'It lies in our power alone• Only the victims of in­ In this Issue ; justice can abolish injustice• Only the oppressed can end The Kinsey Report - - p. 2 oppression. Only those who have been under shell-fire The American Way - p .4 can bring the shell factories Negroes in Britain - - p. 6 to a standstill• Why should those who profit by torture Politics and Hanging- p. 8 want to bring it to an end?** ANARCHIST FORTNIGHTLY ARNOLD ZWEIG. Vol. 9 No. 9 May 1st, 1948 Threepence THE MAT-DAY SPIRIT Working Class Unity, Freedom & Solidarity AY DAY is traditionally Labour’s Day. But, like many other traditions, the idea it enshrines M are to-day very different from those which originally inspired it. Sixty years ago, the advanced sections of the revolutionary labour movement in America, and especially the Chicago anarchists, conceived the idea of an international demonstration to take place on every succeeding May 1st. The workers in every country on that day were to down tools and make a demonstration of the unity and solidarity of their class. It was to be, in effect, a one day general strike on an international scale. The revolutionary workers at the end of the last century, of course, did not look upon such a demonstration as becoming in any way a tradition; they regarded it as a step which, if effectively carried out, would complete the revolutionary education of the workers and provide such a demon­ stration of working-class strength as would convince the timorous that by acting in solidarity the workers could bring to an end the era of capitalism and privilege and usher in instead the era of equality and justice— the social revolution. May Day was not, for them, a static festival, a mere date in the workers’ calendar, it was a series of progressive blows leading directly to the emancipation of the working class. Such, however, was not the to point to the degenerating influence Day. No doubt the May Days pre­ aspect in which the reformist of reformism, and since our movement ceding 1936 helped to weld the revo­ is a minority movement, and a small lutionary movement in Spain and political labour movement viewed enough one at that, there is a danger vindicated the expectations of Chicago. May Day. For them, social of standing simply as the guardians of But to-day there is no movement justice was to be the crown of a tradition, nattering at the larger throughout the world which can apply long gradualistic work through labour movements of reform. Such an the May Day idea in a convincing attitude does not command much res­ form. political, especially parliament­ pect among those who sure looking for ary, channels; they did not see A Practical Approach a way out of the manifold brutalities To admit all this docs not denote a it as coming through the direct and miseries of our world. pessimistic outlook, nor is it cause for action of the working-class The traditional attitude undoubtedly despair. Still less does it permit of an against the determined oppo­ contains a core of revolutionary truthattitude of critical idleness, for it cer­ sition of the privileged and and wisdom. The establishment of tainly is not enough to content our­ social justice does require the united selves with denouncing the reformists ruling groups. Hence, May strength of the working-class. Solidarity and their perversion of the traditions of Day became a kind of working- on an international scale is even more May the First. May Day was originally class circus. It must not be urgently needed to-day than it was in seen as a step preparing for the social celebrated by downing tools on 1886. Demonstrations of united revolution. Beeause we cannot carry strength undoubtedly have a salutary out this particular step we are not May 1st without regard to the effect on the doubting and timid and thereby absolved from continuing with particular day of the week on provide that confidence which is neces­ that preparatory work along channels which that date fell; the first sary for decisive revolutionary action. which do lie within our capacities as Sunday in May was the most But what is lacking to-day is that individuals and as a movement. If optimistic confidence that the revolution we do not see our way to making a suitable day for such harmless is just around the corner. It is not demonstration of revolutionary working- playtime, for a day must be clear that the workers are strong class strength which is clearly lacking, chosen which would not inter­ enough in revolutionary conceptions orwe still have to cherish and revivify the fere with the employers’ in­ of conscious solidarity to make a de­ ideas which should lie behind such a monstration that is a convincing parade demonstration. terests, and would not therefore of conscious solidarity to make a de- In a world which is increasingly excite their hostility. Under the couraged by overwhelming evidence of polarizing into two power groups sur­ influence of the large political labour’s power, but to-day, May Day rounding the Soviet Union on the one “Labour” parties and the re­ is only too clearly evidence of labour's hand and the Anglo-American bloc on weakness and theoretical confusion. the other, it is of tremendous import­ formist trade unions, this con­ In the last twenty years only the ance to keep alive the idea that workers ception of May Day has become revolutionary syndicalist movement in in every country have more in common the prevailing one. The Com­ Spain has been strong enough to carry with one another than they have with munist idea is essentially the out the traditional conception of May ( Continued on page 5) same, except that the oppor­ tunity must also be seized for the control and direction of more giving reign to their patriotic material things than the spirit. We sentiments towards Russia, and WHAT’S BEHIND THIS?have only to consider the political the occasion must be taken for power of the Church in Italy, Spain 'JpHE meeting held last Sunday over the catise of materialism, which offersclearly be a move away from the attacking all other working-class much by way of material advantage, but and Eire to appreciate this. groupings other than their own evening at the Albert Hall under which can never satisfy the spirit of man established forms of government If our first reactions to this new in total disregard of the con­ the auspices of Christian Action, des­ or bring him the peace and the happiness and a development along anti­ joint move by Churchmen and Poli­ ception of international labour cribed as “ a movement concerned which divine love alone can perfect.'* authoritarian, libertarian and anarchist ticians are correct, then the role of solidarity to which even the with the union of Western Europe on The danger obviously lies in the fact lines. The only way for the ruling Anarchism in world affairs will social democrats pay lip service. Christian lines”, is both significant that the excuse for the next war will class to counteract this trend, short of assume far greater importance, for and dangerous. be that it is a crusade against the the Russian method, is to direct it will stand out as the only altern­ Revolutionary May Days On the platform were the Arch­ anti-God materialism of Eastern those aspirations into religious chan­ ative for men who would be free both To-day bishop of Canterbury (Dr. Geoffrey Europe. The slogans of “ patriotism” nels. For religion implies subservience from the authoritarianism of political Freedom has drawn attention often Fisher), the Roman Catholic Arch­ and “ hate the Hun” , which worked in to Divine authority, and the organised rule and the spiritual enslavement of enough during the last few years to the bishop of Westminster (Cardinal 1914-18, but were less successful in Divine Authority. ' ugly farce to which the official Socialists Church is not without experience in and Communists have degraded the Griffin) and the Moderator of the 1939-45, will give way to other revolutionary conception of May Day. Free Church Council (Dr. P. W. slogans: Christian values, the sur­ Anything less like the original idea of Evans). The speakers included rep­ vival of culture, etc. the Chicago anarchists it would be hard resentatives from Western European COLOUR BAR AGAIN to find. But that does not mean that The significance lies in this: countries, but the chief speaker was ^ N U M BER of cases of alleged Board of Trade and H.M. Customs," and anarchists can rest content with stand­ Assuming that the meeting at the Mr. Driberg asked whether that did not ing smugly by as the repositories of the Sir Stafford Cripps, who said: Albert Hall had some reason behind racial discrimination in this coun­ clearly imply for official purposes. “true” tradition of militant struggle, “Every day policies are being decided it, and this, we think, is a reasonable try have rightly, in our opinion, Mr. Callaghan: “I should have thought the holders of the vessel which contains upon and action is being taken which received wide publicity. In one case, so.** the secret revolutionary'fire. It is easy gravely affects the future of humanity. assumption, then may it not mean that the politicians are not so sure of the the Minister of Transport was asked He added: “The company states there “Are we satisfied that our Christian is no racial discrimination in their ships." beliefs are influencing those decisions and whether he was aware— reactions of the people in the event Individual cases of restaurants not those actions? Have we done all that is of another world crisis with war as “That intending passengers