support support It It not not did did who who Frenchman Frenchman a a not not is is

STRUCK STRUCK HAS HAS HOUR HOUR FRANCE'S FRANCE'S 118 118 FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 119 June, 1940. The Communist Party will be able to do so-by free and of France calls upon the people to universal suffrage its own state sys­ exctude from national unity only tem and to elect its own govern­ those who betray the interests of the ment" (Marseilles, December 5, people, all sorts of Lavals and Deats, 1942). . Doriots and Spinasses. It is pri­ Hence, French Communists every­ marily against such agents of Hit­ where cooperate with de Gaulle's ler-the mortal enemy of the supporters because they are really French nation-that people must di­ fighting for the liberation of France. rect their fire. And it is precisely In October the Communist Party of because for the past three years the France signed a joint declaration French Communist Party has been with the de Gaullist organizations tirelessly agitating for a united na­ "Combat," "Franctireur" and "Lib­ tional front that French Commu­ eration" on joint action against the nists are now cooperating with Gen­ forcible dispatch of French workers eral de Gaulle. to Hitler Germany. Beginning July, 1940, from the But precisely because the French moment that General de Gaulle be­ Communist Party is fighting for a gan to rally the first volunteers of national front it supports also all the new French Army, the French other elements who actually are Communist Party has been ruth­ fighting against Hitler Germany. lessly exposing the shameful Vichy Thus, the Communist Party of Government. France now supports General De­ The Communist Party of France lattre de Tassigny who but yester­ called for "national unity to make day was faithful to Vichy, but, be­ possible the formation of a govern­ ginning November 11, showed that ment of national regeneration con­ he understood the full baseness of sisting of courageous and honest Hitler's Vichy flunkeys, refusing to men, of a government of the people, obey their orders and joining the backed by the people and governing struggle against the German in­ only in the interests of the people." vaders. At that time the Communist Party On the same grounds the Com­ of France declared that General de munist Party of France also sup­ Gaulle was the only member of the ports the officers who, t;ogether with government who in June, 1940, re­ General Giraud, are fighting against fused to accept the armistice and the Italian-German hordes in North deliver France into bondage. The Africa. And further, only yester­ Communist Party of France pointed day a majority of the Naval officers out that, beginning from the mo­ of Toulon were by no means among ment of his arrival in England, Gen­ the supporters of the Communist eral de Gaulle continued the strug­ Party. But, despite this, the Com­ gle, proclaiming that he "remains munist Party is now doing its ut­ a Frenchman serving only France," most to wrest them from the that he "recognizes the French na­ clutches of the Gestapo and give tion's rigM to decide--as soon as it them the possibility to continue the 120 FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRt,JCK struggle so heroically begun in Tou­ slaved by the Hitlerites. That is lon. whythe Communist Party of France The Communist Party sets but is exerting all its energy to help the one condition for its collaboration: creation within the shortest possible Joint conduct of the active strug­ time of a strong French Army in · gle, joint action in the war against North Africa, a national anti-Hitler the German fascist imperialists. army which would serve the cause The Communist Party is tolerant of France's liberation, and which and is not trying to settle old scores. President Roosevelt has promised to Revival of national unity of the equip with all the weapons neces­ French people has been paid for sary for the conduct of modern war­ with too high a price, with too great fare. suffering, not to be defended with The Communist Party of France all. the strength and all the passion is energetically supporting every as a principal means for rallying effort directed toward the mobiliza­ all the forces in the country to tion of the human, agricultural and drive the German fascist invaders industrial resources necessary for from French soil. turning North Africa into a strong base from which the French and * * * Allied armies could begin opera­ To bring about the unification of tions against the European conti­ the whole nation, coordination of nent. all its efforts and, lastly, for secur­ Therefore the Communist Party ing the necessary unity in leader­ of France demands the immediate ship of the new battle for France, liberation of the 30,000 patriots­ it is necessary to unite all the na­ French, Arab, Spanish and other tional forces in the various commit­ anti-fascists-interned in concen­ tees of the national front. These tration camps on the orders of the committees, in industry, railway Italian-German "Armistice Com­ transport, in the schools and univer­ mission." sities, in town and countryside, must But to rally the entire population become the principal and the only of North Africa for the struggle motive centers of the whole strug­ for liberation from Hitler slavery, gle for freedom. to bring about a mighty rising of the Undoubtedly, in this great liber­ French and Arabs, it is necessary ation struggle, North Africa can and to restore immediately all pre-war must play a tremendous role. It liberties of the Republic, to restore must become the base for mustering democratic liberties, electoral insti­ the armed forces, for concentrating tutions, municipal councils, trade war materials and all that is neces­ unions, and all workers' and demo­ sary for the opening of the second cratic organizations suppressed by fro.nt in Europe. It has already the Vichy usurpers. become a supporting point for pow­ ... erful Allied armies ready to lend * * a helping hand to the peoples en- During the two and a half years FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 121 of Vichy rule the worst fifth-col­ tion on the order o! the day in umn elements were appointed to France. Everything is subordinated principal posts in all the decisive to this task, which must be carried fields in North Africa. The country out so that the uprising breaks out is swarming with the scum of the at a moment of the creation of the Doriot gang, with. scoundrels from second front in Europe. But it Laval's region; and direct agents would be a big mistake to regard of the enemy are armed by them. this preparation as a vast plot. Un­ The tragic experiences of the war questionably, it requires a number lived through by France in 1940 of measures of an organizational must not be forgotten: Rapid mo­ and military-technical character. bilization of human and material But the dictates o:f the hour are not reserves in North Africa urgently limited to this. demands the immediate clearing of A popular uprising throughout all posts of these dregs, of these the country will become possible fifth-column agents. The interests only when all the peoplE: have been of the struggle imperiously demand brought into motion, drawn into ac­ the disarmament and the disband­ tion, when they have already re­ ment of all . the Hitler groups, the ceived the necessary experience in arrest of all of their leaders, agents local fighting, when they have al­ in enemy pay. ready trained or tested cadres in Lastly, ·the 15,000,000 Arabs and this struggle necessary for the' con­ Berbers in North Africa can play duct of such a people's war; lastly­ an invaluable role in the great when the people have already struggle against Hitler imperialism. started the process of the disinte­ But, to draw these splendid warriors gration of the enemy, the de­ into the ranks of the new French moralization of his forces. Army, these peoples must be But this would mean that a cen­ granted the minimum rights they tral uprising' in France at the mo­ have always been demanding: ment of landing of the Allied ar­ equality in rights and duties with mies on the continent can come only the French in North Africa. Equal as a concluding stage in the process responsibilities with equal rights! of mustering the forces against the The day when, following the restor­ enemy, which must be pursued and ation of democratic liberties in extended right now. A necessary North Africa, the Arab and Berber condition for the preparation of the peoples are granted equal rights popular uprising is the ceaseless with the French will see an unprec­ daily activities aimed at weakening edented upsurge of popular en­ the enemy with all means and in all thusiasm which will infuse the liber­ forms. This implies a maximum ation armies with splendid and of organization effort, initiative and brave soldiers. action to prevent the occupation Henceforth, preparations !or the troops from strengthening their po­ peoples' liberation uprising becomes sitions, to give the unscrupulous an essential and most urgent ques- traitors from Vichy no chance to re-

French French whole whole eviction eviction the the of of No No act act rents! rents! vast vast in in his his in in increase increase No No

tasks tasks important important children! children! most most the the the the for for of of milk milk One One and and Bread Bread

prices. prices. skyrocketing skyrocketing ca. ca. the the meet meet

Afri­ to to North North from from wages wages Army Army higher higher French French the the demand demand supply, supply,

the the in in improvement improvement of of an an and and about about troops troops bring bring Allied Allied of of landing landing ern ern

east­ an an facilitate facilitate would would plans plans ler's ler's to to strikes, strikes, including including means, means, all all

Hit­ of of use use frustration frustration must must as as employees employees inasmuch inasmuch ing, ing, office office and and ers ers

upris­ popular popular work­ a a of of time time same same the the preparation preparation At At in in soil. soil. the the of of

factors factors tillers tillers important· important· most most French French the the the the of of of of one one is is task task the the place place

This This job. job. first first this this the the of of in in task, task, completion completion the the national national portant portant

delay delay to to spared spared be be must must nothing nothing im­ an an become become now now has has This This pay. pay.

means; means; all all his his in in with with traitors traitors sabotaged sabotaged the the be be from from must must invaders, invaders, the the

.fortifications .fortifications these these of of construction construction from from foodstuffs foodstuffs hidden hidden protect protect to to

The The concrete. concrete. and and steel steel of of prison prison groups, groups, armed armed organize organize to to habitants, habitants,

a a in in France France up up lock lock to to wants wants Hitler Hitler in­ ban ban the the with with meat meat ul ul and and grain grain

short short in in highways, highways, and and railways railways of of barte:· barte:· to to cattle, cattle, and and crop crop the the hide hide

network network a a by by supplied supplied district district fied fied to to necessary necessary is is cutthroats. cutthroats. Hitler Hitler It It

forti­ a a build build to to Pyrenees, Pyrenees, the the along along the the of of plunderers, plunderers, the the of of method method

France, France, of of coast coast Mediterranean Mediterranean favorite favorite a a requisitioning, requisitioning, of of system system

the the along along fortifications fortifications of of work work the the destroy destroy to to come come has has hour hour The The

net­ a a erect erect to to order order in in vineyards vineyards hunger. hunger. of of hands hands

to to and and fields fields destroy destroy wants wants He He sible. sible. bony bony the the with with France France of of people people the the

as as pos­ as as soon soon fortress fortress Toulon Toulon the the strangling strangling while while looters looters of of horde horde his his

restore restore to to trying trying is is Runstedt Runstedt Von Von feed feed to to calculating calculating is is who who Goering, Goering,

importance. importance. vital vital of of arrogance arrogance the the to to rebuff rebuff a a give give

of of task task a a becomes becomes communications, communications, to to struck struck has has hour hour the the that that means means

air air and and water water railway, railway, of of many, many, This This France. France. of of whole whole the the tacked tacked

Ger­ by by used used facilities facilities transport transport at­ now now have have bandits bandits Hitler Hitler The The

of of uction uction des:tt des:tt the the therefore therefore chine; chine;

* * * * ma­ * * war war Hitler Hitler the the of of heel heel Achilles' Achilles'

the the is is Transport Transport facilities. facilities. transport transport

of of disorganization disorganization energetic energetic most most ' ' fire. fire. a a

the the stations, stations, power power and and heat heat power, power, start start can can anyone anyone destroyed: destroyed: be be must must

electric electric of of source3 source3 all all commission commission of of recaptured recaptured be be cannot cannot VVhatever VVhatever

out out put put to to machine, machine, war war Hitler Hitler the the metal. metal. and and coal coal clothing, clothing, wear, wear,

arm arm to to serves serves which which everything everything of of foot­ products, products, food food peopl!i: peopl!i: French French

destruction destruction the the sabotage, sabotage, of of spread spread the the from from stolen stolen already already have have

utmost utmost the the facilitate facilitate to to important important they they that that everything everything of of deprived deprived

very very is is it it districts districts industrial industrial In In be be must must Hitlerites Hitlerites the the place, place, first first

flunkeys. flunkeys. his his and and invader invader the the In In weapon. weapon. effective effective most most the the

the the against against demonstration demonstration of of gans gans is is whatever whatever action action into into bring bring can can

slo­ action, action, of of slogans slogans becoming becoming now now population population the the of of sections sections all all and and

are are women women French French the the of of demands demands here here permissible permissible are are means means All All

these these All All occupationists! occupationists! of of billeting billeting them. them.

for for schools schools of of closing closing No No tenants! tenants! of of by by sustained sustained blows blows the the from from cover cover

STRUCK STRUCK HAS HAS HOUR HOUR FRANCE'S FRANCE'S 122 122 FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 123 people is to prevent Hitler Germany broad prospects. Precisely these from laying hands on the human re­ groups will form the first battalions sources of France, her labor power of the new French anti-Hitler army -French men and women, workers on the territory of France. and engineers, soldiers, sailors and Attacked on the Soviet-German officers--to prevent her :from laying front, in Cyrenaica and in Tunisia, hands on our spleil!did youth who compelled to hurry to the aid of are eager to plunge into battle directly threatened Italy, the Ger­ against the invaders. To preserve man army can carry out the occupa­ France's human reserves is to create tion of the formerly unoccupied the guarantee of the liberation of zone of France only with the forces France. This is precisely why Hit­ of its garrisons stationed in France, ler is so frantically trying to get Belgium and Holland. But this our human resources. means that the density, the number In short, preparation of national of occupation troops in the formerly uprising, beginning from the pres­ occupied zone of France have dimin­ ent moment, consists in multiplying ished. This makes easier the devel­ and strengthening all blows at the opment of the guerrilla movement, enemy and his clique, blows struck diversion acts by franctireurs and in every form, in all ways, and by the arming of guerrillas at the ex­ all means. This means to harass pense of the German fascists and the enemy, giving him not a single Doriot bandits. minute's respite. Every success re­ Radio parrots from Paris and sulting from action by the popular Vichy constantly threaten French­ masses · strengthens their faith in men who are hiding arms. All ~·P­ their own strength, urges them on to peals to soldiers and officers of the new activities, which bring nearer armistice army to demobilize, to re­ and ensure the success of a general ceive three months' leave and spe­ uprising. cial allowances, have fallen on And the sooner France will cease deaf ears; the soldiers, sailors, non­ to be a place of rest for the blood­ coms and many officers are not in­ thirsty fascist bandits, the stronger clined to join the million and a half will proceed disintegration in the Frenchmen who are suffering untold Hitler troops, which in turn will tortures in Hitler thraldom in Ger­ make easier the military activities many. There are therefore cadres of the patriots. It goes without say­ of resolute and frequently armed ing that a national uprising will people who can and must join the necessitate the bringing into action ranks o:f the :franctireurs and of powerful armed forces. The time create new guerrilla detachments. has come :for spreading through They can conduct military training France the experience of the first and draw into their detachments detachments who are already fight­ all Frenchmen who are threatened ing against the invaders. The good by forcible shipment to Germany, results achieved by these first young and veteran soldiers in the groups of franctireurs open up first place. It is far better to fight ...124 FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK for freedom in France than to per- leadership. Therefore it is neces­ ish in German slavery! sary to fqrm a Military Committee With the aid of officers who are of the National Front in the enter­ also in peril of exile and persecu­ prises, railway centers, in big cities, tion, the formation of a network of as well as in small villages situated guerrilla detachments throughout high in the mountains. These com­ France becomes much easier, all the mittees will organize and unite the more since the French people have activities of the franctireurs. The such splendid experience in armed forces necessary for leadership are uprisings. This implies not only the there despite the furious fascist ter­ experience of the "Patriots des ror. France has vast forces of reso­ Vosges" in 1813-15, of the franc­ lute energetic men and women, able tireurs of 1815 and 1870-71. No. This organizers, capable of leading the also includes the experience of the daily struggle of the French peo­ youthful anti-fascist, of 18-year-old ple against the German hangmen, of Marcel Weinan, who with his group directing the preparations for a gen­ has for eighteen months been in­ eral national uprising. flicting blow upon blow on the Hit­ Such in general is the program lerites in Strassburg. It is the ex­ of action for the accomplishment perience of the miner Charles De­ of which the Communist Party of barge, the organizer and commander France calls upon the nation to of the franctireurs in Pas de Calais, unite to bring about the restoration who carried out over fifty opera­ of national independence, this para­ tions against German detachments, mount and most important condition and a number of raids on occupa­ for the regeneration of France. Re­ tionists' supply stores without losing calling the history of the last few a single man in the process. years, every honest Frenchman All this testifies to the tremendous recognizes that, had the proposals possibilities open before the French repeatedly suggested by the French people. The occupation of the whole Communist Party with regard to of France draws new industrial dis­ home and foreign policy been ac­ tricts and mountain regions into the cepted in good time, they would fight. All the conditions are there have averted many of the horrors for the creation of numerous groups being experienced at present. of franctireurs which, maintaining Today, on the first anniversary contact among themselves in town of the heroic martyrdom of a faith­ and countryside, and tempered in ful son of France, a true representa­ daily activities, ;would wear down tive of the French people, Gabriel and weaken the Hitlerites, carrying Peri, a member o.f the Central Com­ out acts of justice on the traitors, mittee of the Communist Party, one and would create supporting points cannot but be moved when reading for the formation of a new French his articles and speeches which, day anti-Hitler army on the territory in and day out, voiced the demands of France proper. and aspirations of the French Com­ Such a struggle demands staunch munists: The demand f,or national FRANCE'S HOUR HAS STRUCK 125 unity, for a French National Front, founders, Pierre Semard, who, in collective security, a rebuff to ag­ the last minutes of his life, after gressors; sanctions against Italy, going through cruel tortures, wrote · which occupied Ethiopia, interna­ with a steady hand, "I know that tional rights for Republican Spain. the Hitlerites who are shooting me Against Munich, this new Sedan have aleady been defeated and that which was supposed to save fascism; France will again continue the for Czechoslovakia as the bastion struggle. Long Live the Soviet of France's security-all this was Union and its Allies! Long Live proclaimed by Gabriel Peri, a thou­ France!" sand times repeated by him on be­ The tongues of flame bursting half of the party and together with skywards at daybreak on November all its leaders. In the last moment 27 in Toulon showed the entire of his life, before dying a mar­ world that the whole of France is tyr's death, he wrote "If I had my now burning with thirst for ven­ life to live all over again I would geance and is rallying behind the have chosen the same path." life-and-death struggle against Hit­ The sincerity and correctness of ler fascism. France's hour has the policy of our Communist Party struck! And the Communist Party were confirmed by the blood of our of France will redouble its efforts people, thousands of whoin have to bring about the formation and fallen in struggle, who, with heads, strengthening of the National Front, raised high, looked death squarely to draw the whole French people in the face. They went to their into the struggle, and by energetic death singing the "Marseillaise," daily activities to prepare for a gen­ proclaiming their unwavering confi­ eral uprising of the nation against dence in the inevitability of the the Italo-German invaders. speedy defeat of the Hitler gang, The Communist Party of France their strong solidarity with the So­ will do everything to make it pos­ viet Union, with its Red Army, with sible for the French nation to make its government, glorifying Joseph Stalin, the great leader and soldier its great contribution to the cause of the greatest battle in history. of victory of the freedom-loving The policy of our party is in­ peoples over the bitterest enemy of scribed in the blood of one of the mankind that ever trod the face of most outstanding of its leaders and the earth.

126 126

Seventy-seventh Seventy-seventh Rep- industrial industrial Congress Congress groups. groups. by by

the the of of a a broad broad section section of of employers employers The The bill bill and and introduced introduced in in

at at the the command command groups. groups. of of the the has has nation." nation." met met with with the the support support It It

gigantic gigantic firm firm businessmen businessmen whose whose resources resources and and were were professional professional

American American ganizations, ganizations, industry industry as as as as if if well well it it were were as as one one that that of of small small

which which demands demands Farmers Farmers "the "the Union Union treatment treatment and and other other of of farm farm or­

matically matically by by the the Tolan Tolan Comrv.ittee, Comrv.ittee, also also received received the the support support of of the the

This This plan plan economic economic is is set set stabilization. stabilization. forth forth program­ The The plan plan has has

become become inoperative. inoperative. and and control control of of war war production production and and

controls controls of of peacetime peacetime economy economy have have centralized centralized governmental governmental planning planning

tribution tribution in in a a situation situation in in which which the the tion tion through through the the establishment establishment of of

trols trols to to regulate regulate production production and and dis­ ing ing for for an an intensified intensified war war mobiliza­

stabilization, stabilization, with with all all the the new new con­ and and the the Railroad Railroad Brotherhoods, Brotherhoods, call­

necessary necessary centralized centralized economic economic through through the the C.I.O., C.I.O., the the F. F. of of L., L., A. A.

the the war war production. production. This This makes makes organized organized labor labor has has been been heard heard

total total mobilization, mobilization, are are engaged engaged in in the the last last session. session. The The united united voice voice of of

who, who, directly directly and and indirectly indirectly in in the the of of five five Congressional Congressional Committees Committees at at

men men and and women women on on the the Home Home Front Front ment ment of of this this plan plan by by the the chairmen chairmen

taining taining on on a a level level of of efficiency efficiency the the tion tion program program has has been been the the endorse­

civilian civilian goods goods requisite requisite for for main­ for for a a fully fully integrated integrated war war produc­

production production and and distribution distribution of of Indicative Indicative of of the the growing growing support support

tary tary needs needs must must be be accompanied accompanied by by by by the the war." war."

resources. resources. Full Full production production for for mili­ zation zation and and other other conditions conditions created created

rial, rial, manpower, manpower, and and technological technological ance ance with with the the needs needs of of full full mobili­

bilization bilization and and coordination coordination of of mate­ and and stabilize stabilize the the economy economy in in accord­

pacity, pacity, necessitating necessitating complete complete mo­ essential essential civilian civilian needs; needs; (2) (2) adjust adjust

require require production production at at maximum maximum ca­ in in the the provision provision of of military military and and

of of lend-lease lend-lease supplies supplies to to our our Allies Allies natural natural resources resources for for maximum maximum use use

our our armed armed forces forces and and the the fulfilment fulfilment cal cal and and scientific scientific knowledge, knowledge, and and

such such mobilization. mobilization. The The equipment equipment of of power, power, facilities, facilities, materials, materials, techni­

planning planning and and control control are are the the key key to to of of the the United United States, States, including including man­

mands mands total total mobilization, mobilization, centralized centralized mobilize mobilize all all the the economic economic resources resources

achieving achieving victory. victory. The The war war de­ Mobilization Mobilization (1) (1) "inventory "inventory and and to to

subordinated subordinated to to the the needs needs for for establishment establishment of of an an Office Office of of War War

of of the the country country must must become become

ators ators Pepper Pepper and and Kilgore Kilgore sought sought the the E

resentative resentative John John H. H. Tolan Tolan and and Sen­ VERYTHING VERYTHING about about the the life life

