H ^ P.O.Box 3301,Johannesburg

1st December 1935

Dear Koston,

For some weeks I have been neither well nor ill, so I am deprived simultaneously of both energy and an excuse for apathy.

A Hollander has showed up in Johannesburg and we have got into contact with him in spite of the fact that his letter of introduction from Sneevliet was to Van G-elderen, who passSd him on to Fanny Glass. He has been in the C.P.U.S. and recently in the R.S.P. of Holland.

The resolution comes too late for us to do anything about it. Alexandra Workers Council is too poorly organised to get it into motion quickly enough. Again the council couldn’t raise funds for delegate's expenses and our funds are mortgaged months ahead.

About the C.P. split. The whole business revolves about the new 7th Congress line - decisive victory of socialism in the Soviet Union, - unity of the v/orking class, etc. The right wingers see in this nev/ turn an opportunity to float to the top and oe the scum of the C.P. instead of the dregs as at present. This I think sums up the wljole situation and is not Y/orth one line of space in the Spark.

Your suggestion to post Spark direct to Amanzimtoti and Durban will not; meet the case as contacts are personal. J.Makue of Amanzimtoti writes as follov/s: "I tried hard to spread the reading of this educating paper in the college, but people are too conservative. Anything that is not religious, anything that speaks against the white man (no matter hovf true it may be) it is blasphemy, uncouth and unbecoming; they will simply not listen to it. Really it is surprising to iind people right m the middle of the twentieth century, right in the educational centre, still reacting to facts as they do. At present I have three who seem to be thoroughly interested, two from the Transvaal and one from the Cape. They tell me that they like it."

Alexandra Spartacus Club is exasperatingly slow in gathering m members. The place is indescribably dreary, with its ruttv lanes, decorated with sanitary buckets outside each dark mud hovel, no street lights or house lights, nowhere to go even if the workers were not too worn out with the days grind to think of anything but sleep. It is quite a struggle to prevent our&elves from being overwhelmed by the Dostoievskian gloom of Alexandra.

Have

Have you noticed Andrews' article in the Forward re Lenin Club?

There are no books that I am aware of dealing with workers history from a Marxian point of view. There is however G-itsham and Trembath's "First Account of Trade Union Organisation in S.A."This book deals in an uninspired way with the history of the workers struggles up to the Pact in South Africa.De Kock's"Selected Subjects in the Economic History of S.A." pnurSs provides some classified information.The section on 3.A. in the Annual Register which hasappeared yearly for the past half century gives a broad survey of events ana the parliamentary struggle. These outlines provide a key to the daily press.The biographies*'01 Smuts, Hertzog, Kruger, Rhodes, etc, are quite handy for getting at particular periods.The catalogue of the Royal Empire Society (Vol 1.Africa) gives under the heading of South African Labour, and South Africa Native, a list of books and articles which have appeared in periodicals up to 1930 dealing with S.A. labour questions.1922 is dealt with in Urquhart’s"The"Outbreak", Bunting's "Red Revolt”, and ’’The Story of a Grime" an anonymous piece of propaganda issued before the 1924 elections with an eye on the votes and attributed by some to one UcFie. These three pamphlets are very rare.Government reports provide the best source for material on 1918 Native Strikes "Report of Department of Justice for 1918."1920 Port Elizabeth Shootings "Report of G-overnment Commission 1921" 1922 "Report of Martial Law Commission."All Governemnt stuff is whitewash of course but is nevertheless valuable as a guide to other material.I think the material listed here is enough to keep a full sized comrade busy for quite a while. I myself have been specially collecting material for 1922 and for the I.C.U. with a view to producing pamphlets later on.

Fraternally,

IhV)

141 Longmarket Street,CAPE TOWN.

4 th December ,1 935

Dear Lee,

Have yours of the 1st. The "Larch Days" will go into next issue. It is Just as well because No .9 would have been 20 pages with it and I would have been dead from the rush. I hope you approve the article on the Trade Unions. Am not at home in this subject and k x n had to literally sweat i>t out. One point, I think, should have been ±1a developed. The left wing fc I dont know of any, but say the left wing of the future) will strengthen itself at thecexpense of the re­formist tops by organising the Native workers, and so breaking down the bar. This fits in beautifully with the Native question as a whole.

Dont know your Hollander. Heard ±h*t he was in C.T. when he arrived but as he never looked me up, I never met him.

We will try to get the resolution into the Conference.