BY BY V. V. J. J. JEROME JEROME

WAR WAR PRODUCTION PRODUCTION

SOME SOME PROBLEMS PROBLEMS OF OF CENTRALIZED CENTRALIZED SOME PROBLEMS OF WAR PRODUCTION 127 At the same time, a small but The utter elimination of labor­ powerful defeatist element center­ and essentially of the government­ ing in the du Pont, clique of the from planning, control and author­ National Association of Manufactur­ ity in the nation's war production! ers pursues an obstructionist strat­ In other words, "it is the job of the egy: Not only do they violently op­ government to see to it that the na­ pose the needed adoption of a cen­ tion's resources are mobilized for trally administered war production; all-out"-profiteers! they also violently attack even the That this strategy of vicious existing control and planning func­ obstructionism does not spring tions of government. With the dem­ from the ranks of business agogic cry of "collectivism!" and and industry as a whole is shown "bureaucratic dictatorship!" they set by a highly confidential report* themselves against all measures di­ on the secret meeting of the N.A.M. rected at effective governmental strategy committee last September, control and centralization of war at which the pattern of the Decem­ production. Behind this maneuver ber "War Congress" was set. This we see, only thinly disguised, the report shows clearly how, by vir­ treacherous purposes of defeatism. tue of their immense power, the The evil power of that defeatist most aggressively reactionary ele­ clique was strikingly' demomrtrated ments in American industry forced at the National Association of Man­ a disruptive and defeatist policy on ufacturers' "War Congress of Amer­ those broader business interests ican Industry," which was held in whose own tendency has been to New York last December; for it place victory over fascism as the was at the "War Congress" that first aim of the entire nation and an unprecedented series of attacks therefore also their aim. Overriding was launched against the govern­ this correct latter view as soon as it ment, against labor, and particu­ managed to find expression, Lammot larly against a centralized war du Pont, Chairman of the Resolu­ economy under government author­ tions Committee, sounded the leit­ ity. Despite its lip-loyalty to "Ways motif of the conclave with the dec­ to Victory" that "it is the job of laration: Government to see to it that the nation's resources are mobilized for "Deal with the government and all-out war production," the true the rest of the squawkers the way you deal with a buyer in a seller's tenor and concrete substance of the market!" ''War Congress" is contained in the Platform declaration: Another spokesman for the dis­ rupters is reported to have stated: "The Government should recog­ "If we are to come out of this nize and support the responsibility war with a Marxist brand of Na- and authority of management in planning and carrying out produc­ * Made public in New Massn, November li, tion." (Italics made-V.J.J.) 19<42, in an article by Bruce Minton.

management. management. from from and and men men by by planning planning tirely tirely for for measures measures posed posed

en­ almost almost is is effort effort war war the the in in done done pro­ and and present present by by that that is is cant cant the the

being being work work constructive constructive "The "The Here Here Trotskyites. Trotskyites. the the and and Thomas Thomas

Norman Norman of of camp camp the the in in support support

whole: whole: a a as as labor labor L.-on L.-on of of

finds finds minority minority industrialist industrialist featist featist

F. F. A. A. the the C.I.O., C.I.O., the the Board, Board,

Labor Labor

de­ the the direction, direction, another another From From

War War the the Act, Act, Wagner Wagner the the on on attack attack

full-fledged full-fledged a a into into out out it it broadened broadened

Utopia." Utopia." free free of of handouts handouts ·ernmental ·ernmental

he he theme, theme, his his to to up up Warming Warming sion. sion.

gov­ for for or or Danube, Danube,

the the on on

T.V.A. T.V.A.

discus­

and and

debate debate to to

management management

a a for for or or Hottentot, Hottentot, every every for for milk milk

of of decision" decision" "every "every subjecting subjecting by by of of quart quart a a for for fighting fighting not not am am "I "I

industry industry "sovietize" "sovietize" to to C.I.O.) C.I.O.) the the

of of Murray Murray Philip Philip (especially (especially labor labor Witherow: Witherow:

P. P. W. W. by by president president attempt attempt an an N.A.M. N.A.M. as as retiring retiring by by committees committees ment ment

labor-manage­ assailed assailed aims, aims, Co., Co., war war on on Steel Steel statement statement Wallace's Wallace's

President President Vice Vice Inland Inland of of of of perversion perversion president president famous famous Sykes, Sykes, fred fred

now­ the the was was Wil­ There There production, production, excesses. excesses. war war labor labor coordinated coordinated to to

resistance resistance this this with with anti­ of of keeping keeping In In wildest wildest the the introduced introduced tees, tees,

commit­ labor-management labor-management as as such such victory. victory.

policies, policies, for for specific specific vital vital at at controls controls balking balking as as way way economic economic mental mental

same same the the in in govern­ war, war, people's people's necessary necessary the the the the of of on on attacks attacks

defeatist defeatist an'd an'd reactionary reactionary strategy strategy and and assorted assorted objective objective fundamental fundamental

of of broadside broadside a a the the of of Congress," Congress," "War "War repudiation repudiation vicious vicious for for point point

jumping-off jumping-off their their at at convenient convenient launch, launch, a a to to as as able able served served were were N.A.M. N.A.M.

the the Administration Administration of of the the on on control control in in attack attack The The forces forces sinister sinister

state." state." the the socialist socialist meeting, meeting, the the of of strategy strategy duction duction September September the the

at at view view of of point point a a such such intro­ on on the the for for "unity" "unity" and and initiative initiative private private

and and property property internal internal of of private private of of creation creation the the destruction destruction After After

the the for for weapons weapons all all of of potent potent most most

planning.'' planning.''

"the "the was was policy policy tax tax Administration Administration

any any need need doesn't doesn't America. America. men, men,

current current the the that that stated stated war, war, the the for for

gentle­ breathe--and, breathe--and, to to room room

the the

pay pay

and and

profits profits limit limit

to to

ernment ernment enterprise enterprise free free life--give life--give economic economic

gov­ the the by by instituted instituted measures measures sary sary our our choke choke that that agencies agencies ernment ernment

neces­ the the upon upon assault assault devastating devastating gov­ of of bureaucracy bureaucracy the the "Destroy "Destroy

a a in in University, University, Princeton Princeton of of Lutz Lutz

words: words: the the

with with remarks remarks

ing ing

Harley Harley Professor Professor L. L. authority. authority. of of

conclud­

his his in in

statements statements

these these

out out

air air certain certain a a with with activities activities fighting fighting

rounded rounded Crawford Crawford

Chairman Chairman

And And

Administration­ and and labor-hating labor-hating

hectic hectic the the invest invest to to trained trained been been amateur." amateur." bungling bungling Left-wing Left-wing

have have who who institutions institutions learned learned from from a a but but nothing nothing is is who who Roosevelt, Roosevelt,

economists economists than than job job Congress": Congress": better better "War "War the the sight sight at at damned damned a a

and and can can us us of of 'any 'any than than job job better better too, too, soothsayers, soothsayers, its its produced produced ists ists

a a do do can can He He efficient. efficient. He's He's how. how. industrial­ defeatist defeatist of of cabal cabal That That

knows knows He He show. show. the the run run to to here here over over

origins." origins." Adolf Adolf bring bring and and now now peace peace tiate tiate

other other have have .forces .forces destructive destructive The The nego­ say say I I then then Socialism, Socialism, tional tional

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION WAR WAR OF OF PROBLEMS PROBLEMS SO}\fE SO}\fE 128 128 SOME PROBLEMSS OF WAR PRODUCTION 1'"10 centralizing war production we are of the Roosevelt Administration in being led to fascism via the back the nation's war, and by essentially door! Says Mr. Thomas (The Ca!l, denying labor's growing role and in­ October 16, 1942): fluence in this war. Both the willful defeatist minority "I have long ago advocated so­ cial planning as necessary to victory of Big Business and their Thomas­ in the war against poverty and eco­ Trotskyite allies, operating by divi­ nomic insecurity. But that plan­ sion of labor from vantage points ning, I have said, must consciously within capitalist and working-class allow for civil liberties and large strata, unite to block cEntralized areas of economic action outside bu­ planning and control of war produc­ reaucratic state control. In the name tion vital for victory as-"regimen­ of war's necessity, are we geting bu­ tation" and "dictatorship." reaucratic dictatorship all too likely It scarcely requires lengthy dis­ to survive the war?" cussion to establish that a central­ Thomas seeks to exploit the fact ized control of war production by that the Axis powers, too (and to a our government, now or as pro­ degree vaSter than we), have mobil­ jected, is not and would not be so­ ized their resources for their war cialism-a fact that is surely not program. But-they have done this lost upon the minds of the agitated through the economics of thuggery: obstructionists of the N.A.M. Indeed, by the destruction of the labor Earl Browder, who has given the movement; by the frightful deterior­ country a clear and effective basis ation of the conditions of the work­ for a centralized war economy ers and the general masses of the plan,* well states: people*; by the introduction of slav­ "These changes which my argu­ ery in the conquered territories; by ment poses as a need of our war pillage and plunder, by the seizure economy are not socialist, and do of stocks from the conquered peo­ not result in a socialist system of ples, who are systematically left to economy. The war economy under starve; by the uprooting and forcible central administration, with labor's transportation of entire sections of active participation, the outlines of the subjugated peoples for slave la­ which I am trying to bring forth, bor for the fascist war machine. would be a capitalist economy, in Thomas, further, indulge in fact the highest development of ~an capitalism. To those who protest his demagoguery only by concealing that it is state capitalism, the answer the just, national-liberation charac­ is that st.ate capitalism is but a ter of the war that America is fight­ synonym for capitalism adjusted to ing as part of the United Nations, by the requirements of all-out war."** ignoring the progressive leadership Elsewhere Browder points out

* The less the people consume, the more * See Earl Browder, uThe- Economics of All~ work can be done on armament production. The Out War," The Communist, October, 1942; standard of living and the scale of armament Victory--And Aft~r, International Publishers, production must move in opposite directions." New York; 1942, Part IV; Production for Vic­ (Hjalmar Schacht, in 1938, quoted in The Ece>o tory, Workers Library Publishers, New York:, nomicr of 8drb«rism, by ]. Kuczynski and M. 1942. Witt, International Publishers, 1942, p. H.) •• Victory--And After, p. 2H. 130. SOME PROBLEMS OF WAR PRODUCTION that the only possible alternative to and facilitate the adoption of cen­ state capitalism for meeting the re­ tralized administrative measures to quirements of centralized control of achieve these ends. war production would be a Socialist The presence of certain planning economy, for which the United features in monopoly capitalism States is not yet subjectively pre­ does not mean socialism. The under­ pared.* lying social relations remain capi­ Browder bases himself on Lenin, talist. Private ownership is intact. who pointed out that capitalism in The profit motive in production is its monopoly stage-trustified capi­ not abolished, even though the gov­ talism-within the existing condi­ ernment may-and should-direct tions of class relationship, makes the use of increasing parts of the possible and introduces certain profits for the war needs. Not to forms of control an'd plan. realize this would mean to sur­ In his classic work Imperialism, render to the demagoguery of those written in 1916, Lenin, while show­ defeatist industrialists who set up ing the highest stage of capitalism the hue and cry of "socialism!" in to be likewise its declining stage, in order to justify their resistance to which all the contradictions of the the integration of the country's in­ capitalist system reach their highest dustrial power with the war effort. point, also stated: Of course, under socialist econo­ "This is no longer the old type of my, there is no problem of transition free competition between manufac­ to planning; for, to begin with, the turers, scattered and out of touch entire system, in which the mean!! with one another, and producing for of production are socially owned an unknown market. Concentration and human exploitation is at an has reached the point at which it end, is based upon an economy in is possible to make an approximate which comprehensive, consistent, estimate of all sources of raw ma­ scientific planning of production terial . . . of a country and even . . . of several countries, or of the whole and distribution under state regula­ world."** tion is inherent. The magnificent example of the Soviet Union has in­ The very process of heightened contestably demonstrated this truth, concentration of production and as have, conversely, the experience!!. capital that have resulted in mo­ to date of our wartlme planninl nopoly, the cartelization and grow­ methods and those of Great Britain, ing interdependence of industries, with their discords, lags, and dislo­ etc., provide today the technical cations, with their terrific waste. groundwork for integration and co­ In this connection, notwithstandinJ ordination of the entire productive the differences in the economic sys­ process nationally for the war effort, tems, our C()untry can learn from * An address on Centralized Control of War the planning methods and tech­ Production, delivered at the Institute on Prob­ lems of the War, Hotel Astor, New York, No. niques of our Soviet ally, whose •ember 28, 1942. econmnic, social, and military ** V. I. Lenin, Seluted Worki., International Publishers, Vol. V, p. 22. strength was built up, as the whole SOME PROBLEMS OF WAR PRODUCTION 131 world now recognizes, by the great from the sphere of economic stabili­ Stalinist Plans. zation). By the end of 1942, the However, the issue before us in United States had over 15,000,000 the war we are waging is not the workers employed in war indus­ question of social transformation, tries. Large-scale war conversion of but of immediate plenary mobiliza­ many industries had been put into tion for . victory to preserve our effect. Shipping tonnage was being national existence. The issue is how built at an unprecedented rate. to muster and allocate the nation's Record-breaking, too, was the total total resources for the victorious of over 86,000,000 net tons of raw prosecution of the anti-Axis war in steel produced in this country in which all patriotic sections of the 1942

BY MILTON HOWARD

VERY progressive war has had Convention and the treason of the E to face the danger of the "blue-light Federalists."* "enemy within"-the fifth column. The nation had forgotten what its This fact is only beginning to be historians had never really .. taught recognized as America moves on to it to remember-that the Copper­ the battlefields of its new war for head defeatist conspiracy of the national survival in a United Na­ Civil War reached such proportions tions alliance against the world­ as nearly to wreck the Lincoln Ad­ wide aggressions of the Nazi Axis. ministration's war leadership, and America listened with incompre­ almost accomplished what world hension, for the most part, to the reaction had failed to do during the warnings by which Earl Browder previous eighty y~a;rs1 ... ·. n:3_l}lely, to tried to bring to his countrymen the overthrow the "American experi­ full significance, for America's na­ ment," the democratic republic. tional safety, of the 1937-38 Mos­ cow trials. Revived History The America of 1937-38 could To awaken the United States to not grasp the meaning of Hitler's the realization of world fascist ag­ fifth column in the Soviet Union gression, Browder resurrected for only because it had almost forgotten the nation the consciousness of its the history of its own fifth column. own history. For the first time in The nation had nearly forgotten the history of our nationhood, that America, in its own three pro­ Browder established the continuous gressive wars-for independence presence of an "enemy within," of ('76), for consolidation and exten­ a fifth column operating within the sion of the gains of '76 (1812), and foremost democratic republic of the for democratic unification of the na­ nineteenth century in the interests tion ('61)-had had to combat the of world-wide reaction, and appear­ dire danger of the Conway Cabal, ing as a distinct political formation of Benedict Arnold, of Aaron Rurr; that it had had to contend with the * So named because they signaled with such secession intrigues of the Hartford lights tq the invad.., off shore. 135 136 LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN at every crucial· moment in the evo­ Professor Wood Gray, for exam­ lution of the nation. To defend the ple, perceives the current applica­ true course of our national develop­ tion of his researches. ment, our present and future, it be­ came urgent to restore the true sig­ "Men inspired by political ambi­ nificance of our past. tion, or sympathetic with the phi­ It has become a political necessity losophy of the enemy, or blinded by petty hatreds, will probably play the for the nation's war leadership to­ same role that their fellows have in day to master the grim lessons of the past. . . . These elements will President Lincoln's fight against the unite in denouncing anyone who fifth column of the nineteenth cen­ may attempt to arouse the nation to tury so that it can wage determined a sense of danger, and vehemently and effective warfare against the charge that person with having more widespread, more ominous and maufactured the danger,,or even in­ more ruthless fifth column within sist that he is more to be feared the United States which looks to than the enemy" (p. 14). Berlin as its political Mecca. In this complex of forces the There is no doubt whatever that leader and organizer of treason is the inescapable necessities of our the group "sympathetic with· the national war will compel, sooner or philosophy of the enemy." There is later, a decisive settling of accounts the fountainhead of the fifth column. with the fifth column in the United That is what the Lincoln forces States. For this, the government, found out in their struggle to save labor and the people as a whole the nation. will have to deepen their under­ standing of what the fifth column The Copperhead Plan really is (there exists only the be­ ginning of such an understanding), The slavocracy struck its blow at where it must be sought (immature the United States in the character­ notions about this still prevail), istic manner of all reaction-sud­ and what must be done to crush it. denly, treacherously, after its victim It is a sign of the times that the had made concessions to the limit problem of the fifth column in our and had bemused itself with the history is beginning to occupy the notion that such an attack was "im­ increasing attention of American possible." scholars and historians, and that two The political leadership of the new books have appeared* reviv­ slave-owning reaction based its ex­ ing the whole story. The country is pectation of success on these calcu­ beginning to arm itself ideologically lations: for the showdown with the fifth First, that the surprise attack column. would carry all before it, and pre­ vent any adequate counter-attack. • Th< Hidd'Theads, by Professor Wood Gray. Viking Press, Second, that the democratic forces New York, 1942. · would be unable to attain any effec­ Lincoln and th< Fifth Column, by Geor~:e F. Milton. Van&uard Press, New York, 1942. tive unity, and this would be guar- LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN 137 anteed by the presence of a strong the rallying ~enter for the Copper­ "peace" party which would serve head "peace sneaks" (as the Union as a base of operations against Lin­ soldiers contemptuously called · coln within his own camp. them) just as the Hoover Republi­ Third, that the success of the first cans and the Poll-Tax Democrats two factors would result in a coali­ have become the focal point for the tion between the insurrectionary re­ "peace sneaks" of the pro-fascists action and foreign powers of Eu­ today. rope, and that this coalition would The intrigue of the Copperhead bring armed intervention on the side leaders was substantially assisted by of the anti-Lincoln uprising on the the illusion prevalent, at first, in the part of the world governments in­ democratic camp that the war 'could terested in destroying the advanced be waged in a "half-way" style-­ bourgeois democracy of the United that is, without the necessary mili­ States. tary and political mobilization and It ·.will be seen that the corner­ without any qualitative, democratic stone of this strategy is reliance on changes in the social formations of the political disunity of the demo­ the nation. These illusions were em­ cratic, national forces. bodied in the Rep. Crittenden-Sen. To ensure this disunity, the ene­ Johnson resolutions (from Kentucky mies of Lincoln's war program set to and Tennessee, border states) of work. This was the beginning of the 1861: Copperhead conspiracy which in­ cluded in its arsenal political ob­ "This war is not waged for any purpose ... of overthrowing or in­ structionism in Congress, defeatist terfering with :the rights or E:!stab­ propaganda in the press, confusing lished institutions of the states." the morale and disintegrating the Lincoln armies, and even plans for· The Copperhead forces quickly armed uprising behind the lines in perceived in this timid, appeaser­ the North, with the seizure of ar­ infected formulation of war aims senals, bridges and war factories. their awaited opportunity. The Democratic Party, which had Their newspapers, which existed been the political instrument of the in every state in great numbers, and reactionary forces, split on the news their spokesmen in Congress, pro­ of the firing on Fort Sumter, with claimed their war aim: "The Union Senator Douglas, the leader of the as it was and the Constitution as it Northern Democrats, pledging sup.­ is." This definition was merely the port to Lincoln despite his persistent first stage in the propaganda of de­ platform of conciliating .the slave featism, since it was based on the power (he died in the first year of Copperheads' awareness that it the war before he could either be would be impossible to wage war tested or his policies made effec­ retaining "the Constitution as it is" tive). Nevertheless, the Demo­ in the sense in which the defeatists cratic Party of the 1860's became construed the Constitution; nor

mick mick and and the the family, family, .,ole .,ole path path which which to to national national today today preservation. preservation. owns owns the the

Abolitionism Abolitionism

was was the the real real content content of of the the struggle struggle

(owned (owned in in Chicago Chicago by by the the McCor­

ment ment and and the the it it nation nation when when became became clear clear that that

lution" lution" became became the the policy policy of of the Lincoln Lincoln the Govern· Govern·

The The Illinois Illinois Copperhead Copperhead press, press,

revolution," revolution," failing failing to to see see that that this this revQoo revQoo ttsecret ttsecret

calism." calism." whose whose abolition abolition goal goal he he describes describes as as a a usecret usecret

force force in in the the country, country,

the the Radical Radical

Republicans, Republicans,

uneasiness uneasiness over over "abolitionist "abolitionist radi­

the the boldest boldest and and most most consistent consistent anti-Copperhead anti-Copperhead

treasons. treasons. This This is is seen seen in in his his prejudiced prejudiced hostility hostility to to

developed developed nation, nation, on on conservative conservative

of of ment ment and and fails fails to to grasp grasp its its the the political political basis basis

traditional traditional in in a a still still incompletely incompletely wittingly wittingly conciliatory conciliatory to to the the Copperhead Copperhead move­

* *

In In this this respect, respect, Mr. Mr. Milton's Milton's is is book book ~ ~ West, West, the the fear fear of of "federal "federal power" power"

the the dislike dislike of of New New England England in in the the

lating. lating. the the "peace" "peace" newspapers newspapers harped harped on on

mination" mination" which which Lincoln Lincoln was was vio­ cloud cloud the the over-riding over-riding issue. issue. Thus, Thus,

Constitutional Constitutional right right of of "self-deter­ terest terest real real and and imaginary, imaginary, to to be­

That That the the slave slave power power had had the the prejudice, prejudice, every every antagonism antagonism of of in­

his his refusal refusal ,to ,to concede concede their their "needs." "needs." tened tened on on every every sectional sectional and and class class

aggressions aggressions of of the the slave-owners slave-owners by by The The methodology methodology of of disruption disruption fas­

Thart Thart Lincoln Lincoln had had "provoked" "provoked" the the of of democracy). democracy).

and and lead lead to to a a Lincoln Lincoln "despotism." "despotism." cratic cratic unity·was unity·was assailed assailed as as violation violation

power power would would militarize militarize the the country country sive sive revolutionary revolutionary defense defense of of demo­

That That the the conquest conquest of of the the slave slave the the Confederacy" Confederacy" and and the the pvogres­

on on the the following following points: points: called called the the "George "George Washington Washington of of

rated rated by by Professor Professor Gvay, Gvay, centered centered forces forces (thus (thus Jefferson Jefferson Davis Davis was was

ident ident Lincoln''s Lincoln''s enemies, enemies, as as elabo­ tices tices for for the the real real relationship relationship of of

The The political political propaganda propaganda of of Pres­ ing ing formalism formalism and and traditional traditional prac­

vilest vilest reactionary reactionary content, content, substitut­

Fifth Fifth Column Column Ideas Ideas

Q.emocratic Q.emocratic for for the the ulat~ ulat~ !,q_l]D~, !,q_l]D~,

to to which which t.l:le t.l:le basic;: basic;: is is manip­ sary sary ~ery: ~ery: for for victory.* victory.*

forcement forcement then, then, of of every every as as it it measure measure does does now, now, neces­ a a pattern pattern in in

while while making making defeatist defeatist impossible impossible propaganda propaganda the the en­ contained contained

The The reader reader will will easily easily to to assert assert see see that that their their the the support support for for victory victory

treason. treason. and and This This Vienna. Vienna. banner banner enabled enabled them them

central central methods methods reaction reaction for for in in concealing concealing London, London, Paris, Paris, its its Madrid Madrid

from from the the foreign foreign centers centers Lincoln Lincoln of of fifth fifth world world column, column, and and one one of of its its

of of the the basic basic also also aspects aspects imported imported of of in in the the great great anti­ quantities quantities

Professor Professor Gray Gray notes notes this this as as one one press press and and politicians politicians here, here, but but was was

win win it. it. factured factured not not only only by by Copperhead Copperhead

war war and and the the "methods" "methods" employed employed to to this this propaganda, propaganda, which which was was manu­

tinction tinction between between There There the the were were winning winning many many of. of. the the variations variations of of

the the artificial artificial and and treasonable treasonable dis­ sive sive power." power."

Copperhead Copperhead seizure seizure conspiracy conspiracy by by the the was was President President to to create create of of "exces­

That That is is to to say, say, the the first first goal goal of of the the and, and, therefore, therefore, would would end end with with the the

restore restore the the late late ''Union ''Union the the rights rights as as it it was." was." of of Congress Congress to to win, win,

That That Lincoln Lincoln would would the the have have necessary necessary to to vio­ mass mass forces forces merely merely to to

necessary necessary would would national national unity unity "civil "civil or or rouse rouse rights." rights." lo~our lo~our

would would it it be be That That possible possible in in winning winning create create the the the the war war we we to to

138 138 LINCOLN, LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, ROOSEVELT, AND AND THE THE FIFTH FIFTH COLUMN COLUMN LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN 139 defeatist Chicago Tribune and the The Copperhead view of the war New York Daily News) charged found expression in the policies of that the "East had provoked seces­ the army's military leader, General sion by her abolitionist fanaticism McClellan. McClellan was to de­ ... yet was contributing nothing to nounce the Emancipation Proclama­ the war." Lincoln was depicted (in tion to his soldiers later in the war; a Currier and Ives print) as leading in its early stages he presented to "radicals, free lovers, women's Lincoln a peremptory demand for rights advocates, Negroes, agitators severe political limits on the com­ against property and religion." position and aims of the armed The Copperhead press exagger­ forces. ated defeats, minimized democracy's strength, warned that Negro labor "McCellan's letter to the Presi­ dent stated that the rebellion had "would compete with white." Above become a war and must be con­ all, the defeatist press in the North­ ducted on the highest principles ern states pounded on the fear of known to Christian civilization. conservative landlord and industrial [That is, the military leader of the circles that Lincoln's war leadership North was granting to the slave was making for social changes peri­ power 'the very sovereignty which lous to property, pointing to the was at stake.] Homestead Act (providing free land "The Administration must avoid in the West) and ,the assertiveness ... forcible abolition of slavery.... Unless it would announce and the of the newly-developed labor move­ Government follow a 'constitu­ ment, and the advance of reform tional and conservative' policy of movements linked to the Abolition­ this type enlistments would come to ist Left wing. an end . . . and worse still 'a dec­ Professor Gray notes that the de­ laration of Radical views would featists assiduously fomented the disintegrate our present armies.'" dilemma in ,the conservative ranks (G. F. Milton, p. 101.) of the North: Motivated by this Copperhead po­ "Would it not be possible to op­ litical viewpoint, McClellan worked pose the civilian domestic program out a military policy of refusal to of the Administration without en­ attack or invade the enemy's posi­ gaging in obstruction of the war tion in any kind of offensive strat­ policy as well?" (p. 91). egy. (He was afflicted with the Copperhead Generals "slows," Lincoln said.) The Copperhead-Democratic de­ Here the familiar "dilemma" be­ fensive military leadership of Mc­ tween the domestic program of the Clellan resulted in a series of mili­ war leadership and its foreign policy tary disasters which became the is seen in its original form; it has main weapon used to cripple Lin­ operated in every period of the na­ coln in Congress in the 1862 mid­ tion's fight for untrammeled pro­ war elections. It was the mass dis­ gressive development. satisfaction with the inaction and 140 LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN defensive military program of the Professor Gray notes: "For the most Army, identified by the masses with part the Democratic Party did not the Lincoln government, which gave permit the mask which it had adopt­ the Democratic Copperhead "opposi­ ed for the duration of the campaign tion" a series of sweeping electoral to slip even to this extent. . . . For successes. the time being, for political reasons, Professor Gray notes that- peace sentiments were kept under cover" (pp. 104-6). Pursuing his in­ "Certain> in advance,of the votes creasingly bolder bid for surrender of the peace advocates, they took care to alienate no supporters of the (while many of his colleagues sup­ war who might be won over through ported him silently), Val!andigham dislike of arbitrary acts of govern­ introduced a resolution declaring ment, disapproval of emancipation that any Government official, civil or uneasiness about alleged incom­ or military, elected or appointed, petence.... Men in the party who "attempting to pervert the war's nursed peace-at-any-price senti­ purpose" should be adjudged ments apparently carefully avoided "guilty of high treason." Urging a raising this issue in the campaign, deal with the reactionary insurrec­ but occasionally a chink would ap- , pear, revealing the sentiments hid­ tion which would leave it not only den beneath the surface." (p. 103) in substantial possession of its posi­ And further he notes the Copper­ tions, but in a stronger position from head "peace" strategy was based which to reach out for complete con­ "on reaping as large a harvest as trol of the nation's destiny, Vallan­ possible among advocates of the war digham harped on his sophistical policy who were for any reason dis­ warning to the masses: "You will contented with the Administration" not have one remnant of the civil (p. 114). liberty left available to you" (p. In Congress, the leader of the "ne­ 120). This, Professor Gray remarks, gotiated peace" forces, Rep. Vallan­ was pointing to a new stage in the digham of Ohio, carried the theory political relation of the defeatists to of sabotage to a new level when he the Lincoln government: "It was the enunciated the view that the country beginning of an attempt to release faced "two rebellions," the one in the Democratic Party from any fur­ the slave states for which he had ther support of the war." only the mildest criticism, and the On this platform, and with ener­ "abolition rebellion," which he getic exploitation of the mass dis­ hoped the Northern "peace party" content created by McClellan's un­ would not have to be "compelled to interrupted military disasters grow­ resist with bullets" (p. 104). To the ing out of his "go slow-defensive" government's "abolition radicalism" policy, the "peace sneaks" swept he attributed the "violation of civil confidently into the mid-war elec­ rights," which, he thundered, was tion expecting success on the plat­ the sole election issue. form that they had "withdrawn Of this maneuver in Congress, their consent, not to the war, but to LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN 141 the way it was being conducted." greatly to the seeming irresistibiUty (G. F. Milton, p. 130). They did of the defeatist forces. Privately, indeed reap a tempomry victory, Lincoln noted that his re-election capturing many new seats in Con­ did not seem probable. gress, overwhelming the Governor­ It may be well to mention here ships of such key northern states as that it is the almost universal cus­ New York and illinois. tom of traditional American his­ Soon after, the defeatist New York torians to condone the hesitations of governor Seymour called the entire Lincoln at this "border state" period war into question with the challenge of this policy; a hesitation which that what President Lincoln would showed itself in Lincoln's reluctance do "would determine in the minds to break with the McClellan leader­ of more than half the country ship as urged by the Radical Re­ whether the war was waged to put publicans-since excoriated by al­ down rebellion or destroy free insti­ most every bourgeois historian for tutions" (p. 168). their correct insistance ·on an ag­ Indicative of the extent of the de­ gressive war policy. The nation be­ featist challenge which Lincoln came safer and Lincoln greater to faced up to the very last phase of the degree that he dropped the Mc­ the war, the 1864 elections saw the Clellan leadership and its defensive, Copperhead party nominate General appeaser policy. His delays, how­ McClellan as the opponent of Lin­ evr, in establishing an all-out war coln. McClellan had the support of program undoubtedly delayed vic­ Vallandigham and Governor Sey­ tory. mour, and Pendleton, a notorious The mass forces destined to shatter "peace at any price" man, was his · the Copperhead intrigues were ger­ running mate. minating powerfully beneath the The effort to subvert Lincoln's surface. Lincoln's own actions were war leadership was at its height on to play a leading part in bringing the very eve of Lincoln's triumph. them to the surface. Lincoln, cog­ It was a conspiracy involving trea­ nizant of the Copperhead challenge, sonable relations with the enemy. It was compelled by ,fue war's logic to had engineered armed resistance to bring into play the mass forces the draft in the New York draft which alone cOuld thwart the de­ riots where, two years earlier, the featist challenge. Mayor had urged the secession of To sum up the answer which Lin­ the city as a gesture of protest coln found for the Copperheads, we against the Lincoln leadership. It may say that he doomed that con­ had confidently counted on seizing spiracy to defeat when he shifted control of the government m the from his appeaser, "border state" North, or, failing that, on provoking policy to· his "abolition policy"; in1ervention by reactionary govern­ when he ceased his effort to hold the ments abroad. The absence of de­ support of the border st,ate slave­ cisive military successes contributed owners and decided on the ruthless 142 LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN military offensive embodied in the Communist organization. It is well Grant-Sherman tactic. of annihilat­ to recall that Marx's great contrib­ ing the enemy on his own soil. Con­ ution to America's victory in the .fronted by the rising strength of the 1860's was not confined to his mobi­ Copperheads, Lincoln had' to decide lization of the European masses whether he would rest his pro­ against reactionary intervention but Union coalition on the forces re­ included also his struggle for a cor­ sisting the abolitionist content of the rect line for the American working war, or whether he would base his class in its relationship to the Lin­ coalition on the abolition-minded coln leadership. Marx was scathinc masses of the North and pursue a in his opposition to the sectarian policy which would rouse for the tlindness of some "communists" in Union cause active support of the America who scorned the progres­ masses in other countries. Lincoln sive-national war against the slav­ found that political-military policy ocracy because it was "bourgeois" in the combination of Emancipation, and not "socialist" in its aims. on the one hand, and invasion of the Throughout this extensive recital enemy's position on the other. He of the Copperhead challenge of the pursued this policy even though the anti-Lincoln "peace party" the mid-winter elections of 1882 appar­ reader will have unquestionably ently "punished" his prelimi­ been impressed with the astonishing nary September announcement of similarity, in many cases, between Emancipation by bringing him near­ the political slogans of the anti-Lin­ ly overwhelming defeats. For what coln saboteurs and the propaganda Lincoln saw in these elections was of the Quislings of our own day. the beginning of the mass upswing How literally the same cries echo ... precisely in the border states where "executive usurpation" . . . "no Lincoln candidates won the only civil liberties" ... "radicalism" ... victories of the election. This was "victory-but no reforms."... the harbinger of the powerful mass Yet, today's defeatists are not upswing which gave Lincoln his merely the historical reappearance electoral victory in 1865, and which of the old gang, though they are its revealed the fatal defeatist miscal­ social descendants.. Old-fashioned culation of the real sentiment of the reaction, based merely on fear of nation. loss of cotton trade or of such "radi­ Lincoln had found, in his mass calism" as t!'ade unionism, women's policy, the weapon that broke the suffrage, and similar mild expres­ defeatist calculation of linking the sions of bourgeois-democratic ad­ uprising of native reaction to world vances, is nothing like the virulent reaction. In this he was, as is well treason of the modern Munichmen. known, greatly helped by the activi­ Something has been added to the ties of Karl Marx and the First In­ traditional reaction of the anti­ ternational, for which Lincoln gave Lincoln Copperheads; there is a official thanks to that workingclass qualitative degeneration among LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN 143 the Copperheads today of the very Fear of "communism" (excited de­ concept of nationhood, which makes liberately also by the Goebbels them the deadliest menace to our propaganda) has suppressed in this nation in all its history. It is an group its sense of national self­ atrophy of even the bourgeois­ preservation. democratic sense of nationality It is still a serious !defect of the which the world sees in the Vichyist Government's internal policy that it desire for Nazi domination and tends to accept the viewpoint of the l;;(iership as the alternative to col­ appeaser press which describes the laboration with the democratic enemies of the war effort as forces for national defense. "critics." The Government and the This expresses itself as increasing win-the-war press tend to view the revulsion from the idea of indepen­ Laval-men as "misguided patriots" dent nationhood which is seen as who happen to "differ" with the war the breeding ground of "commu­ policy or its execution, but who can­ nism." (The Hearst press has re­ not be viewed as "the enemy cently warned that "patriotism can within." The fifth column is sought become- communism.") Defense of too often among that small group the nation evokes, as a military ne­ of alien saboteurs planted in this cessity, the forces of democracy, in country; it is forgotten that !!Je &eal all classes in varying degrees, and fifth coll!?..!L!!-~~£.l!~sts _<:>Lillk: compels political collaboration with ~ saboteurs, but of ~ reac­ the working class of a kind which tionaries who have gone over to strengthens its national role. An in­ treason. The Quisling IS never a creasing readiness to sacrifice the foreigner; he is always a ~ achievements of the nation's entire politician of the victim country, national development marks the l~p._g ?c~ecti~?Ec of one of the upper outlook of the Herbert Hoover­ classes which has decided to exist as Martin Dies-Senator Wheeler types, the subservient puppet of Nazi Ger- who are evolving into the modern, , many rather than risk a progressive more virulent expression of the national war in the twentieth cen­ Copperhead-that is, into the Laval­ tury. man. The defeatists of the Hoover Re,­ This is what the war leadership of publican group (together with the the country, President Roosevelt, Wheeler-Reynolds Democrats) are the labor movement and the popu1a­ profoundly "anti-national," and are tion in general need to grasp clearlY prepared to pursue a policy which -that a new dass of traitor is can only lead to national extinction. breeding inside America, that it is a They foresee in the anti-Hitler war definite ~ group moving toward the Gldv.ance- oLdeoiorxacy to hun­ betrayal of the nation to Nazi Ger­ dreds of millions, and the rise of many because it fears that resistance new social formations which the to Nazi Germany will produce "older imperialism" no longer suf­ "communism" in the United States. fices to suppress since the "mother 144 LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE FIFTH COLUMN country" itself faces national subju­ implication that Dies' Red-baiting gation at Berlin-Tolj:io's hands. was a product of Goebbels-like ac­ With such motivations they have tivity was a distinct contribution to made the decision to accept a place the anti-fifth colunm struggle. in the world fascist "New Order." Wallace's speech was the first to They are ready, therefore, to betray hint that the fifth colunm of the their own national class group to United States is finding its embodi­ the "anti-communist" conqueror. ment in such political formations as They are in the most literal sense the Dies Committee. The labor prepared to sacrifice, not only the movement has begun to move to­ working class to the conqueror, but ward an even clearer grasp of this the financial-industrial interests of truth, with the C.I.O. convention their own class. They are prepared formally denouncing the Dies Com­ to turn over the control of their mittee as a menace to the war ef­ class possessions to the conqueror fort, including in its denunciation who is more equipped, in their view, the Copperhead press (Cricago Tri­ to protect them. That in this process bune,• New York Daily News, and they are reduced to the level of ter­ the Hearst press). rorized and looted servants, as in But these beginnings have J}Ot France and the Axis satellite coun­ J:l!:£J:l __p~rmitteg to develop into a tries, po«s~ d~uade them. They powerful political struggle. The are/ there:Fo?e, ':!h the process of be­ views of Attorney-General Biddle, traying the ruling class as well as in which the Communist Party is the other classes of the United States slandered in 1erms of prejudice and to the conquest of Nazi Germany misinformation borrowed from typi­ and Japan. cal fifth column attitudes, have un­ This is what the war leadership doubtedly hampered the fight has got -to see, and the view on against the fifth column, which has. which it must base its action. inideed been encouraged by Biddle's President Roosevelt and Vice views. President Wallace made an encour­ The 78th Congress will see new aging turn toward the education of and dangerous efforts by defeatists the country to the realization of the to betray the nation through the true character of the fifth column continuation of the Dies Committee and its location. The President's nnd the establishment of super-Dies speech assailing "the sixth col­ Committees as proposed by the umnists" (those who repeat fifth Michigan fascist Congressman, Clare column views) was a beginning, Hoffman. The Government's arrest though it is debatable whether the of the twenty-eight American fas­ President's sharp distinction be­ cist leaders of the "crackpot f~e" tween the fifth and "sixth" colurim is a good start in the fight against really holds as firmly in actual prac­ the fifth colunm, but it merely tice as he implied. Wallace's sting­ nibbles at the problem which lies in ing rebuke to Martin Dies, and his a ~iruggle to unmask and curb tbe LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT, AND THE .FIFTH COLUMN 145 fifth column within the defeatist out at the fifth column operating wings of the Republican and Demo­ against him, and by a .faJlw:e to cratic Parties. The alarm of such summon the nation to struggle Congressional leaders as Senators against it. Wheeler and Taft at the arrest of the Pel~ in opening this struggle will native Nazi propagandists like Mrs. be costly, as it was costly to Lin­ Dilling, Pelley, etc., only confirms coln. The nation, and the labor for the public the intimate link be­ movement (which has its own Cop­ tween the more brazen pro-Hitler­ perheads in such persons as John ites and their Congressional coun­ L. Lewis), need to develop a .clear terparts. policy of united struggle against the President Roosevelt's fighting mes­ defeatists. The achievement of this sage to the new Congress was weak­ is, indeed, a precondition to destroy­ ened by this besitatiQil in striking ing the nation's Axis enemies. THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES

BY MAX WEISS

VERY patriotic force in the eluded elimination of the poll tax; E country is vitally interested in by discussion of policies guiding the making a maximum contribution to method of operation of Selective the national effort for the develop­ Service; by the lowering of the draft ment of policies which will result in age to the 18-19-year class; by the building and training a large, dis­ current discussions around the ciplined army, naVY and air force, projected size of the army as well suitably equipped, staffed and edu­ as its relation to production and cated for offensive action so that civilian economy. victory may be won in the shortest At certain moments the decision possible time. of policies governing the maximum The questions that arise in the strengthening of our nation'~ armed course of hammering out such pol­ forces has been seized upon by the icies by our country are not exclu­ appeasement and defeatist elements sively military questions. They have with the aim of injuring the cause an intimate relation to all other of our nation and our allies. That is phases of the nation's war effort and why it is incumbent upon every can be solved, as can all others, only patriotic force within the camp of to the degree that the whole nation national unity to concern itself with participates in their solution. To contributing to the national effort think that such questions must be for the adoption of correct policies left to the military alone for solu- for the building up of our armed tion is to misunderstand the nature forces-the striking force for vic- of this total people's war. tory. As a matter of fact, all such ques- While the labor movement has in tions inevitably press upon the the past carried through a minimum whole nation for an answer from of activity in connection with the the moment they arise. How vigor- material welfare of the armed forces ously they project themselves onto it has participated either not at all the public arena can be seen from or too late to be really effective, with the prominence attained by the pre- all sections of the population in Pearl Harbor vote on extension of helping decide such vital issues of the draft to two years; by the Sol- policy as, for example, the exten­ dier's Vote Bill, in which was in- sion of the draft. to the 18 to 111- 148 THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES 14:7 year-old class. The result has been of an otfensive military policy and that on many questions the defeat­ is a variation of its whole struggle ists have been able to utilize the against the .second front. struggle around these issues for The discussion of this question has their obstructive purposes; or to brought forth certain proposals take demagogic advantage of uni­ which, on the surface, would seem versally popular legislation for the to be the exact opposite of the de­ welfare of the armed forces to ad­ featist demand for a small army. '\rance their own defeatist aims. The In reality, however, they are similar labor movement should end this in their objective effect upon the tendency toward detachment from cause of victory. These proposals the general civic activity in support call for the building of an army of of the armed forces and begin seri­ 15,000,000 to 18,000,000 men. They ously to concern itself with all ques­ are based on a policy of postponing tions which arise in the process of any offensive military action until building our armed forces into a 1944 or 1945, when such an army mighty striking force for victory. will have been built and equipped. They are based on the expectation * * * that one or more of our Allies will Considerable discussion has re­ collapse in the near future and that cently developed around policies America must prepare itself "to win governing the size of the army. The victory over Hitler alone." Such defeatists have fought against the proposals would have disastroWI policy of building a mass army. For consequences if adopted, since they example, they have utilized the would mean creating insuperable Seversky Plan as an argument obstacles to an immediate offensive. against the building of a large army In addition to disrupting our indus­ on the fallacious grounds that a trial and agricultural war-power l~rge army is unnecessary because supply, they would require our con­ victory will be won by air power, centration on the production of a thesis which the whole experience training equipment instead of of­ of the war has disproven. Lately the fensive equipment for immediate New York Daily News and the Chi­ combat. They would mean concen­ cago Tribune have been developing tration on the development of cadre their campaign against the building forces constantly withdrawn from of a large army on the ground th,at army units and spread out into new­ our task is simply to send our equip­ ly activated divisions instead of ment to the Soviet, British and Chi­ concentration on whipping into nese soldiers already in the field and shape finished divisions ready to be to let them do the fighting. At the thrown into immediate action. same time, it should be added, these As against both of these disastrous papers fight treacherously against policies the Administration and the lease-lend aid to our Allies. Quite War Department are following a obviously, the aim of this defeatist fundamentally correct course for the camp is to prevent the development building of a mass army. This policy 148 THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES takes into account three fundamen­ system of political education for the tal factors: first, the need for im­ officers and men of the United States mediate offensive action by our Army. Late last year the War De­ troops, as evidenced in the current partment issued directives for the North African offensive; secondly, preparation of a series of fifteen the recognition of our country's re­ orientation lectures on the back­ sponsibilities in a coalition war in ground of the war to be delivered which we must pull our own weight to all officers and soldiers in the and do our own fighting in order to army. Simultaneously there was in­ achieve a united victory; and, third­ augurated a system of continuing ly, ~he relating of the tempo of in­ lectures to be deliv'ered from time crease of our armed forces to all to time by civilian experts, as well problems of industrial and agricul­ as methods for continuous presenta­ tural manpower. These vital con­ tion of current events to all troops siderations are at the bottom of through bulletin boards and by other War Secretary Stimson's correct means. proposals for an army of 7,500,000 This innovation marks the begin­ and a total armed force of 9,500,000 ning of the end of a whole era in for 1943. which the approach to the army was The army our country is building one of "Theirs not to reason why, today is not only bigger than it has theirs but to do or die." It indicates been; it is no longer exactly the same the beginnings of a recognition that, kind of army which existed only as in this people's war, political under­ recently as two and a half years standing of the issues involved in ago. The people's character of the the war is an indispensable factor war and the military necessities for victory and the basis for a su­ which have emerged from the peo­ perior type of military discipline. ple's character of this war have re­ This attitude toward the political sulted in important advances in the education of our soldiers is fittingly building of a democratic army of expressed in the two quotations citizen-soldiers. All patriotic forces printed on the flyleaf of the pro­ must appreciate the changes which gram for the education of the Sec­ have begun to take place in the ond Army commanded by General character of the army, give them Ben Lear: their full support and lend their "The genius of this people is that weight and influence toward speed­ one must first explain-and then ing up and strengthening these give the order." (Von Steuben, changes. 1778.) "One who knows what he fights * * • for and loves what he knows." One of the most important steps (Cromwell's definition of the citi­ toward building a really democratic zen-soldier in 1653.) army of citizen-soldiers was made The labor movement and the with the inauguration of a planned whole people applaud this step to- THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES 149 ward building a democratic army of gentlemanly calm disturbed but sel­ citizen-soldiers who know what they dom by emphasis, or you can ham­ fight· for and love what they know. mer it home so nobody forgets for They are vitally concerned that this a second the point you're driving at. And there has never been a point education, by the energy with which more worth hammering home in the the program is executed and the history of the planet, or one hc,.rde.r basic character of its content, really to miss with the hammer, than the have the desired result. point of this book. For it was and is In this connection it is worth tak­ the whole point of civilization." ing note of certain opinions about The appeal of this writer in the the content of the basic army orien­ Infantry Journal for "a good deal tation lectures as advanced in a more to stir the blood" in the con­ review of these lectures published tent and presentation of the Army in the Infantry Journal of July, Education program is timely and 1942: pertinent. For, in the last analysis, " ... I would like to have seen in this appeal can only be answered by this book a good deal more to stir putting at the very foundation of the blood. It is well enough to think the educational activities of the that terrible facts speak for them­ army an understanding of the na­ selves. But in historical writings ture of fascism and the great war done to explain to an army just why aims of our country as presented in the hell it had to be formed and the speeches of President Roosevelt, how, in all probability, it would soon Vice President Wallace, Sumner be fighting along with the rest of the world, a little more steam, i\ Welles and Wendell Willkie. For any seems to me, might have put the army thoroughly educated as re­ biggest thought in the world over gards the bestial nature of the a lot better. The idea of presenting fascist enemy against whom it is the return to barbarism calmly must fighting and the great goals toward have had sound reasons behind it. which the United Nations are str·iv­ 'From first to last,' says the fore­ ing will have its blood stirred by word, one basic principle has guid­ hatred of the enemy and its heart ed those who were charged with inspired by great ideals. It will be execution of the directive-namely, that propaganda, in the normal ac­ an invincible force, ceptance of that term, was neither An unfortunate feature of the necessary nor desirable. The pattern educational program worked out by of events, fully disclosed, can lend the army authorities is its limited but one conclusion, one fixed pur­ extent. After the prescribed orienta­ pose on the part of any loyal Amer­ tion lectures have been delivered­ ican. 'Truth ever has most strength or movies dramatizing these lectures of what men say.' shown-there is an end to the politi­ "Yes, but there is-except per­ cal education of the ranks. Beyond haps in mathematics textbooks - more than one way of telling the the bulletin board on which the truth. You can tell it with dullness, various Army units carry clippings you can tell it interestingly, with a of the most important news of the

prej- the the of of abandonment abandonment an an quires quires in in change change important important third third The The 3. 3.

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building building on on stress stress already already has has chief chief the the rank rank place place each each to to for for ages ages of of

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1942 1942 in in which which Schools, Schools, Candidate Candidate in­ been been have have changes changes Important Important

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emphasis emphasis new new This This moon. moon. the the in in man man who who citizen-soldiers citizen-soldiers of of army army cratic cratic

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more more no no -have -have specialists specialists trained trained log­ the the as as itself itself presents presents and and order order

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civilians civilians on on bestowed bestowed commissions commissions "whl).t "whl).t on on officers officers by by led led be be to to Army Army

through through of of instead instead ranks ranks the the from from the the in in organized organized be be groups groups cussion cussion

directly directly corps corps officer officer the the into into motion motion dis­ continuing continuing that that Roosevelt Roosevelt Mrs. Mrs.

pro­ on on by by emphasis emphasis advanced advanced placing placing of of proposal proposal the the system system Hence Hence

the the is is policy policy officer officer correct correct education. education. this this militarily militarily continue continue

and and to to democratic democratic effort effort a a of of further further no no direction direction is is the the there there day, day,

FORCES FORCES ARMED ARMED THE THE AND AND 150 150 NATION NATION THE THE THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES 151 udice in favor of selecting for officer still do not) have, an artificially training those with college degrees erected barrier separating the armed or advanced formal education. This forces from the people and the life prejudice results in the absence of of the nation whose existence they maximum opportunities for workers are defending has been removed. An without formal education but with especially noteworthy feature of the all qualities of character and lead­ Soldier's Vote Bill is the provision ership ability requisite for military eliminating the operation of poll-tax leadership to become officers. In the requirements for the soldier's vote. interests of strengthening the lead­ In fact, in this particular sense, de­ ership of the Army, the doors must mocracy has been further advancetl be opened wide for the sons of in the Army than in the country at workers to become officers. large. It is true that the high degree of Labor has the responsibility to­ mechanization of our armed forces gether with all patriotic sections of places a premium on technical train­ the population for seeing to it that ing and education. But the plan now the various states adopt policies in being put into operation by the relation to the absentee voting of Army and Navy for the training of soldiers which will transform the soldiers and sailors at the colleges right given to soldiers into a real­ and universities of the country elim­ ity. The last elections indicated that inates even that objection to the only a small percentage of the men most rapid promotion of workers in the armed forces actually cast into posts of leadership. For if the their ballots. To a large extent, this soldiers and sailors selected to at­ was the result of the lack of adapta­ tend these special courses at the tion by the states of prevailing reg­ colleges and universities are selected ulations for casting and counting ab­ without regard to their economic sentee ballots to new conditions status or their previous attendance created by the existence of a mass at institutions of higher learning, as army. It becomes a task of the labor the plan calls for, the lack of formal movement to cooperate with all higher education no longer remains civic forces in the different states to an obstacle to the promotion of reexamine existing regulations and the sons of workers into posts of make such legislative changes as are leadership even in the specialized necessary in each case to make it branches of the service. possible for the Army to participate One of the most significant meas­ fully in the process of democratic ures yet taken to strengthen the citizenship. democratic character of our Army An especially heavy responsibility was the passage of the Soldier's Vote rests upon the shoulders of the labor Bill. For by giving the men in our movement and the whole people to armed forces the right to vote, a guarantee that the poll-tax bour­ right which the soldiers in the reg­ bons and defeatists of the South do ular army did not (and by the way, not circumvent the enfranchisemeat 152 THE NATION· AND THE ARMED FORCES of the Southern Negro soldiers, such as the Army air corps, tank and heretofore barred from the vote by anti-tank, cavalry and artillery poll-tax requirements. This requires units. The Navy is beginning to alertness in preventing the cancella­ train Negroes as "reservists" for tion of the vote of Southern Negro ratings other than that of messboy. soldiers by the reactionary political An increasing number of Negro of­ machines and election officialdom. ficers are being trained at the Offi­ cer Candidate Schools. * * * All these steps forward, however, The full integration of Negroes positive and significant as they are, into the Army and Navy without have been made on the basis of re­ discrimination or segregatwn is vital taining the scandalous policy of to the maximum strengthening of segregated Negro regiments and our country's armed forces. The ex­ units, most of which are usually as­ istence of Jim-Crow practices in signed to labor battalion work in­ the Army is a flagrant denial of the stead of combat duty. democratic rights of the Negro peo­ Only in the Officer Candidate ple and a blow at national unity. Schools is there no segregation, with It deprives our country of the full Negro and white officers being services of Negro youth, whose trained at the same schools in at fighting ability has received elo­ least ten places throughout the quent testimony in the long history country. This significant step for­ of our country's wars and has most ward in breaking down the policy recently been dramatized anew by of segregation is a shattering blow the heroic exploits of Dorie Miller to aU arguments that mixed units and Charles French. It weakens the are not "practicable." The expe­ military and moral strength of riences of the mixed Officer Candi­ America's contribution to the strug­ date Schools show that it can be gle for freedom in the eyes of our done. It must be done. For some Allies and brings grist to the mill time now, many organizations have of Hitler and his agents. advocated the formation by the War As a result of the general struggle Departmep.t, on a volunteer basis, of labor and the people fer the full of mixed units of Negro a.nd white integration of the Negro people in troops. This would be a tremendous all phases of the war effort, certain advance in the direction of bringing important advances have been made about the full integration of the in beginning to break down a few Negro youth into the armed forces. of the barriers to the full integra­ All patriotic forces should lend the tion of Negro youth in the Army. full weight of their influence and The discriminatory Negro quota strength in advoc&ting that the War system which all but excluded Negro Department inaugurate such a pol­ youth from the Army has been icy. practically abolished. Negro soldiers In addition to this, it is necessary are now admitted into certain com­ that the Army take the lead in im­ bat branches of the armed service, proving relations between Negro THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES 153 and white servicemen by officially of housing, or in civilian defense, organizing education on inter-racial helps advance the steps necessary to relations within the armed forces. bring about the full integration of If it is good military policy to issue the Negro youth in the armed forces. a special pamphlet to the troops invading North Africa designed to * • • establish correct relations between our Army and the colored peoples of Several thousand Communists, in­ Africa, then it is surely in order to cluding scores who are veterans of educate our own troops on the cor­ the fight against fascism in Spain, rect relations that should exist be­ have answered our country's call to tween Negro and white troops in the colors. Additional thousands of our own Army. Such educational militant anti-fascists, many of work accompanied by the greatest whom also fought in Spain, without possible expansion of the Negro any Communist affiliation or belief, M.P. personnel and the organization have likewise donned the uniform of mixed white and Negro M.P. pa­ of the armed forces. All of them are trols is absolutely necessary to put animated by a deep love of our an end to the series of clashes which country and a burning, unquench­ have c:::mtinually recurred. able hatred for fascism. The labor movement and all pa­ Some of these Communists anld triotic forces have a further respon­ anti-fascists without party affili­ sibility in this regard in every state, ation, have already proven their city and community. For the solu­ mettle in the fire of battle. Out­ tion of the problem we have been standing among them are Captain discussing is not exclusively one of Herman Boettcher, veteran of the Army policy. Some of the most se­ Abraham Lincoln Battalion, called rious problems arise in the rela­ the "one man army" because of his tionship of Negro soldiers to the exploits in the New Guinea sector; white communities in which they and Bob Thompson, also a veteran are stationed and in which they must of the war against fascism in Spain find their recreation in their leisure and, before his military service, the time and on furlough. It is here that National Vice President of the all patriotic forces must be espe­ Young Communist League. Thomp­ cially alert and active in promoting son was publicly commended by the solidarity of Negro soldiers and general commanding his sector in white civilians in order to forestall the Buna area after he led a dar­ and prevent intimidation and prov­ ing charge which destroyed four ocations against Negro troops engi­ Japanese pill-boxes. 'neered by anti-Negro elements. In There are thousands of such Com­ fact, every strengthening of the munists and non-party anti-fascists struggle on the home front for the who, given the chance, would prove full integration of the Negro people themselves in the same way. Unfor­ in the war effort, whether it be in tunately, however, a twisted and the fight for jobs, or on the question perverted reasoning by officials of 154 THE NATION AND TUE ARMED FORCES the War Department will make it this situation can be cleared up only impossible for these proven anti­ as a result of public discussion, then fascists to serve our country on the there should by all means be such field of battle unless the policy public discussion. which now prevails is changed. The fact of the matter is that the War * * * Department has issued instructions The final point that must be that all Communists in the armed stressed in emphasizing labor's re­ forces, and other anti-fascists in­ sponsibilities in helping our country discriminately called Communists build a powerful armed force is the by the War Department, be classi­ development of the closest relations fied together with Nazis and Italian between the trade unions and the fascist sympathizers. Numerous in­ men in the armed forces. It is true stances are already on record of that many unions have Service­ such Communists and other anti­ men's Welfare Committees of one fascists being herded into military type or another. But these commit­ labor camps together with enemies tees do not exist in all unions nor of our country. Others h~ve been do they in most cases carry on more arbitrarily removed from combat than a routine and inconsistent ac­ units and assigned to non-combat tivity. It is necessary for the trade units. unions to do more than establish And what is the reason for this such a committee and then relegate attitude toward Communists and its work to a subordinate, inr::onse­ anti-fascists in the armed forces? quential role. The unions must se­ They are treated as enemies of the riously discuss and actually formu­ country, people not to be trusted, for late a well-rounded-out program of no other reason than that they have activities and projects that will bring championed a policy of friendship the whole trade union movement with the Soviet Union, our proven into active participation in the vital Ally! work of establishing a close bond Is it not high time that such between the l:abor movement and twisted and perverted reasoning, the boys in the armed service along which refuses to. distinguish be­ the following lines: tween our country's friends and 1. The unions should organize enemies, be straightened out? The demonstrative expressions of their people of our country have a right solidarity and support to the boys to know about the warped and dan­ in the armed forces. An excellent gerous thinking of certain' official lead in this direction was given by circles in the War Department who the organization of :the "Salute to determine policy for our Army. the Armed Forces" in Central Park This matter can and should no on Labor Day by the New York longer be hushed up for fear of em­ C.I.O. in connection with the U.S.O. barrassing the war effort. It is the and the City government. Of a sim­ policy now being followed which ilar character was the "Salute to puts our war effort in jeopardy. If Negro Troops" carried out in Har- THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES 155 lem some time ago and participated is automatically put on the mailing in by all important sections of the list to receive all union newspapers community. Such demonstrative acts and periodicals. In turn, these news­ of solidarity can be suitably organ­ papers and periodicals should regu­ ized in connection with the dedica­ larly devote space to news or letters tion of service flags by the trade from the boys in the service insofar unions in honor of their members as this is consistent with the regu­ serving in the armed forces. lations of the War Department for 2. The trade unions should also wartime censorship. The publica­ take steps to strengthen their direct tion by unions of small pamphlets contact with the boys in the armed containing letters sent to the union forces by arranging, in cooperation by the boys in the service, as was with the proper military and naval done by the Furriers Joint Council authorities, for the exchange of in New York, has tremendous value delegations between the unions and in strengthening the bonds between the training camps and stations of the boys in the service and the the armed services. Here again, the unions. example of the New York C.I.O. 3. The trade unions should con­ which organized such a delegation cern themselves with systematic at­ to visit the training camps near tention to the material needs of the New York can be profitably fol­ boys in the armed forces. Special lowed in other cities. These delega­ appropriations should be voted in tions-to the extent that wartime all unions which will guarantee that regulations permit them to visit the the union can periodically send such camps-should be supplemented by items as cigarettes, tobacco, razor periodically inviting Army and blades, etc., to its members in the Navy delegations to attend union armed forces. They should mobilize membership meetings, mass meet­ the whole membership of the unions ings and conventions. To some ex­ to participate in donating books tent the Army and Navy are devel­ which the union will send to Army oping such activities by sending sol­ and Navy camp libraries. diers, sailors and officers to speak The unions should not limit such at plant meetings in an effort to activity to their own members in stimulate production and in connec­ the armed forces. Wherever this is tion with the awarding of Army feasible, trade unions either indi­ and Navy insignias. But the prac­ vidually or through central bodies tice of sending such delegations to should take patronage over certain union meetings has yet to be de­ regiments or camps situated in their veloped and should be stimulated by locality. The facilities of trade the unions themselves. union halls and recreation rooms Such direct contact between the should be thrown open to the serv­ unions and the members serving in icemen from these units, with the armed forces should also be de­ regular social and recreational ac­ veloped by guaranteeing that every tivities organized after the fashion union member called up for service of the various servicemen's can- 156 THE NATION AND THE ARMED FORCES teens. Games should be organized sion of representatives of the trade between servicemen's and labor union movement in the U.S.O. sports teams. The Army and Navy would enormously strengthen it and authorities have already shown enable it to carry out its valuable every willingness to cooperate in work with greater understanding of carrying through such activities the needs of the boys in the armed where they have been organized by forces. other groups and organizations. The labor movement, which has 4. The trade unions should de­ such a stake in this great war of velop a greater degree of coopera­ national liberation, which has sue~ tion with the United Service Organ­ a great percentage of its sons in the izations in its fund raising cam­ armed forces, which produces the paigns, in carrying through social weapons to be wielded in smashing and recreational programs at the Hitler, has also the obligation of various U.S.O. headquarters. In participating together with all pa­ fact, the time has come to ask for triotic and civic forces in the na­ the inclusion of the trade union tion in helping our country build movement in the direct policy­ and strengthen a mass, offensively making and program administration equipped, politically educated, dis­ work of the U.S.O. Certainly there ciplined and democratic armed force is no organization or agency or of citizen soldiers and sailors closely movement which has a higher per­ tied to labor and the people, which centage of its members in the armed will together with our Allies destroy forces of all the agencies of which the fascist monster and bring vic­ the U.S.O. now consists than the tory to the cause of the United trade union movement. The inclu- Nations. THE PRESIDENT'S 1'.1ESSAGE TO CONGRESS

BY LOUIS F. BUDENZ

RAPT audience of many mil- in the war was pressing certain im­ A lions, within the nation and peratives upon the people and gov­ throughout the world, listened with ernment of the United States. Up­ more than ordinary care to the ad- permost among these "musts" was dress of President Roosevelt to the (and is) the urgency for the expan­ opening joint session of the 78th sion of the offensive by Great Brit­ Congress. ain and the United States, based The composition of the House and on a united war· strategy, which Senate before which the President would establish the second front im­ spoke was not the best in many re- mediately upon the continent of Eu­ spects that the win-the-war camp rope. When Mr. Roosevelt said, could have wished for or secured. with strong feeling, to Congress that The defeatist obstructionists and our objective is "to strike and strike their "business-as-usuar' allies, un- hard" at the Axis in Europe, he der the leadership of Vandenberg, thereby emphasized that basic strat­ Taft and Wheeler, had made certain egy which the war's recent events gains in both houses of the national command. legislature. There was much spec- The very day that the nation's ulation, some fears and considerable chief executive appeared before the discussion as to whether the Presi- Congressional joint session in Wash­ dent would conciliate these arro- ington, the Red Army had advanced gant friends of defeat or would to within seventy-five miles of Ros­ carry the fight against their camp tov. The Soviet winter offensive has by the enunciation of a well-defined thus rolled forward (as subsequent offensive program. battles have also demonstrated) Mr. Roosevelt made his reply, one with a momentum which calis for a whose tenor and purpose could not powerful thrust from the west on be subjected to any real misunder- land in Europe. But it will be ~;tanding, in his Presidential address remembered that one year before, and in the subsequent budget mes- on January 11, 1942, the Soviet gov­ ~;age four days later. ernment had announced the thrill- When the President delivered his ing fact that 1,500,000 soldiers of the "state of the nation" address to the Nazi armies had been killed or cap- 78th Congress, the state of the world tured in the first winter campaign 157

"second, "second, the the offensives offensives by by the the Rus- has has caused caused a a new new flame flame of of revolt revolt

placable placable defense defense of of Stalingrad" Stalingrad" and and free free peoples peoples on on the the Soviet Soviet fronts fronts

ments, ments, the the President President put put "the "the im­ the the word word of of the the new new advances advances of of the the

First First among among these these major major achieve­ heart heart of of the the Axis. Axis. is is now now that that It It

ture ture of of 1942." 1942." tunity tunity to to carry carry the the battle battle to to the the very very

opment opment in in the the whole whole strategic strategic pic­ fensive fensive presents presents the the golden golden oppor­

largest largest and and most most important important devel­ now now is is that that the the Soviet Soviet winter winter of­

long long fronts fronts in in Russia" Russia" as as "by "by far far the the implement implement this this understanding. understanding. It It

aim, aim, by by stressing stressing the the events events on on "the "the can can exert exert its its full full influence influence to to help help

portion" portion" which which he he stated stated was was his his for for the the second second now, now, front front is is and and

his his report report on on the the war war in in that that "pro­ bor bor can can understand understand that that the the time time

tary tary operations, operations, Mr. Mr. Roosevelt Roosevelt kept kept pulverize pulverize Hitler Hitler and and the the Axis. Axis. La­

Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal. In In the the field field of of mili­ two-front two-front war war in in Europe Europe which which can can

North North Africa, Africa, New New Guinea Guinea and and slowing slowing down down the the opening opening of of that that

courage courage of of our our American American boys boys in in into into an an argument argument or or excuse excuse for for

he he saluted saluted the the strength, strength, skill skill and and dent's dent's words, words, "I "I cannot cannot tell tell when," when,"

fighting fighting temper temper of of the the people people when when will will seek seek to to manipulate manipulate the the Presi­

President President was was in in tune tune with with the the gency gency of of the the second second front. front. They They

which which appears appears in in its its pages. pages. The The failure failure to to discuss discuss the the time time and and ur­

theme theme as as well well as as a a specific specific phrase phrase satisfaction satisfaction out out of of the the President's President's

asked asked for for it," it," was was its its dominant dominant battles battles for for us) us) will will strive strive to to get get

Chief. Chief. "The "The Nazis Nazis and and fascists fascists have have hope hope that that some some one one else else will will win win the the

to to hear hear from from its its Commander-in­ defeatism defeatism or or because because of of the the timid timid

speech, speech, such such as as the the country country wanted wanted offensive offensive (either (either because because of of outright outright

rope. rope. In In tone tone it it was was a a fighting fighting war war hope hope to to delay delay the the launching launching of of this this

' ' through through of of the the land land attack attack on on Eu­ ahead ahead in in its its execution. execution. Those Those who who

and and intent intent to to be be the the carrying carrying mander-in-Chief mander-in-Chief to to move move full full steam steam

reaffirmed reaffirmed the the government's government's policy policy front front campaign, campaign, urging urging the the Com­

of of the the offensive offensive on on all all fronts-and fronts-and ple ple again again to to take take up up this this second second

7 7 is is that that ary ary it it raised raised the the banner banner it it incumbent incumbent for for labor labor and and the the peo­

dent dent Roosevelt's Roosevelt's address address on on Janu­ second second land land front front in in Europe Europe makes makes

The The outstanding outstanding merit merit of of Presi­ fensive fensive through through the the setting setting up up of of the the

* * carrying carrying forward forward of of the the decisive decisive of­ * * * *

This This correct correct emphasis emphasis on on the the

the the first first order. order. of of an an assault assault "by "by land" land" in in Europe. Europe.

Europe Europe remains remains a a requirement requirement of of this this up up with with the the reiterated reiterated promise promise

fensive fensive on on land land from from the the west west in in of of the the Soviet Soviet fronts-and fronts-and followed followed

of of all all Hitlerite Hitlerite Germany, Germany, an an of­ the the picture picture of of the the primary primary character character

complete complete annihilation annihilation of of the the armies armies nese nese people") people") the the President President -penned -penned

today today to to turn turn bal bal war war this this (including (including offensive offensive "the "the into into heroic heroic Chi­

ain ain and and the the Thus, Thus, United United on on States. States. the the canvas canvas In In order order of of the the glo­

taken taken advantage advantage great great force force of of by by and and Great Great effectiveness." effectiveness." Brit­

the the United United ber ber Nations Nations and and which which was was still still not not roll roll then then on on with with

started started in in the the latter latter part part which which of of Novem­ such such figures figures represented represented for for

sian sian armies armies at at various various up up points points to to that that which which date. date. The The opportunity opportunity

THE THE PRESIDENT'S PRESIDENT'S 158 158 MESSAGE MESSAGE TO TO CONGRESS CONGRESS THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS 15§ to rise in occupied countries. The Such a reiteration of the power North African offensive has also and value of the anti-Axis coalition helped stoke the fires of the Euro­ was a sharp slap at the defeatists, pean underground, and the landing who are preparing in this 78th Con­ of British and A1nerican troops on gress to make an essay at injuring European soil would fan those fires the United Nations. As a shameful into a mighty anti-Axis conflagra­ instance, there is that friend of the tion. filth column, Senator Burton K. The entire spirit of the President's Wheeler, who announced a few days message is an incentive to the before Congress opened that he was launching of the second front now. gunning for "lend-lease" to our Al­ The campaign to expand the assault lies, using in this connection the in the west beyond the North Afri­ slUrring work "racket." There are can war onto the European conti­ those other Senators and Represen­ nent immediately is a decisive mat­ tatives who have begun to fill the ter of self-preservation to our na­ hopper of Congress with motions for tion, and especially to American la­ "investigations" designed to harass bor. the Administration and our Allies Such an offensive as rings out of and slow down the rapid develop­ the President's words (and the ur­ ment of the coalition and the of­ gency for which arises from the fensive. These have run all the way exigencies of the war) requires the from the threatened "investigation welding of the solidarity of the of peace plans," forecast by the Chi­ United Nations and the advance­ cago Tribune's Man Friday, Jesse ment of a unified strategy for vic­ Sumners, over to the resolution of­ tory. In his message, the President fered by the defeatist Senator Ger­ repeatedly brings the benefits and ald P. Nye for "an inquiry" into the value of the United Nations before nation's food production plans­ the American people. "We pay aimed in part at hitting at lend­ tribute," said he, "to the· fighting lease. leaders of our Allies, Winston The President's underscoring of Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Gen­ collaboration among the United Na­ eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek"; there­ tions is most timely, as Wendell by reaffirming the bonds among the Willkie has likewise recently nations which, with the United stressed that a strengthening of uni­ States, form the keystone of th~ fied counsels around a unified strat­ anti-Axis coalition. The President egy is painfully needed in the alluded to "the very real unanimity" camp of the anti-Hitler allies. Such which exists among these leaders, do not require necessarily the set­ declared the United Nations to be ting up of a formal council where "the mightiest military coalition in the leaders of the United Nations history," and emphasized the help would have to sit together in per­ to the world which will be repre­ son. They do make urgent, how­ sented by its remaining united at ever, the development of closer col­ the conclusion of the war. laboration among Great Britain, the 160 THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS United States and the Soviet Union in the Democratic ranks. So strong -and one of such constant consul­ is this defeatist influence within the tation and unity of action as is Republican Party delegation in the equivalent to the working out of lower House that the first statement unified strategy in a united war of these gentlemen on the eve of council. the opening of Congress gave only such faint words of dedication to the· • • * war effort a:;> are necessary to "pass Just as delay in the opening of muster" with the people. The main a second front has emboldened the burden of their declaration was in defeatists to obstruct the whole war favor of closer relations with the effort, so hesitancy about establish­ poll-taxers and in a continuance of ing a more unified strategy will only those obstructionists tactics which give new heart to their plots to turn had disgraced the last session of the the people against the Allies. 77th Congress.· Among other things, For the success of such an offen­ the uneasy majorities by which sive as the President's message en­ many of these gentlemen went into visages, the rout of the defeatists office in the last elections, how­ is essential-not only in the beating ever, is evidence of the fact that back of defeatism's political spokes­ unity of action by labor and the men but also its directors among the people can help influence the Ad.:. monopolists. The Congress before ministration to a bolder position which Mr. Roosevelt spoke is one against the obstructionist camp. The in which the friends of Hitlerism President's message made a begin­ have invested great hopes; occupy­ ning which labor and the people ing many of the strategic positions can make certain will be carried for in its set-up are enemies of the war ward with even greater vigor and effort and of America. The "investi­ consistency. gations" which are being launched That the President's speech chal­ by the mouthpieces of the Ch-icago lenged and discomforted the defeat­ Tribune and other like defeatists ists was indicated by the reaction and the proposal to continue to his words in Washington. The the un-American Dies Committee defeatists were unable to make a are the fruits of a .systematic scheme frontal attack upon his message, designed to harass and hamper the knowing full well that its stand war activities of this country and for the extension of the offensive, its Allies. They are looming as the strengthening of the bond of the most serious concern to la­ among the United Nations, and the bor and the people. extension of the social security sys­ The hope of these political friends tem received a warm response from of the Axis lies in a further work­ the people. They were compelled ing coalition of the Chicago Tribune to take refuge in reference to the gang within the Republican Party, alleged "vague" or "general" char­ led by men like Hoover and Taft, acter of the President's remarks. with the poll-tax school of reaction Some even took on a synthetic THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS 161 goad-fellow attitude of "we're all President's 1943 "state of the na­ for the war." Their design in such tion'' address, Earl Browder pointed subterfuges is obviously to avoid an out in Madison Square Garden that open and direct fight on the main the seven-point program "has been issue, where the people could see applied only when it calls for sac­ what is what, and to attack the war rifices from the people, while it has program of the government by snip­ been completely sabotaged iii so far ing at specific items in the war pro­ as it called for contributions from posals which come up for urgent the upper classes." consideration. Such chaos as has resulted has It is regrettable, under such cir­ been made use of by the defeatists cumstances, that the President did to create more chaos and distrust, not indict these connivers at defeat and yet it is they who in the 77th and their "business-as-usual" al­ Congress made such confusion a lies and camp followers for the reality. damage they have done and are do­ The same machinations which ing to our nation's war effort. This twisted the seven-point program he could have done, for instance, into an instrument for the disad­ by reminding Congress and the peo­ vantage of the masses are visible in ple of what harm these obstruction­ the present Congress-against the ists had wrought to the war effort Pepper-Tolan-Kilgore Bills opening by their undermining of his seven­ the way for a centralized economy point program for economic stabili­ and in the schemes to mold the zation in the 77th Congress. The President's budget into a millstone attainment of maximum production, around the neck of the people in the total mobilization of the coun­ the war effort. try's manpower, and the strength­ ening of the national morale re­ * * * quire, not only the establishment of On January 11 the President pre­ a centralized war economy as pro­ sented to Congress what he termed posed in the Pepper-Tolan-Kilgore a "total war budget" to make pos­ Bill, but also the speediest realiza­ sible the offensive to which he had tion of the President's original so strongly referred in his preceding seven-point program covering· address. This budget will take democratic rationing and price $108,000,000,000 for the fiscal year control. starting with July to pay for carry­ It was on April 27, 1942, that the ing forward the war. It will also seven-point program was first pre­ make essential (according to the sented to Congress by the President; President) at least a 25 per cent a month had not passed after that drop in civilian consumption, to date before it was evident that the about $500 per person per year. The maneuver of the defeatists and the country is prepared for such a total weakness of the Administration sup­ budget, for the country is ready porters had begun to scuttle it be­ and willing to carry the fight to the yond repair. Four days after the . Axis with all the energy and re- 162 ' THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS sources that are at our command. available under their ration coupons There is no lack of signs in the and meet their obligations. Toward very first days of the present Con­ this end we recommend: gress, however, that powerful and "(a) Absolute opposition to any reactionary influences in its midst sales tax which would be a blow will seek strenuously to put the against the war program in that overwhelming burden of this budget it merely takes away money from those who can least afford to pay. on the masses of the people. They "(b) CompLete elimination of all will have to be combatted with war profiteers. This can be done by much more success than was the increasing all corporate taxes, in­ case in the 77th Congress. It is iri­ creasing taxes on middle and high cumbent on labor and the people income groups, and imposing an to halt the rising cost of living, effective war profits tax. through pressing for effective price "(c) All unjust and special privi­ control, universal rationing and leges should be eliminated. This in­ those wage adjustments which are cludes requiring married couples to made necessary in certain occupa­ submit joint returns, taxing present tax-exempt state and local secur­ tions and divisions of industry by ities, and increasing gift and estate the decline in real wages and the taxes." low level of pay in these particular lilies of work. It is imperative, fur­ Victory for labor and the people ther, that the $16,000,000,000 which in the field of taxation cannot be the President says will have to be attained merely through the formu­ raised through new taxes and sav­ lation of a program, but also in ings is arranged on a justly propor­ fighting it through. The tax battle tionate basis in accordance with cannot be looked upon as merely a ability to pay, along the lines contest over a fiscal policy but as worked out by the Congress of In­ a matter of national unity, which dustrial Organizations in its recent will be advanced by the carrying national legislative conference. through of such a program as that This feature of the C.I.O. program brought forward by the C.I.O. In which is of such vital importance the campaign for the adoption of in the tax fight reads as follows in this victory taxation program, like full: ·the struggle for a centralized war economy, the initiative of the labor "The C.I.O. tax program seeks to movement is therefore required to assure all people that they will have bring together every section of the sufficient money to permit them to population and the country that buy the necessities of life and main­ can be mustered in the fight. tain themselves and their families Back of the renewal of lease-lend on a basis that will guarantee max­ imum health and efficiency for pro­ to our Allies, the weight of labor duction. Un<;ter an overall system of and its allies in national unity will rationing, wage earners should have likewise have to be brought with sufficient income to guarantee that full force and effect. One of the they will be able to buy the goods tactics of the defeatists is to use the THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRFSS 163 tax problem to try and ~ouse sen­ recent Congressional elections have timent against lease-lend appropri­ been vivid reminders of the need ations. They seek to create an ut­ for such united action. The contest terly false picture .of the percent­ in the 78th Congress is every bit as age of our funds which goes into critical in stressing this need. While this essential purpose, and at the the President's message, for exam­ same time strive to hide the fact ple, gave indications of substantial that the life of America is directly progress in production during the involved in getting through arma­ past year, it is clear that much has ments, war material and food to still to be done to bring our "poten­ our Allies. tial" production up to a par with The facts of the matter are that what is actually being turned out. less than 15 per cent of our total The positive measures which are re­ production has been consumed or quired of this session of Congress will be consumed by present plans, to speed production-such as the in sending arms to all of our Allies, key matter of centralization of whose battle against the Axis is economy initiated by the Pepper­ helping so greatly to save America's Tolan Bills-will not meet with a national independence, to win vic­ unanimous endorsement in the CQn­ tory for the United Nations. The gress by any means. They will not food whiCh has been sent abroad be enacted into law, or established for these Allies represents an even by executive action at all, unless smaller percentage by far. of our labor, small business, farm groups food output, as is stated by Presi­ and other patriotic forces present a dent Roosevelt's report on lease­ strongly united front in Washing­ lend issued in December. Moved ton. by the understanding of what this Unfortunately, the recent legisla­ aid to Great Britain, the Soviet tive conferences of the American Union and China means to Amer­ Federation of Labor and Congress of ica's life and freedom, labor can Industrial Organizations were not bring up its big political battalions held together, as might have been in every community throughout the expected. Largely due to the con­ nation to ·press for the passage of tinue.d influence of the Wolls and legislation continuing (and ·even Hutchesons in its Executive Coun­ expanding) lease-lend arrange­ cil, the A. F. of L. held its legis­ ments with our fighting colleagues lative planning session on Janu­ in the anti-Axis coalition. ary 5, while the C.I.O. met for a For success in pushing forward similar purpose three days later. the offensive which is envisaged by This lack of united planning and the President's message and in safe­ action on the eve of a Congress guarding the methods by which the which :may make a thrust at the total war budget will be realized very life of the unions is all the unity of labor, and the active col­ more surprising when an examina­ laboration· of all win-the-war tion is made of the legislative pro­ for~es, ie "r;>f th~ ~ce." 'l'be grams which these conferences 164 THE PRESIDENT'S J.VfESSAGE TO CONGRESS drew up. While that of the C.I.O. is pressed forward and made to exist much more comprehensive and ef­ in a more substantial form. fective in meeting the war needs of The present state of affairs in the the nation and people, there is es­ 78th Congress calls also for the sential agreement between the two. maximum united action by the win­ There is certainly enough agree­ the-war forces in the House and ment on such vital matters as con­ Senate themselves. A further de­ tinuing Lend-Lease, preventing gree of cooperation between Willkie coercive labor legislation, solving Republicans and Roosevelt Demo­ the manpower problem, and over­ crats would heighten the morale of all rationing, abolishing the poll the win-the-war camp. There have tax, securing wage stabilization, ex­ been some indications that such co­ tending and strengthening the so­ operation is being worked out in cial security system, and other vital part at least, with such Republicans war measures for the two bodies to as Representatives Joseph Clark act in the closest concert. Both na­ Baldwin of New York and George tional labor federations are com­ Bender of Ohio actively supporting mitted to an offensive in the war most aspects of the Administra­ - and to such taxation and other tion's war policies. But the very policies as will strengthen national mention of these cases serves to unity. By working together in close pictorialize the fact that there is not cooperation they would not only enough of such working together at add to their own political influence the present time. and strength. (The current Kaiser In this situation, labor and the difficulties and the resultant dan­ people expect and will support a gers to the Wagner Act which are more resolute fight by the Adminis­ now arising furnish a definite case tration against the defeatists and in point.) They would also, through for the setting up of those measures such united action, strengthen the which are vital necessities for win­ position of our Commander-in"'-Chief ning the war. They will back up and would give more solidarity to strongly the carrying through of the win-the-war camp as a whole, policies which the state of the na­ including the small farmers in par­ tion and the state of the world re­ ticular. quire; including executive action The experiences with Labor's whenever this proves essential. Victory Board present testimony Labor and the people are in accord that cooperation between the A. F. with the offensive spirit of the of L. and C.I.O., as well as with the President's message and with the Railroad Brotherhoods, can be of total war budget which he has sub­ the greatest benefit. Since January, mitted; they want to see the means 1942, when the Labor Victory Board for victory put through vigorously came into being as an advisory and with that commendable body to the President, it has been a promptness which will spell success symbol of that unity which can 'Qe against the nation's A,xis enemies, ANGLO-SOVIET TRADE UNION RELATIONS

BY PETER KERRIGAN

[The Anglo-American Trade Union Committee, consisting of leaders of the A. F. of L. and a delegation of leading British trade unionists, will soon hold its first meeting in Miami, Florida. In the light of the pressing question of establishing tfl;e closest international ties of the trade unions of the Anglo-Soviet-American Alliance, the following article, by a leading British Communist, assumes special significance for American readers. -The Editors.]

T IS now a year since the an­ ers' meetings, etc.-in the fight I nouncement from Kuibyshev of against Hitlerism. the Anglo-Soviet Trade Union 6. All possible support to the Agreement reached between the people of the countries under the delegation from the British Trade occupation of Hitlerite Germany, Union Congress and the All-Union which are fighting for deliverance Council of Trade Unions last Oc­ from the Hitler oppression for their tober. Here are the points of the independence and re-establishment agreement: of their democratic liberties. 1. The joining together of the 7. Organization of mutual assist­ Trade Unions of Great Britain and ance of the Trade Unions of Great of the Soviet Union for the organi- Britain and the Soviet Trade Unions zation of mutual assistance in the and mutual information. war against Hitlerite Germany. 8. Strengthening of personal con- 2. Every possible support to the tact between the representatives of Governments of the U.S.S.R. and of the Trade Union movements of the Great Britain in their common war U.S.S.R. and Great Britain through for the smashing defeat of Hitlerite tl!_e All-Union Central Council of Germany. Trade Unions of the U.S.S.R. and the 3. Strengthening of the industrial British Trade Union Congress. efforts of both countries with the It is worth recalling certain facts aim of the maximum increase of the in relation to the Agreement. Fol­ production of tanks, airplanes, guns, lowing the unanimous decision of ammunition and other arms. the 1941 T.U.C. at Edinburgh, the 4. Assistance in rendering the ut- Anglo-Soviet T.U. Committee was most help in arms to the Soviet established. The visit of the British Union by Great Britain. representatives, headed by Sir Wal- 5. To make use of all means of ter Citrine, coincided with some of agitation and propaganda - the the grimmest days of last autumn. Press, Broadcasting, Cinema, work- In fact, negotiations between the 165

a a p11rt p11rt ip. ip. people people to to anq anq ~re11-t ~re11-t qe111angec1 qe111angec1 awakenin~ awakenin~ a,p. a,p. eng eng th~ th~ s~ch. s~ch. ~~ap-

Unity. Unity. The The Soviet Soviet delegation delegation played played Soviet Soviet comrades comrades on on these these matters matters

(2) (2) International International to to heart heart · · the the Trade Trade observations observations Union Union of of our our

two two questions: questions: (1) (1) Production Production and and someone someone else. else. is is time time we we took took It It

sary sary can can be be seen seen by by considering considering which which they they subcontract subcontract out out to to

That That such such interchanges interchanges are are neces­ to to even even have have the the plant plant fulfill, fulfill, but but

have have sent sent anyone anyone to to Russia. Russia. profits profits on on contracts contracts which which they they don't don't

eral eral Council Council nor nor the the British British Unions Unions tracting tracting system, system, people people are are making making

dent dent of of the the N.U.R., N.U.R., neither neither the the Gen­ Under Under the the evils evils of of the the sub-con­

from from the the visit visit of of Mr. Mr. Potts, Potts, Presi­ bor bor power. power.

Soviet Soviet comrades comrades visited visited us. us. Apart Apart ing ing fully fully our our machine machine tools tools and and la­

Russia Russia and and ten ten months months since since our our House House shows, shows, we we are are not not yet yet utiliz­

since since the the T.U.C. T.U.C. delegation delegation went went to to cent cent speech speech of of Mr. Mr. Lyttelton Lyttelton in in the the

Union Union and and vice vice versa. versa. is is a a year year It It ing, ing, etc. etc. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, as as the the re­

sentatives sentatives of of Britain Britain to to the the Soviet Soviet duction duction machinery machinery in in mining, mining, build­

further further visits visits from from the the T. T. U. U. repre­ tries tries and and improvements improvements in in the the pro­

Surely Surely there there could could have have been been tion tion Committees Committees in in the the arms arms indus­

U.S.S.R. U.S.S.R. and and of of Great Great Britain." Britain." eral eral establishment establishment of of Joint Joint Produc­

tatives tatives of of the the Trade Trade Unions Unions of of the the Since Since then then we we have have had had the the gen­

personal personal contact contact between between represen­

output. output. . . " "

Agreement Agreement for for "strengthening "strengthening of of factories, factories, in in limiting limiting the the level level of of

to to make make effective effective Clause Clause 8 8 of of the the stewards, stewards, and and even, even, in in individual individual

ish ish side side more more has has not not been been done done men men and and women women and and their their shop shop

to to listen listen to to the the view view of of working working able, able, therefore, therefore, that that from from the the Brit­

men men and and women women ...... unwillingness unwillingness ward ward the the war war effort. effort. is is regret­ It It

to to tories tories the the initiative initiative of of working working both both countries countries and and in in helping helping for­

an an Jncorrect Jncorrect attitude attitude in in some some fac­

friendship friendship

between between

the the

workers workers of of

duction duction of of women women into into industry industry ......

tremendous tremendous effect effect in in stimulating stimulating

etc., etc., on on hand, hand, the the inadequate inadequate intro­

areas areas made made by by the the delegation delegation had had a a

equipment, equipment,

machine machine

tools, tools,

lathes, lathes,

of of factories, factories, mines mines and and industrial industrial

sufficient sufficient utilization utilization ...... of of the the

Council Council of of Trade Trade Unions. Unions. The The tour tour resented resented by by the the following: following: the the in­

retaries retaries of of the the All-Union All-Union Central Central reserves reserves . . ·. ·. . . these these reserves reserves are. are. rep­

Madame Madame K. K. Nikolayeva, Nikolayeva, joint joint sec­ in in industry industry I. I. considerable considerable unutilized unutilized

delegation delegation asserts asserts that that there there are are still still tion, tion, headed headed by by N. N. M. M. Shvernik Shvernik and and

put put of of all all forms forms of of armaments. armaments. The The 30, 30, 1941, 1941, of of the the Soviet Soviet T.U. T.U. delega­

that that

is is

requisite requisite to to increase increase the the out­ lowed lowed by by the the arrival arrival on on December December

"British "British industry industry · · possesses possesses all all

the the British British T.U. T.U. delegates delegates was was fol­

German German advance. advance. The The return return of of the the delegation delegation departed: departed:

capital, capital, under under the the menace menace of of the the nik nik said said to to pressmen pressmen just just before before

all all foreign foreign representatives representatives from from the the creasing creasing output. output. This This is is what what Shver­

shev shev because because of of the the evacuation evacuation of of part part the the workers workers could could play play in in in­

journed journed from from Moscow Moscow to to Kuiby­ sources sources and and to to a a realization realization of of the the

British British Trade Trade Unions Unions were were ad­ quate quate use use of of our our productive productive re­

representatives representatives of of Britain Britain of of to to the the the the Soviet Soviet need need for for and and more more ade­

166 166 ANGLO-SOVIET ANGLO-SOVIET TRADE TRADE UNION UNION RELATIONS RELATIONS ANGLO-SOVIET TRADE UNION RELATIONS 167 dals in the fourth year of war. effectively in America by Jack Tan­ It would have been invaluable ner, President of the A.E.U. Com­ if over the past year the Trade rade Shvernik in his message to the Union Journals had been publishing T.U.C. on July 25th cabled the So­ articles and reports descriptive of viet T.U.'s refusal to accept the the production efforts of Soviet Anglo-American T.U. Committee as workers in the same industries. The the liaison between the Trade Transport Record, A.E.U. Monthly Unionists of America and their So­ Journal, Municipal Worker, New viet comrades. Surely this situa­ Dawn, Railway Review, A.S.W. tion demands an early meeting of Journal, and· a host of other trade the representatives of both Trade union journals would have been Union movements; more widely read, more popular and There is one thing, however, for more helpful in the production which a meeting ought not to be drive, if such material had ap­ necessary. That is to discuss whether peared. Point 4 of the Agreement is being Aonther reason why there should effectively operated, i.e., "Assistance be closer relations with the Soviet in rendering the utmost help in Trade Unions is the unfortunate arms to the Soviet Union by Great situation that has arisen in respect Britain.'' Joseph Stalin has made to the efforts to bring the American it clear that we are not fulfilling Trade Unions into a joint body em­ our obligations in this respect. Wen­ bracing the British, Soviet and dell Willkie, Admiral Standley and American Trade Unions. The insult­ a host of others have voiced simi­ ing and entirely false assertion by lar views. Now the largest Trade the American Federation of Labor Union in Great Britain, the Trans­ leaders that "there are no legiti­ port and General Workers' Union, mate Trade Unions in the Soviet has declared it "Regrets the delay Union" is not only scornfully re­ in opening a combined offensive pudiated by British Trade Union­ against the Fascist forces," and calls ists; it does not represent the opin­ "upon the British ·Government to ion of the mass of American Trade proceed as soon as possible with Unionists, whether in the C.I.O., the launching of the Allied offensive Railway Brotherhoods, or the Amer­ in Europe to which we stand ican Federation of Labor itself. pledged.'' Strong criticism was expressed We will begin to fulfill the ·agree­ during the T.U.C. proceedings at the ment in the letter and the spirit British T.U.C. not pressing ahead on the day we launch the Second for discussions with the C.I.O. and Front. Let us in the Trade Union Railway Brotherhoods instead of movement, therefore, demand that allowing threats from the A. F. of the General Council and our great L. to intimidate them. The view­ Trade Unions made fully effective point of British Trade Unionists the Anglo-Soviet Trade Union on this matter has been stated very Agreement. THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREAT BRITAIN ON THE BEVERIDGE PROPOSALS

The Communist Party of Great tual proposals of the Beveridge re­ Britain has appointed a Commission port for the unification and reform to examine the Beveridge Report on of social insurance, and the propa­ Social Insurance and prepare recom­ ganda with which it is being pre­ mendations. Pending this fuller sur­ sented and publicized as a kind of vey the Political Bureau has issued magic cureall for social and eco­ the following provisional statement nomic ills; the supposed solution of on thJe report: the problems of poverty and inse­ curity; "the British Revolution," HE Beveridge report is a docu- etc. This propaganda is an attempt T ment of far-reaching public im- to mislea:d public opinion, and to portance. utilize the Beveridge report as a Its publication coincides with the barrier against the social changes present urgent turning point of the which are necessary. war, when the public mind is occu- We need to warn against the illu­ pied, not only with the effort for vic- sion that the program of the Bev­ tory, but wirth the problems of the eridge report can by itself achieve world after the war. "social security" or the "abolition of The Beveridge report sets out the want." Social insurance alone can­ aim to achieve "social security" an,d not solve the grave economic prob­ the "abolition of want." This aim lems with which the British people will receive the universal assent of will be faced after the war. al:i. sections of the people. It corre- The program of the Beveridge re­ sponds to the deep desires of the sol- port is based on one big assumption, diers, the workers in industry, the which it admits itself. That assump­ housewives, of all who fear want tion is the "avoidance of mass un­ and insecurity after the war. employment." The assumption be- The proposals, if carried out, hind the Beveridge report is that the would be a big step forward. What- existing economic system, whose ever the criticism on points of de- functioning it does not question, tail, the broad lines of these propo- that is, the system of decaying mo­ sals for the reform of social insur- nopoly capitalism, can be planned ance and the social services will be and organized to function success­ universally welcomed. fully, provide prosperity and stable At the same time it is necessary to employment, and afford resources distinguish sharply between the ac- for extended social services. 168 THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE 169 If this assumption of a successful, provision for the aged, without a organized, planned capitalism is un­ Means Test; review of the scales of sound, then it is obvious that the contribution and benefits with a practical working of the scheme will view to reducing the burdens placed · be gravely weakened. "Financial on the workers; equalizing the con­ stringency," as the report declares, tributions of employers and work­ may "dictate benefits on a lower ers, and increasing the contribution level." However valuable the Bev­ from the state. eridge proposals for the reform of The entire labor and democratic insurance, more radical measures movement, and all sections of the will be necessary to achieve "social people who desire to see carried security" and the "abolition of through this important measure of want." This can only be success­ social advance, should unite in the fully achieved by socialism, as the most active campaign to secure the example of the Soviet Union has speedy adoption of the main pro­ demonstrated. posals of the Beveridge report. They The Beveridge report does not should demand that the government alter capitalism; it is not a recon­ immediately announce its decision to struction of Britain. It is a program implement these proposals and in­ for the unification and extension of troduce legislation along these lines, social services and, as such, it should subject to amendment on points of be supported and :flought for. The detail. No opposition of reactionary fight to win these measures pro­ vested interests should be allowed to posed in the Beveridge report will stand in the way of such legislation. strengthen the forces of the people The important issues of the Bev­ to go forward to the basic social and eridge report and discussion of post­ economic changes which will be nec­ war reconstruction must not for one essary to attain real social security moment blind the eyes of the peo­ and the abolition of want. ple to the primary task of exerting The Communist Party will active­ all our effort for speediest victory ly fight for the achievement of the over fascism. There is no room for main measures outlined in the Bev­ overconfidence or relaxation of ef­ eridge report, subject to amendment fort. Only the strength and unity of in detail. The Communist Party will the entire people can ensure victory put forward its proposals for im­ over fascism today and thus afford provement in certain respects-es­ the decisive guarantee of future so­ pecially for immediate full-scale cial advance.

ADDENDUM: NOTES FOR SPEAKERS

HE Communist Party of Great "social security" and the "abolition T Britain welcomes the Beveridge of want." This aim will receive the Report. universal assent of all sections of the It sets out the aim to achieve people. It corresponds to the deep 170 THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE desires of the soldiers, the workers national cooperation after the war in industry, the housewives, of all in the fullest possible production who fear want and insecurity after and trade. (This is agreed by the the war. United Nations in the Atlantic Char­ The Government must be pressed ter and the 20 Years' Treaty with to accept the Report and at on.ce the Soviet Union.) take steps to put it into operation. (b) Readjustments of British eco­ Powerful vested interests are op­ nomic policy and structure required posed to it, and they can only be by changed conditions after the war defeated by a vigorous campaign. so that productive employment will But while fully supporting the be maintained. main lines of the Report, the Com­ (c) The average rate of unem­ munist Party declares that it can­ ployment in industries already cov­ not give permanent security, which ered by social insurance will be not is impossible except in a Socialist more than 10.per cent instead of 15 Society. per cent assumed by the Unemploy­ 1. What the Report is: a plan·for ment Statutory Committee in its the security of incomes up to a post-war anticipations. minimum level. No income of any (d) Decisions on the organization family or individual is to be allowed of post-war social insurance an'd to fall below a subsistence standard. services should be taken during This standard is worked out on 1938 the war. needs and adjusted for an assumed 4. When the plan operates: Con­ rise in prices of 25 per cent by 1945. tributions to start on June 1, 194'1; 1945. to begin on January 1, 1945. Full Payments are to be made for all benefits for old age to be reached interruptions of income through ill­ after a 20 year transition period. ness, unemployment, accident, dis­ 5. The changes it makes: (a) One ability or old age; allowances are to weekly contribution on a single be given for maternity, for children, document entitles insured· persons to for marriage and funeral expenses; all benefits. free medical and health treatment is (b) All citizens arecovered, with- · proposed in a national health serv­ out upper income limit. ice. All this to be administered by (c) The establishment of a Min­ the State through a Ministry of So­ istry of Social Security, to admin­ cial Security. ister the scheme, and to take over 2. What it is not: It is not a cure­ Approved Societies (whether Trade all for social and economic ills, a Union, Friendly Society or Insur­ "British Revolution." .It cannot by e.nce Company), Public Assistance itself achieve social security or the Committees, the Assistance Board, abolition of want. Deeper changes the Employment Service of the are needed in the social system to Ministry of Labor, the Care of Blind bring these about. Persons, Workmen's Compensation 3. What it depends on: (a) Inter- arrangements. THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE 171

(d) Recognition of housewives as single social insurance scheme. distinct insurance class. Man and Cost to be met partly by the general wife are treated as a team. On contributions, partly by special levy marriage, a woman acquires a in industries scheduled as danger­ "housewife's policy," with rights ous. to marriage grants, maternity, widowhood and separation provision and benefit during husband's un­ Proposed Rates employment or disability, if not her­ Men self "gainfully occupied." Gainfully Em- Em- occupied housewives will receive ployee ployer two-thirds of the normal rate for s. d. s. d. unemployment and disability bene­ 21 & over 4 3 3 3 fit, but maternity benefit at 50 Between 18 & 21 3 6 2 9 per cent above that rate. Between 16 & 18 2 6 2 6 (e) The Means Test is abolished Women in unemployment or health benefits, 21 & over 3 6 2 6' and after a 20-year transition period Between 18 & 21 3 0 2 0 for pensions. Between 16 & 18 2 0 2 0 (f) Unemployment and disability Present Rates benefit at full rate to be paid with­ Men out time limit, subject to attend­ 21 & Over 110 110 ance at training center after a sug­ Between 18 & 21 1 9 1 9 gested six-months period and the Between 16 & 18 1 5 1 5 imposition of certain behavior con­ Women ditions. These are intended as safe­ 21 & over 1 7 1 6 guards against malingering and non­ Between 18 & 21 1 6 1 5 cooperation. Between 16 & 18 1 2% 1 1% (g) Training benefit is introduced to help those losing former liveli­ 7. What you get: hood to change to new occupations. On marriage: a lump sum up to (h) Pensions paid are conditional £10. on retirement from work at mini­ On becoming a mother: a lump mum age of 65 for men, and 60 for sum of £4, and 36s. a week for women. three months for those who had paid (i) Unconditional widows' pen­ jobs or are widows. sions to be replaced by benefit for For children: 8s. a week for every 13 weeks for all widows, a guardian child except the first if the respon­ benefit for widows with dependent sible parent is at work. If drawing children and a training benefit when benefit, 8s. a week for every child required. including the first. (j) Universal funeral grant. On falling sick: free medical, den­ (k) Industrial accident and dis­ ial, eyesight or hospital treatment. ease to be provided for within the On retirement (ages 65 for men, 172 THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE 60 for women): a sum rising after under the present Health Insurance. 20 years to 24s. for a single per­ Workmen's compensation for total son, 40s. for a man and wife. For disablement would be £2 16s. a every year you postpone retire­ week for three months, followed by ment, you add 2s. a week to the two-thirds earnings (with a maxi­ joint pension, 1s. to the single pen­ mum of £3) plus 8s. for each child, sion. compared with a maximum of £ 1 On becoming a widow: 36s. a week 15s. including children's allowances for three months; if childless, is then under present arrangements. expected to work, and can apply for training for which 24s. a week The Opposition benefit is paid; if with children, 24s. "Those who oppose it are, for the a week plus 8s. a week for each present, silent, or limit themselves child. to discreet enquiries whether our On becoming unemployed (be­ post-war trade will be such as to cause of lack of work, sickness, dis­ warrant social services on the scale ability, or while training for a job): contemplated ... the passing of the £2 weekly for man with wife not Beveridge reforms will not be easy. at work; 24s. weekly for man with It is &afer to express approval than wife at work; 16s. weekly for mar­ disapproval, and the opposition of ried woman worker; 24s. weekly vested interests will undoubtedly for single man or woman over 21, be felt." (The Observer, December 20s. aged 18-20, 15s. aged 16-17. 6.) On becoming totally disabled: "Immediate effect of the Bever­ two-thirds of weekly earnings, but idge Report in the City was to wipe not more than £3 a week. upwards of £5,000,000 off the value For dependents: 16s. weekly for of insurance shares and unsettle dependent of a person drawing other sections of the market." (Daily benefit. Express, December 3, 1942.) For funeral expenses: a lump sum "The forces of Money . . . hired of £20 for adults; £ 15 aged 10-20, a publicity man and gave him £ 10, £10 aged 3-10, £6 under 3 years. 000 to spend indicting the sloth of 8. An example: Man, wife and two Whitehall and boosting the efficiency children: when the man is out of of Big Business.... Watch the work, £2 16s. a week without time 'letters'-you know, the ones that limit or Means Test, compared with are paid for at a guinea a time if £ 1 18s. for 26 weeks followed they get published attacking coor­ by assistance on the Means Test dination and reminding us of the under the present arrangements. For Good Old Days," warned Hannen such a family, disability benefit Swaffer. (World's Press News, De­ would also total £2 16s. a week cember 3, 1942.) without time limit or Means Test, These quotations show the wide­ compared with 18s. a week for 26 spread character of the fight that weeks followed by 7s. 6d. a week will be put up by vested interests THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE 173 to prevent the Beveridge Proposals article by G. M. Young: "We may going through. prepare to say farewell to our inde­ pendence." Character of the Opposition Sunday Graphic, December 6, (a) The Insurance Companies: Mr. Editorial: "Wisdom counsels against Percy Rockcliffe, Secretary of the hasty acceptance or rejection of Sir Joint Committee of Approved So­ William's plan as a whole or in cieties and the National Union of part. We must build slowly to Friendly Societies: "If this scheme build lastingly." comes to pass, truly might Ribben­ Daily Telegraph, letters: Arthur trop allege that the Anglo-Saxon Sutherland, December 7: "The na­ race was decadent." He accused Sir tion has no bottomless well of gold. William Beveridge of being in close ... I hope there will be no attempt touch with the Left-wing politicians to rush this scheme ..." Sir Ernest during the prepartion of his report. Berm: "Sir William Beveridge (Daily Express, December 3.) thought it proper to drag ... a red Statement issued on behalf of herring across the path of sanity." Industrial Life Officers' Association, Daily Sketch, article by Sir Er­ the Prudential Assurance Company nest Benn, December 8: "It is a Ltd., and the National Conference cruel deception.... Truth calls of Industrial Assurance Approved for . . . a reduction of the amount Societies attacked report as some­ of State money in the pockets of the thing imposing fresh burdens on people . . . truth calls for a policy the taxpayers. (The Times, De­ of deflation (he means cutting cember 3.) These Insurance Com­ wages) rather than inflation (he panies control several hundred mil­ means decent minimum standards lions o~ the people's money, and are for the people)." a powerful influence in Big Busi­ Sir Ernest Benn is one of the ness. apostles of private enterprise. He (b) Sections of big business: "No opposed the fuel rationing plan. social insurance plan should provide The significance of the campaign security for the idler, waster, or in the Kemsley-Camrose news­ spendthrift."--Sir Arnold B. Grid­ papers should be especially noted. ley, M.P. for Stockport. (The Times, This section of the press, before the December 8, 1942.) war was most outstanding in its Sir Arnold is director of a num­ support for appeasement to fascism ber of Electricity Supply undertak­ and againsf alliance with the So­ ings, has financial interests in Bor­ viet Union. Its columns recently neo, Venezuela, Malay and Trini-:­ have contained many articles at­ dad. He was one of the leading tempting to justify the Munich be­ lights in the campaign against Fuel trayal of Czechoslovakia and the Rationing. whole policy of Munichism. It was (c) The Kemsley and Camrose opposed to the Second Front. It Press: Sunday Times, December 6, fought against fuel rationing. 174 THE C.P. OF GREAT BRITAIN ON BEVERIDGE Support contributions to be made by work­ Support for the plan, with various ers, equalizing contributions from criticisms of detail, has come es­ workers and employers, and increas­ pecially from the· Labor movement, ing amount contributed by State. the trade unions, co-operatives, La­ The entire labor and democratic bor Party, Communist Party. But movement must unite· to campaign many other sections also support it. for the adoption of the report. The News Chronicle, representing The Government should be pressed Liberal thought, and the Daily Her­ to announce its decision to introduce ald give their approval in very legislation along the lines suggested general terms, and call on the Gov­ without delay. No opposition from ernment "to appoint forthwith the vested interests should be allowed new Minister" of Social Security, to stand in the way. as the initial step indicating Govern­ The important issues of the Bev­ mental acceptance. (December 9.) eridge Report and discussion of post-war reconstruction must not be The People Must Act allowed to take our minds from the The Communist Party will ac­ stern battles of today. Without de­ tively fight for the achievement of stroying the Nazis in the present the main me~sures outlined in the struggle, there can be no future to Report. Proposals for amendment reconstruct. The strength and unity will be put forwa:r:d especially to of the entire people can ensure vic­ provide fulJ-scale benefit. for the tory over fascism and its friends, aged, without a Means Test or and thus pave the way for great transition period; for reduction of -social advances in the future. MANIFESTO TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE AND THE GERl\1AN ARMY

[The "German People's Broad­ won. But the war has been in prog­ casting Station/' which functions ress now for more than three years; illegally in Germany, recently yet peace seems further away than broadcast the text of a "Peace Mani­ ever before. festo," adopted by the National We are being deliberately de­ Peace Movement Conference held ceived as to the extent of our losses. in Western Germany; apparently But there is mourning in every Ger­ early in December:] man family and the number of sac­ rifices grows with every passing RAVELY alarmed for the fate day. We have been deceived as re­ G of our people, we Germans gards the results of submarine war­ from the Western regions of Ger- fare. This is testified to by the land­ many, fully aware of our responsi- ing of big American and British ar­ bility, have united, regardless of. re- mies in North Africa. We are being ligious and political convictions. deliberately deceived as regards Overcoming many obstacles and de- the situation on the Eastern Front fying all dangers we assembled at a and Russia's strength of resistance. secret conference. After a thorough This is testified to by the strong exchange of opinions we arrived at Russian offensive. the unanimous decision to issue the The fact that whole German ar- following manifesto to our people: mies are being flung far back, en- Men and women of Germany! Of- circled. and ground down, is being fleers and soldiers! Every day our concealed from us, and they are try­ people realize with greater clarity ing to hide from us the fact that that the government is hiding the the German economy and the food truth from them. The people were question are in a state of terrible told a deliberate lie that the war is degradation. allegedly being conducted in de- Our people demand the truth. fense of our vital interests. Sub- The fate of our nation is at stake sequentiy the German ministers and it is our duty to learn from openly admitted that it is a war of the experience of the war and to conquest. propagate its lessons. The protrac- From the very beginning the peo- tion of the war gave England, ple were deceived and told that the America and Russia time for the war would be short-lived, that vic- full development of their economic tory had allegedly already been might, whereas after almost three 175

considerations considerations threateningly threateningly of of prestige, prestige, raising raising as as a a the the re- question question

were were continued continued merely merely because because of of peace peace of of a a new new Versailles" Versailles" and and

in in the the Caucasus Caucasus failed; failed; yet yet they they us us with with the the bogey bogey of of a a "terrible "terrible

fensive fensive operations operations at at Stalihgrad Stalihgrad and and ward ward a a dangerous dangerous reef. reef. Frightening Frightening

on on the the German German army. army. The The big big of­ swervingly swervingly steering steering its its course course to­

trained trained soldiers soldiers tells tells more more and and more more ler's ler's adventurist adventurist government government is is un­

Lack Lack of of skilled skilled officers officers and and well­ nomic nomic circles circles and and the the people, people, Hit­

ter ter armed armed and and better better equipped. equipped. are are raised raised warning warning the the army, army, eco­

merical merical superiority. superiority. And And although although They They more more are are and and bet­ more more voices voices

armies armies have have already already attained attained nu­ operations·, operations·, into into an an arena arena of of war. war.

troops troops on on the the front. front. The The enemy's enemy's Germany Germany into into a a theater theater of of military military

and and curbs curbs the the maneuverability maneuverability of of To To continue continue the the war war is is to to convert convert

the the possibilities possibilities of of using using equipment equipment in in the the occupied occupied countries. countries.

raids. raids. Lack Lack of of gasoline gasoline restricts restricts will will coincide coincide with with popular popular uprisings uprisings

are are not not protected protected against against heavy heavy air air a a second second front front will will be be opened opened and and

Our Our cities cities and and industrial industrial regions regions in in North North Africa Africa · · have have shown shown that that

longer longer dominates dominates the the air. air. isolation isolation of of Germany. Germany. The The events events

periority periority in in armaments. armaments. no no It It tary tary policy policy have have led led to to the the fatal fatal

German German army army no no longer longer has has su­ to to power power and and an an unrestrained unrestrained mili­

for for serving serving the the far-flung far-flung front. front. The The separate separate peace. peace. Unlimited Unlimited claims claims

a a shortage shortage of of men, men, tanks tanks and and planes planes away away from from the the Axis Axis and and conclude conclude a a

persed. persed. The The army army is is suffering suffering from from there there is is a a growing growing desire desire to to break break

are are scattered scattered far far apart apart and and dis­ many's many's allies, allies, particularly particularly in in Italy, Italy,

The armed armed The forces forces of of the the empire empire Even Even in in the the countries countries of of Ger­

ple ple is is greatly greatly imperiled. imperiled. open open resistance. resistance.

clining clining and and the the health health of of the the peo­ their their profound profound indignation indignation and and

power. power. Labor Labor productivity productivity is is de­ whole whole French French people people and and evoked evoked

possession possession of of the the people-labor people-labor France, France, Hitler Hitler has has again again aroused aroused the the

ers ers ,are ,are undermining undermining the the most most prized prized now, now, by by occupying occupying the the whole whole of of

years years and and malnutrition malnutrition of of the the work­ lerite lerite "New "New Order Order in in Europe." Europe." And And

Extreme Extreme strain strain over over a a number number of of Greeks Greeks are are openly openly resisting resisting the the Hit­

ruined. ruined. and and Belgians, Belgians, Norwegians Norwegians and and

ply ply base base of of our our people people being being is is military military operations. operations. The The Dutch Dutch

is is sharply sharply declining. declining. The The food food sup­ Yugoslavia Yugoslavia remains remains an an arena arena of of

to to ing ing crop crop failure. failure. Our Our cattle cattle herd herd among among all all peoples. peoples.

tilizer tilizer and and poor poor cultivation cultivation are are lead­ have have evoked evoked profound profound hatred hatred

side, side, the the shortage shortage of of fodder fodder and and fer­ has has failed. failed. Methods Methods of of violence violence

lack lack of of labor labor power power in in the the country­ to to Europe Europe submit submit to to German German rule rule

drop drop in in industrial industrial production. production. The The methods, methods, to to compel compel the the peoples peoples of of

chinery chinery have have led led to to an an ever ever greater greater by by means means of of occupation occupation and and forcible forcible

and and the the rapid rapid wear wear and and tear tear of of ma­ may may be be considered considered that that the the attempt, attempt,

materials, materials, the the transport transport difficulties difficulties rope rope is is growing growing steadily steadily weaker. weaker. It It

The The lack lack of of labor labor power power and and raw raw The The position position of of the the Axis Axis in in Eu­

is is nearing nearing exhaustion. exhaustion. greatly greatly weakened. weakened.

and and a a half half years years of of war war Germany Germany suit suit of of which which the the army army has has been been

176 176 MANIFESTO MANIFESTO TO TO GERMAN GERMAN PEOPLE PEOPLE AND AND ARMY ARMY MANIFESTO TO GERMAN PEOPLE AND ARMY 177 of "victory or death," the Hitler boundless territorial claims and government is · trying to force our conquests, its policy of violence and people to go on with the war. crimes against other peoples. But To prolong his rule and that of the way to a just peace is open for his party, Hitler is gambling with our people if they themselves put the life of Germany. The longer an end to the war, to the Hitler sys­ the war lasts, the weaker and more tem and the policy of violence! defenseless will Germany become. The question arises whether there The longer the war lasts, the more are adequate forces among our peo­ sacrifices it will demand, the great­ ple to do away with the Hitler party er number of wounds will be in­ and regime. Yes, there are such flicted upon us and all mankind. forces! They are scattered as yet. The longer the war lasts, the long­ They must be united into a big na­ er the claims to foreign territory tional German peace movement! persist, the heavier will be the There are forces among the parties weight of responsibility resting and organizations suppressed by upon our pepole. Hitler, as well as among the troops The longer the war lasts, with and in the opposition within the Na­ the numerous crimes of the S.S. and tional-Socialist camp. There are the Gestapo in the occupied coun­ forces among the workers, intellec­ tries, and· the atrocities against de­ tuals and peasants, as well as fenseless war prisoners, the more among the middle classes and the bitter and the greater will be the bourgeoisie. hatred of the peoples for our peo­ We have in mind the supporters ple. The longer our officers and of the old big parties of the Center, soldiers continue to fight for Hit­ the German National People's ler's lost cause, the greater their Party, the Communist Party and the persistence, the harder will be the Social-Democratic Party, the mem­ terms of peaee which we will event­ bers of the former Christian or free ually have to conclude. Trade Unions, the members of the Our people in the rear, the officers former cooperative and sports and soldiers on the front must un­ movements, the old members of the derstand that the continuation of S.A., and even those who are for­ the war is not the way out, mally affiliated to the Nazi organi­ not our salvation, but a false path, zation. A single will for peace, the way to death! justice and freedom must unite us In the name of our people we ac­ all in struggle! cuse the present government of All who are against the war and leading our state to a second Ver­ against Hitler must join the ranks sailles and to disaster! of this great national peace move­ What is the way out? The way ment! Cast away all hesitation for our people to reach a just peace? and fear! Put an end to indifferent Standing between our people and silence and hesitant waiting! a just peace are the treaties violated With growing persistence the peo­ by the present government and its ple are demanding peace. Forces 178 MANIFESTO TO GERMAN PEOPLE AND ARMY everywhere are coming into motion. who have been deprived by Hitler Is there not a strong national and of the rights . of citizenship and .democratic anti-Hitler, anti-war op­ driven from our country. position among the people, in eco­ The nation has men, able lead­ nomic circles and within the army ers. Healthy forces are being ac­ leadership? Has not Hitler removed cumulated in the ranks of the peo.: many generals? Is there not oppo­ ple. Let us unite in a national sition even in the organiZations of peace movement. Let us unite the the National-Socialist Party? people and those who are their This opposition is growing, for all finest representatives. We propose honest Germans who have been fol­ that our joint struggle for our com­ lowing Hitler are now deeply dis­ mon aim be guided by the following appointed. They see that instead of ten-point program: an honest administration, here is the 1. The immeldiate end of military w~rst kind of mismanagement and favoritism; instead of public wel­ operations. The recall of the Ger­ fare, there are the pursuit of sel­ man army to Germany and the re­ fish ends and the unscrupulous en­ nunciation of conquests of foreign richment of the Nazi Fuehrers; in­ territory. stead of the salvation of the peas­ 2. The overthrow of the Hitler antry, there are an exodus from the government and the formation of a village and the ruin of agriculture; national democratic peace govern­ instead of promised favorable con­ ment. ditions for handicraft workers, therP · 3. The arrest and punishment of is loss of independence for the small those responsible for the war and handicraftsman; instead of the for­ the confiscation of their property. mer 6,000,000 unemployed we have The disbandment of the S.S. and today over 6,000,000 killed and the Gestapo. crippled and millions of widows and 4. The liberation of the arres-ted orphans. and convicted clergymen, deputies, Our people have not only the party and trade union leaders and strength 'for action to bring about of those imprisoned by the Hitler their salvation; there are also peo­ government for political activities. ple· capable of guiding the destiny The abolition of concentration camps of the state. There are such peo­ and humiliating racial laws. ple in the army, among the officers and soldiers, among the workers 5. Freedom of speech, press, as­ and peasants, in the universities and sembly, religion and opinion. The among the clergy. Such people free performance of religious cere­ are now heading the underground monies. The freedom of political, people's movement. Such people economic and cultural organizations. have been thrown by Hitler into 6. The abolition of all the eco­ prisons and concentration camps. nomic laws enforced by the Hitler Such people are the famous German government to the detriment of the scientists, statesmen and executives people. The restoration of the free- MANIFESTO TO GERMAN PEOPLE AND ARMY 179 dom of peasant households and be a weak, defenseless state; it will handicrafts and the freedom of be a strong state, backed by the trade. The security and freedom of unity and freedom of ·the people. development for small and medium We do not want to look back into enterprises in agriculture, trade and the past, but into a better future for industry. The just distribution of Germany. Provided the people have the taxation burden. Aid to enter­ the will, they will find the means for prises producing consumers' goods its realization. and foreign trade. The constitutional Let us rise in the struggle for the protection of legally acquired pri­ worthy aim of peace and freedom! vate property. Let every section of the people 7. Work, fair wages, an eight­ fight with all the means which their hour working day and the right to respective abilities and stations place rest for all workers and office em­ at their disposal. ployees. The restoration of civil Executives can create difficulties rights to civil servants. Aid to the in distributing the promissory notes youth to facilitate their education of the Hitler government; they can · an!d development. sabotage the laws on labor con­ 8. Adequate state relief and am­ scription and the distribution of raw ple relief to the victims of the war materials. The peasants can sabo­ and the relatives of the men killed tage the laws on forcible sowing and in the war, at the expense of con­ deliveries of agricultural produce. fiscating the property of those .re­ Workers are able to employ ex­ sponsible for the war and of all tremely effective means of struggle, profiteers and robbers. as on their labor depends the work 9. A foreign policy of interna­ of the war industry, coal output and tional collaboration with peoples military transport. and states. The recognition of the Intellectuals and clergymen have right of all peoples to independence the possibility of supporting the de­ and their own statehood. mands and aims of the national 10. The convening, on the basis peace movement by courageously of equal and direct suffrage with voicing their opinions in the univer­ secret ballot, of a new constituent sities, schools and churches, thus national assembly to work out a helping to spread the truth. democratic constitution and to es­ In the queues before the stores, in tablish constitutional and material front of the city halls and military guarantees of rights, of law and offices, the women can express their order. will for peace and their just de­ German men and women! Officers mands' for improved food supplies. and soldiers! The national peace The whole people can delay or re­ movement is striving to build a new fuse payment of all sorts of taxes, Germany, a truly democratic state, levies and deductions. a state of peace and freedom: The It is the sacred duty of the officers new democratic Germany will not and soldiers in the army, as the 180 MANIFESTO TO GERMAN PEOPLE AND ARMY armor bearers of the nation, to de­ together with the people establish velop among the troops an irresisti­ law and order in Germany. ble movement for the immediate All out in the struggles of the cessation of hostilities and for their people against the war! This is the return home. To restore honor and slogan of the day! Germans of all dignity to the soldiers it is necessary sections of society, all religions and to disa~ >the Gestapo and the S.S. parties! Unite for the common cause, and to arrest the base Hitler ele­ for the common aim-for the salva­ ments among the troops. All honest tion of our· state, for peace and for officers and soldiers who are im­ the welfare of thie people and the bued by a truly national spirit must country! AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF ITALY

ITIZENS: That which has long the salvation of Italy. We must C since been foreseen is coming indignantly reject this maneuver, to pass. The policy of the Musso­ must refuse Mussolini and his Gov­ lini Government has brought about ernment the right to speak in the a situation in the country which name of Italy and expose them to is the prelude to and the forerun­ the people as those responsible for ner of catastrophe. Two years of our ruin. war have been two years of defeat, The policy of the Fascist Govern­ calamity, and misfortune for us. ment is not dictated by the inter­ Today, however, even greater mis­ ests of the country but by the in­ fortune threatens us. terests of fascism and a foreign War is now knocking at our very power-Germany. Mussolini has door, is being transferred to our hurled us into war, not out of con­ territory. We are faced with the sideration of national defense, but question of life or death. If we because of his unrealistic, mad pred­ don't dithdraw from the war as atory plans. He squandered our soon as possible this will spell the riches and compromised the honor end of our remaining economic re­ of the country in his unsuccessful sources, the destruction of our in­ attempts at invasion. In sustaining dustry and our cities, the ruin and defeat he turned our native land, seizure of the country and finally our armed forces, industry, agricul­ defeat and castastrophe. ture, the whole of our economy, in­ At a time when all war plans to a weapon of German militarism. of the Fascist Government have Today, when Hitler is everywhere miserably collapsed, it is trying des­ threatened by superior forces of the perately to maneuver. The Gov­ international coalition, all he can ernment is responsible for all our do is to desperately defend himself. defeats-a government which has Today, when our country is on the sown discord in the country, which brink of catastrophe, Mussolini has ruined us and turned us into and the Fascist Government want to vassals of foreigners, now calls for convert Italy into a fortress of Ger­ unity and resistance and speaks of man defense. This means the ruin and utter destruction of our factor­ * This m!lnifesto, broadcast in December by ies, cities, communications, and the secret Italian radio uMilano Libertad," was army. We reject this pernicious adopted at an underground conference in Milan, attended by members of Liberal, Catholic, Demo­ plan in horror. crat, Republican, Socialist and Communist groups, The war aims of Germany, which as well aa certain members of the fascist opposi~ tion. wants to subordinate and colonize 181 182 APPEAL TO PEOPLE OF ITALY all the peoples of Europe, run coun­ ing her from the furnace of war. ter to our interests. The people Those who today realize that we never approved of the military al­ were deceived and ruined by the liance with Hitler. Catholic and Fascist hierarchists and Mussolini liberal circles always renounced it. must find their place in the ranks Mussolini has violent opponents in of the popular and national forces the ranks of the ruling party itself. who wish to save Italy from catas­ The war of Hitler and Mussolini trophe. is not our war, is not the war of the Let us rise to a man, from the Italian people. It is treachery and Alps to Sicily, against a government a crime to reduce Italy to ruin for which is nothing other than a gang the sake of extending the numbered of parasites, incompetent hench­ days of the Hitlerite regime, a crime men of a foreign power, against a against which our conscience as government that betrays the inter­ Italians revolts. ests of the country. The countries of the democratic Italy needs a government that coalition, confident of future vic­ will bring us peace, that will satisfy tory, do not pursue aims that are the demands of the people and save detrimental to the interests of our us from doom. We must rid our­ future and our honor. They make selves of the government of war, no claims on our territory. They of fascist adventurists. We must want to smash the power of Ger­ fight for a government of peace. man imperialism and restore to the Citizens! We address you with a peoples of Europe their national proposal to form a big national or­ freedom. This fully corresponds to ganization of action and struggle, our interests. It is not only necessary an organization which, despite all but also possible to withdraw from differences in ideology, political the war, to put an end to the sense­ convictions and religious beliefs, less destruction of our soldiers and would unite all who are prepared the ruin. of our country, to con­ for decisive action in order to save clude peace and thus avoid the Italy from catastrophe, to put an catastrophe that looms over us. end to the war, the subordination The Mussolini Government is the to Germany and the government of sole obstacle in the way. Italy the tyrant Mussolini. must be freed of this government We propose to you to set up an of tyranny. To achieve this object Italian National Front composed of upon which depends the salvation all true national forces which would of the country we must today reach be based on a wide network of com­ agreement, and all Italians must mittees of action to end the war, for fight unitedly. We must overlo.ok peace and freedom. all former differences between us. The proposed program was drawn We must remove everything that up jointly by representatives of all divides us and remember one thing: political trends and contains the that the Motherland is in danger following three main points: 1, to and that she can be saved by wrest- put an end to war and to conclude APPEAL TO PEOPLE OF ITALY 183 peace; 2, to take urgent and neces­ used to save our people from pov­ sary measures to cut short the erty and hunger. All our resources economic ruin of the country, to must be used to restore the coun­ prevent poverty, high prices and try's economy. All Italian workers starvation; 3, to restore to all citi­ must receive bread and work in zens the right to take part in pub­ Italy. All property of Germans and lic life, so that the people them­ their agents must be confiscated, as selves can take the fate of the well as the super-war-profits and country into their own hands and riches accumulated criminally by save it from the abyss into which it the fascist hierarchy. Down with is being rushed. corruption and parasitism! Down To achieve this we propose the with foreigners who are sapping following as an immediate program the country's resources! oi the national front: 6. Restoration of constitutional 1. To immediately break the pact guarantees, freedom of speech, press tying us to Hitlerite Germany, and assembly and religious beliefs. which is pushing us into the abyss, 7. Abolition of shameful racial to drive all German troops and Ger­ legislation. Liberation of all citi­ man agents out of Italy and her zens persecuted fo'r their political colonies. Down with foreigners! convictions and because they fought Italy must belong to the Italians! against fascist tyranny, against war 2. The immediate cessation of and subordination to Germany. Dis­ war hostilities and the recall of bandment of the Fascist militia, the Italian troops from the Eastern praetorian guard of a regime, the front and from the Balkans. Not people of which led us to catas­ another war winter! All soldiers rtophe. Purge of the army and state must return home! Stop being can­ institutions of the gang which non fodder for the Germans! serves the foreigners. Arrest and 3. Immediate conclusion of an trial of those responsible for mili­ armistice in Africa to start peace tary defeat, for economic ruin and negotiations with the democratic corruption. Creation of conditions powers on the basis of respect for which would enable the Italian peo­ and guarantee of our territory and ple to take the fate of their country independence. Peace will save us into their own hands, to revive from death. Peace will save us Italy, a free and great Italy re­ from the German yoke. Peace will spected by the whole world, such as give us bread and freedom. was envisioned by the founders of 4. To cease sending provisions to our Renaissance. Hitlerite Germany and to secure the We call upon all.Italians, regard­ return of ''our workers from the less of their social ',origin, to accept Reich. this program, popularize it among 5. Overthrow the regime of re­ the masses, organize and fight for quisitions, abolish war taxes. Estab­ its realization. lish free trade for the peasants. All Citizens! We are striving only for the products of our land must be the peace and salvation of our

ban- the the Raise Raise you! you! awaits awaits death death peace! peace! live live Long Long liberty! liberty!

where where factories factories the the live live Desert Desert Long Long duction. duction. Government! Government! Fascist Fascist

the the with with pro­ Down Down war war Italy! Italy! of of Sabotage Sabotage salvation salvation Germans! Germans! the the for for

work work to to people, people, Refuse Refuse war! war! the the the the for for for for work work to to the the of of nation, nation, the the

Refuse Refuse wages. wages. higher higher for for of of bread, bread, forces forces for for all all of of unity unity live live Long Long

defeat. defeat. to to factories factories us us your your in in leading leading is is Fight Fight which which Workers! Workers!

government, government, the the Germany. Germany. to to against against uprising uprising subordination subordination against against

unanimous unanimous a a for for freedom, freedom, and and Prepare Prepare peace peace for for freedom. freedom. fight fight hand hand

in in arms arms with with and and for for people people and and the the war war with with against against voices voices your your

unite unite front, front, the the for for Raise Raise leave leave to to acute. acute. refuse refuse growing growing is is situation situation

The The wait. wait. not not does does homeland, homeland, the the Time Time to to return return Citizens! Citizens! immediate immediate

demand demand Command, Command, and and peace! peace! Government Government and and bread bread for for war, war,

to to Fascist Fascist the the obey obey the the Refuse Refuse against against serting.. serting.. ranks ranks front front the the in in fight fight

you, you, to to dear dear de­ in in and and near near justified justified those those are are of of you you lives lives foreigners, foreigners,

the the save save to to of of want want flunkeys flunkeys you you and and Women! Women! parasites parasites of of ment ment If If

govern­ a a of of world! world! the the interests interests in in the the try try in in many, many,

coun­ just just and and civilized civilized most most freest, freest, Ger­ Hitler Hitler for for country, country, another another

the the Italy Italy see see to to wanted wanted who who zini zini of of interests interests the the in in but but country, country, the the

Maz­ and and Garibaldi Garibaldi ancestors ancestors great great of of grandeur grandeur and and good good the the for for not not

your your of of worthy worthy Be Be nation! nation! the the of of lives, lives, our our sacrifice sacrifice we we that that demands demands

grandeur grandeur and and Fascism Fascism honor honor that that fact fact the the freedom,- of of the the of of view view In In ors! ors!

restoration restoration sail­ the the for for soldiers, soldiers, struggle struggle Officers, Officers, the the in in hands. hands. their their

all all to to in in are are example example an an Italy Italy set set of of must must future future and and eration eration fate fate the the

gen­ young young that that The The them them People! People! remind remind and and Young Young Italians Italians all all

Government! Government! cist cist battle battle to to call call We We struggle. struggle. of of front front

Fas­ the the of of measures measures war war all all tage tage a a be be must must Front Front National National The The

to to sabo­ effort effort no no Spare Spare Workers! Workers! crime. crime. unforgivable unforgivable an an

Office Office categories, categories, of of all all Workers Workers is is doom doom toward toward propelled propelled is is try try

taxes! taxes! war war pay pay to to coun­ the the when when time time a a at at onlooker onlooker

Refuse Refuse means. means. all all with with quisitions quisitions passive passive a a remain remain To To events. events. of of face face

re­ fascist fascist the the Resist Resist Peasants! Peasants! the the in in passive passive remain remain we we death death if if

streets! streets! the the and and factories factories and and ruin ruin from from salvation salvation nor nor peace peace

the the in in peace peace and and freedom freedom of of ner ner neither neither have have shall shall we we But But country. country.

ITALY ITALY OF OF PEOPLE PEOPLE ·TO ·TO APPEAL APPEAL 184 184 BOOK REVIEW

NNA ROCHESTER'S new book, withdrawn, must be destroyed with­ A "Lenin on the Agrarian Ques­ out fail. tion," * shows why on the So­ "In areas occupied by the enemy, viet countryside it was possible guerrilla units, mounted and on for the socialist state of workers foot, must be formed, diversionist groups must be organized to com­ and peasants, the most advanced bat the enemy troops, to foment social system, to challenge-for the guerrilla warfare everywhere, to first time and in behalf of all pro­ blow up bridges and roads, damage gressive mankind_:_the invincibility telephone and telegraph lines, set of Hitler's armies. Miss Rochester's fire to forests, stores, transports. study covers the history of agricul­ "In the occupied regions condi­ ture in tsarist Russia and the Soviet tions must be made unbearable for Union over a period of eighty years; the enemy and all his accomplices. the socialist emancipation of the They must be hounded and anni­ hilated at every step, and all their peasantry; and the leadership of measures frustrated."* Lenin in that struggle for freedom. A few brief days after Hitler From the ranks of the collective hurled his marauding armies against farmers have come millions of fight­ the Soviet Union Stalin called on ers for the Red Army and for the the Soviet peoples and the Red guerrilla detachments. Food and Army to resist and destroy the in­ machinery which could not be evac­ vaders, to lay waste the land in the uated or turned over to the guer­ event of forced retreat, and to es­ rillas was ruthlessly destroyed. tablish a guerrilla front behind the This was done and is being done fascist lines. in a country which up into the In his speech of July 3, 1941, second decade of the present cen­ Stalin said that if the Red Army tury was oppressed by feudal were compelled to retreat capitalist landlordship. Soviet power, socialist industry "The collective farmers must and agriculture, the most advanced drive off all their cattle, and turn social system, made possible the over their grain to the safekeeping uniting of many peoples for self­ of state authorities for transporta­ sacrificing struggle against the most tion to the rear. All valuable prop­ retrogressive social system-Hitler erty, including non-ferrous metals, fascism. grain and fuel which cannot oe What Soviet power and the Len- * Anna Rochester, Unin on th#! Agr4rian Ques· tion, International Publishers, New York, 1942, *Joseph Stalin, Victory Will Be Ours!, Work:. 224 pp .• $1.75. . ers Library Publishers, pp. 13·14. 185

** ** enact- 169. 169. ,. ,. legislative legislative Qutstion, Qutstion, and and Agrari.., Agrari.., record record tht tht on on the the is is Lenin Lenin

12. 12.

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develop­ of of courses courses ...... possible possible tions tions two two

organiza- cooperative cooperative and and farms farms were were there there shows, shows, Rochester Rochester Miss Miss

collective collective the the of of property property socialist socialist as as out, out, pointed pointed Lenin Lenin agriculture agriculture in in

common, common,

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con­ road road hard hard long, long, the the over over back back of of form form the the in in or or people), people), whole whole

history history drive drive to to effort effort desperate desperate the the of of possession possession (the (the property property

state state of of form form the the in in either either exists exists a a is is fascism fascism Hitler Hitler of of war war The The

U.S.S.R. U.S.S.R. the the in in property property "Socialist "Socialist

race."** race."** human human the the of of

:, :, .. .. U.S.S.R U.S.S.R the the of of foundation foundation

section section any any by by attained attained yet yet opment opment

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man man of of exploitation exploitation the the of of abolition abolition

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'prog­ of of islands islands little little which which in in ty, ty,

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sys­ capitalist capitalist the the of of abolition abolition the the of of

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REVIEW REVIEW BOOK BOOK 188 188 BOOK REVIEW 187 to decades of most painful expro­ of the productive forces and the priation and bondage, while at the best conditions of existence for the same time a small minority of mass of the peasantry possible un­ Grossbauern (big peasants) arises. der the commodity system of pro­ In the second case there is no land­ duction."* lordism, or else it is broken up by the revolution, as a result of which Lenin spoke in terms of human the feudal estates are confiscated progress. His words assume a new and divided into small farms. In significance today when Hitlerite this case the peasant predominates, armies are trying to drive mankind becomes the exclusive agent of ag­ along the road of social decay and riculture and evolves into the retrogression. capitalist farmer. In the first case In her recent pamphlet, Farmers the outstanding content of the evo­ in Nazi Germany,* Anna Rochester lution is the transformation of serf­ dom into usury and capitalist ex­ describes the agricultural structure ploitation on the land of the feudal that the Hitlerites have striven to lords-the landlords--the Junkers. impose in Germany, an imperialist­ In the second case the main back­ feudal structure of a Nazi-Prussian ground is the transformation of the type. patriarchal peasant into a bourgeois Each day that passes provides farmer."* more details of the barbarous con­ Lenin, leading the struggle tent that Nazism is providing for its against feudal landlordism under arch-Prussian New Order for agri­ tsarism, made it quite plain wherein culture. Feudal-type landowners lay the interests of the peasants and are installed on conquered lands, of the industrial working class. Soviet citizens are condemned to drudgery and death on the farms " ... in order to facilitate the de­ of the new-found barons or in Ger­ velopment of the productive forces many itself. Civilians and soldiers (the highest criterion of social prog­ are seized as slaves both for Nazi ress) we must give our support not agriculture and industry. to bourgeois evolution of the land­ lord type, but to bourgeois evolution "The German fascists, who have of the peasant type. The former introduced slave labor in the fac­ implies the utmost preservation of tories and mills and resurrected bondage and serfdom (remodeled serfdom in the German villages and in a bourgeois fashion), the least in the vanquished countries," said rapid development of the productive Stalin, in his Order of the Day on forces and the retarded develop­ May 1, 1942, " ... are reactionary ment of capitalism; it implies feudal barons and the German army infinitely greater misery and suf­ is an army dominated by feudal fering, exploitation and oppres­ barons and shedding its blood to sion for the large masses of the enrich the German barons and re­ peasantry and, consequently, also establish the rule of landlords." for the proletariat. The second type imp1ies the most rapid development Lenin's evaluation of the develop- 188 BOOK REVIEW ments in Russian agriculture from torically most progressive features the period of the 1861 "emancipa­ of their demands and refusing to tion" and the practical conclusions accept and absorb all peasant de­ drawn by Lenin, Stalin, and the mands in a proletarian agrarian Bolshevik Party from these devel­ program. opments are based, as Miss Roches­ 3. Making it possible for the de­ ter shows explicitly, on a consistent cisive ·sections of the peasantry to Marxist analysis. This principled learn from their own experiences perspective expressed itself in an which demands were correct and understanding of: the elemental which incorrect, which vital and revolutionizing force of capitalist which not, which worth concentrat­ development in Russian agriculture; ing on and which not. the class conflicts engendered under Prior to the 1906 "Unity Con­ feudalism and capitalism; the lead­ gress" of Bolsheviks and Menshe­ ing role of the proletariat in the viks, Lenin, for example, analyzed struggle against tsarism and in the the different viewpoints set forth struggle for socialism; and the re­ by the Social-Democrats during lation of the propetariat to other 1905 on the question of confiscation sections of the population. of landlord estates. Anna Roc1iester's book describes the evolution of this Marxist-Lenin­ "A few members opposed confis­ ist analysis of the agrarian question cation," Miss Rochester points out. in terms of the historical circum­ "They argued that breaking up of stances in which it developed and large estates would be a reactionary in terms of the ideological struggles measure. They wanted to retain which accompanied it. the old demand for return to the peasants of the otrezki [cut-off The question of program, as Len­ lands]. But Lenin took the position: in described it was this: "We must take cognizance of the "By an agrarian programme we general and ultimate result of the mean," he said, "the laying down contemporary peasant movement, of the guiding principles for a So­ and not dissolve it piece by piece. cial-Democratic policy in the ag­ In general and on the whole the rarian question, i.e., in relation to present landlord economy in Rus­ agriculture and the various classes, sia rests more on serf bondage than strata, and groups of the rural on a capitalist system of economy. population."* . . . Our mistake in setting forth the demand for return of the otr.ezki Anna Rochester points to three consisted in underestimation of the important corollaries for a correct breadth and depth of the democratic, proletarian policy. They are as they really bourgeois-democratic move­ appear in Lenin's work: ment among the peasantry. It is 1. Understanding the goals of the stupid to persist in this mistake now various sections of the peasantry. when the revolution has taught us 2. Centering attention on the his- much. For the development of capitalism confiscation of all land­ • lbit/.., I'· 23. lords' land will give an incom- BOOK REVIEW 189 parably greater plus than the minus free development of the class strug­ which would come from breaking gle in the countryside."* up of large capitalist agriculture. The breaking up will not destroy Anna Rochester outlines excel­ capitalism and will not hold it back lently the development of Russian but will, to a tremendous degree, agriculture, covering the period cleanse, make general, expand, and from the 1861 "emancipation" to strengthen the basis for its (capital­ Nazi attack on the Soviet ism's) new development. We have the always said that to limit the sweep Union. She describes the develop­ of the peasant movement is in no ment of capitalism cracking the sense the business of the Social­ feudal terrain of Russian agricul­ Democrats, and at the present time ture; tsarist agrarian policy before refusal of the demand for confisca­ the 1917 revolution; the significance tion of all landlords' land would be of the February and October revo­ a clear limiting of the sweep of a lutions; the period of war commu­ crystallized social movement."* nism; the N.E.P.; the collectiviza­ Lenin proposed revising the de­ tion and industrialization of agricul­ mand for the return of the otrezki ture; the elimination of the kulaks because the peasants' demand for as a class; and the evolvement of confiscation of the landlord estates collective socialist agriculture. represented the underlying anti­ She shows in each period the ten­ feudal, bourgeois-democratic, his­ acious struggle carried on by the torically progressive movement. Leninists for the main historical Lenin constantly referred to the line of social development. main stream of social progress as From the very outset of the revo­ the criterion for the agrarian pro­ lution Lenin emphasized the neces­ gram of the proletariat. sity for bringing about the reorgani­ zation of society by convincing the " ... Lenin emphasized that the peasants themselves. demands of the Social-Democrats On the question of collectivization could not be simply a hodge-podge Lenin pointed out that: of everything the peasants desired," as Miss Rochester points out. "Their "When we say, 'Encourage asso­ grievances must be analyzed with ciation,' we are giving instructions Marxist understanding of social de­ which must be tested many times velopment toward the ultimate goal before the final form in which to of socialism. So the programme put them into effect is found. When [adopted at the Second Congress of it is stated that we must strive to the Russian Social-Democratic La­ gain their voluntary consent, it bor Party in 1903] stated that the means that the peasants must be special peasant demands were in­ convinced, and convinced in prac­ troduced 'with the object of remov­ tice. They will not allow them­ ing the survivals of serfdom, the selves to be convinced by mere burden of which lies heavily on the words, and they are perfectly right. peasants, and in the interests of the It would be a bad thing if they

• {~id., t'1'· 59-60, • lf?id., t'1'· 26·27. 190 BOOK REVIEW allowed themselves to be convinced tirely new peasantry. We no longer merely by decrees and agitational have landlords and kulaks, mer- leaflets. If it were possible to re­ . chants and usurers to exploit peas­ shape economic life in this way, ants. Consequently our peasantry !luch reshaping would not be worth is a peasantry freed from exploita­ a brass farthing. It must first be tion. Further, the overwhelming demonstrated that such association majority of our peasantry is collec­ is better, people must be united in tive farm peasantry, i.e., it bases its such a way that they are actually work and its possessions not on in­ united and are not at odds with each dividual labor and backward tech­ other-it must be proved that asso­ nique but on collective labor and ciation is advantageous. That is the modern technique. way the. peasant puts the question "Finally, the economy of our and that is the way our decrees put peasantry is not based on private it. If we have not been able to property but on collective property, achieve that so far, there is nothing which grew up on the basis of col­ to be ashamed of and we must ad­ lective labor. As you see, the So­ mit it frankly."* viet peasantry is an entirely new peasantry, having no counterpart In the period 1930-1934, as the in the history of mankind." History of the Comrwunist Party of the Soviet Union points out, The struggle for these objectives .was fought and won in struggle " ... the Bolshevik Party solved against the Trotskyite and Bu­ what was, after the winning of kharinite camp of saboteurs and power, the most difficult historical spies. problem of the proletarian revolu­ The agitation <;onducted by these tion, namely, to get the millions of small peasant ownel'S to adopt the elements against the building of so­ path of collective farming, the path cialism, against collectivization, for of Socialism." "peaceful" co-existence with the kulaks found an eager response This was accomplished under among the capitalist elements in the Stalin's leadership. country, especially among the ku­ "When Lenin died in January, b.ks, who were encouraged to ter­ 1924, the foundatiops of Socialist rorist acts against the collective agriculture had not yet been laid," farmers and collective farm prop­ as Anna Rochester points out. erty. Evidence brought forth at From there on, under Stalin's lead­ the trials of the Trotskyite and Bu­ ership, and through the Five-Year kharinite traitors showed indelibly Plans, the struggle for collectiviza­ that their practices were part of a tion was carried on, the ties with well-worked out program of espio­ the middle peasants were cemented, nage and diversion against the So­ and the kulaks were liquidated. viet Union The sympathy they found By 1936 Stalin could say: in kulak ranks, and the encourage­ ment they lent to kulak terrorism "Our Soviet peasantry is an en- were no accident. • JbiJ., PI'· 113·1+. "' ,. ,. BOOK REVIEW 191 Anna Rochester's book is ex­ chine and tractor stations in the So­ tremely valuable for the important viet Union. Today the reduced pro­ theoretical questions on which it duction of farm machinery in the focuses attention. These include United States, the difficulty of buy­ the questions of ground rent and ing or making repairs, make it nationalization of the land. necessary, as Earl Browder has The citations from Lenin in the pointed out, for the United States present volume on ground rent (pp. "to learn something from the So­ 182-189) are invaluab}e for an un­ viet Uniori, not by any program of derstanding of agriculture under collectivization, but by copying one capitalism. of their techniques." This tech­ The political struggle by Lenin nique, he adds, would involve the over the question of nationalization establishment of a "federal system of the land, "black redistribution," of machine repair centers" and the municipalization, was, as Anna "practical pooling of agricultural Rochester shows, a struggle for the machinery and its fullest possible destruction of feudal and feudal­ utilization." capitalist land-ownership, to clear The book will contribute toward the road of all social obstacles that an increase in the growing under­ blocked the development of agri­ standing of our great Soviet ally, culture. The fundamental character an understanding which is vital for of the struggle is indicated by the the achievement of the fullest co­ fact that one of the first acts of the operation of our own country and new Soviet government was the de­ the Soviet Union for victory over cision on Nov. 8, 1917, to abolish Hitlerism and for post-war recon­ landed proprietorship, ending once struction. and for all time feudal 'land rela­ Comrade Browder has suggested tions and, under conditions where four agricultural problems in which large-scale industry and political government intervention is an im­ power were in the hands of the mediate necessity for mobilizing the working class, opening the doors to fullest resources of our agriculture. socialist agriculture. They are: the question of farm man­ Anna Rochester's book con­ power, machinery, marketing serv­ tributes practically to resolve some ices, and marketing . . . in the important domestic war issues: war-time sense of fixed prices." By its effective presentation of the On all of these issues Anna Leninist teachings on the agrarian Rochester's book, through its Len­ question, the book lays bare the inist analysis of capitalist agricul­ contradictions of agriculture under ture, makes a valuable contribution. capitalism. These contra'dictions are One lesson woven into the fabric today a lever by which the defeat­ of Lenin's work and reflected in ists seek to create disunity and dis­ Miss Rochester's book is the rela­ ruption of the war effort. tion of the working class to other The book describes the develop­ classes in capitalist society, partic­ ment arl.d functioning of the rna- ularly the farming population. To- 192 BOOK REVIEW day, when the misbegotten and.mis­ Lenin on the Agrarian Question named "farm bloc" has become one is another of the many valuable of the chief weapons of the defeat­ contributions that Anna Rochester ists and the disrupters of national has made to the education of the unity, an aggressive fight. by the American working class. In addi­ working class for alliance with the tion to many pamphlets published working farm population is one of over a period of years, Miss the keys to maintaining and Rochester's Marxist studies of strengthening national unity. The American economic problems in- · understanding of this lesson by elude Why Farmers Are Poor, the American labor is today a survival most competent survey of the ag­ issue, one which has been too long ricultural scene, and Rulers of and too dangerously delayed. Miss America, a detailed survey of the Rochester's whole book contributes dominant forces in American fin­ immensely to· that understanding. ance capital. In Lenin and the Agrarian Ques­ The present volume on Lenin's tion Miss Rochester has provided agrarian teaching, together with us with a volume of permanent Why Farmers Are Poor, constitutes value and importance. Her con­ a veritable treasure for heightening tribution deserves wide utilization the Marxist understanding of the in theoretical equipping of the problems of rural America. working class and its allies on the farms. ERIC BERT ~· ,,'rl ~ '{ I; ''' \} , l > - " " < 'lr. 'r ·-. f ' I .r '' ,, ' ' -' ,. -t,~ ( ' \

,' 1 :"' I - "' I ' ~.~ :, fo}• ~ '1 ' ! . c. .YICTORY-~ND AFTER . ~ I 'r l~. • . sinc.e its · publication, ' early .i.n N~ember, roo.re than l80,000· <:>op.i.e$ of Earl Browder's new .book Vi c.for,y--and After have been ·$olq:-Presenting th.e, Communist .pQsifion' on 1 f ' •,. i the most, ''v~tol problems arising , frdt'(l the war; it i~ a spleo- , ,',. I 'f. aid guide fd. n a more vigorous and effective pros~c;utlon of / . ' •. I, the' war io totaf ·yidory. In I it_ the author deals with all \\ ~ . :rnoior questions of ' niJtional and international unity: the ""- t­ /, .., ,stroJegy_ r;f;lquir~d 'for victory, . the coloni~:~l prf)blerry, . ~s i+L < I ' ) ~·' relates to -Chi.na, lndia, Africa; i,ndustrial production an.9 \ "' the role of laoor in a war economy; and rela'flions betwe'en 'l tlie- Unit'e9. \N,ations for winryng victory and for .~ost~war .~) 1 reconstrudtoil'. " Popular lid1hdn' 50~ 1 } ~ \ \r' '--'

. VI CTb' RY· ~RdDUCTI' ON f~ R ,. " Under its Jrve main chapter;: Production Schedule~, The Utilization of Labor, Organized Labor in Pr-oduction, O bstacles to Correct Policies, and 1\gr~culture ;n the War ~· Eco,nomy, fhe a, uthor analyzes such l

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By R. PALME DUTT I The pub ti~ atio ; of .this new book by the,tdistinguished British Marxist, R. Palme Dutt, is an event of speci9l si·gnificance. In 1many respect.s Britain in the W orld Front may be· considered a companicln: volume to Earl Browder's best-selling ~war book, Victory---and After. Many of the basic p r o b l~ ms dealt with by 'Dutf' are directly interconnected w:ith Ameri ca n psoblems, and their solution cannot be• worked out except in closest unity and coll aboration between the two countries within the framework of the U n ite~ Nations. ' · Dutt's penetrating appraisal of the tasks co11fronting- England if) .the present h'istoric moment of the globaL war, hiS evaluation of the strength of the two camps and of' the conditions and strategy required fer victory, his incisive ·discussion of the India problem, as ..yell as of the question of production, woman 's role in the war effort, the army, jhe _people, and the increasingly de­ c:isiv;e role of labor, throw a brilliant llght on similar problems iii the USA. . Previous books by; R. Pa lme Dytt, s~cn as Fascism and S,ocial r Re ~olutio n and ·World Pol i ti ~s , which went through several edi- • tions, prove.d widely popular in the United States. His new book - .should be welco_roed as an important contribution to the victory . of the United Nations over the Hltlerite Ax is. ..

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