To hell with Dostoievsky.

Have not seen Andrews' article. Am getting a copy.

Thanks a lot for bibliography. ■»ill pass it on.

Enclosed copy of C.L.reply to us. Je are getting ^ o n g fine. Burlak is pleased. "We do not think it wise". I nave not a r^tlv but intend to do so this afternoon. Ifso, will include in this snT®lop«^ W. ar. having a Branch Meeting on Thursday (tomorrow) todiscuss reply.

Mil God, what a movement i s ours when the d r a f t in g of * to the Lenin°lub- Communist League becomes of any importance whatsoever.

Yrs

6 th Deoember,1 935

(T* Q tbO I • O . ,I.C.L. (B.-L.)

Dftar Comrade Adolphe,

We got your note dated 1 1 th October and also

your circular dated 8 th iNovemfcer about the addresses.

I hare today sent a Draft, 2*o.^o7 » for100 francs to R...

Please notice our new address for all letters ;-

liessrs.Llvray (Pty) Ltd, c/o Barclays Bank,Adderley Street,CAPE TOWN.

Printed matter can be sent to the old address.

Please inform Comrade Dubois that we have ent­ered into negotiations with the Communist League. We will write soon and report on developments.

Yours fraternally,

General Secretary.

2ft

P-O.Box 3301,

; / ^ I 1 9 3 5

Dear Koston,

Good News! G-oeienuus! The Spartacus Club, Benoni opens its doors on the first day of 1936. Comrade Lloyd Thomas has been putting in some unostentatious spade work in Benoni location, although being on night shift he has 'not been able to attend the party doings.

The Hollander, Comrade Van de Veer, came to our club lecture. Com Gosani spoke on the urban native and his lecture was excellent because it was absolutely artless. He merely spoke out what he thought and what every native worker thinks, and then ended by pointing tut the only road for the urban worker - working class unity under the banner of the Fourth International. Com van de Veer was impressed by the lecture and by the lively discussion which followed. It seemed to him, he said, the real dirt, after the d stuff dished out at the I.W.C. on Art and Revolution in which the lecturer, Dr.S.De Moor demanded thit the artist soul must be free to create in his own fashdxbn without thought of propaganda. The upshot was that Van de Veer, who is a memner of the Holland R.S.A.P. and up to the time he left Holland, chairman of his union (metal workers) wants to join the party.

On Armistice Day at the suggestion of Eddie Roux, the JSyF.L. took part in the ceremony before the cenotaph to the extent of laying a wreath inscribed A.AL. at the foot of the masonry. The A.F.L. conference comes off on the 14-15-16 December. Tne parsons will arrive in droves to participate in the peoples front. The bureaucrats of the trade unions are rushing in and trying to elbow the Joffe crowd to one side, assisted by the Roux, Diamond right wing opposition, ^e have been unofficially invited to take part in the drumming out of the Joffe clique. I personally favour attending- in full force in_ order to demonstrate by walking out again in disgust at the appropriate moment.

Attention Com Koston. It would be a,good idea for Lambley_to write lo the demanding the return of the books he lentto start the library. “Both Corn Lee and Com Gordon t* ill verify that I only lent these books and idid not donate them. initials are pencilled in the corner of the back leaves.

We have received circulars from Oehler oppositi9n. It seems to me that you agreed with their position at one tmme on the S.F.I.O. entry. Do you still agree with them?

Yours

10th December,1 935

The Chairman,Communist League of South Africa, 35 iiJaterkant Street,CAPE TOWIJ.

Dear Comrades,

We have your letter of the 27th fiovember.

We are happy to see that you agree that agreement on fundamental principles is essential for a fruitful and lasting unif­ication of our two organisations. Naturally, we agree that "Complete unanimity on all theoretical questions is not required as a prelude to unity". But what is in question between us is not so much a mat­ter of "theoretical differences” that have arisen from a common basis in the course of activity, but is rather a matter of finding a common basis. The principle of Democratic Centralism does not enter into this question because this principle guarantees the growth and inter­nal life of a Party that has already been formed on a certain basis. Democratic Centralism does not guarantee the correctness of a Party's line except in the case of a revolutionary Marxist Party where Demo­cratic Centralism affords all members of the Party the right and the duty to examine, criticise, and, if neoessary, check the leadership. The principle of Democratic Centralism can function with usefulness only on one condition - that the Party is a communist Party. I .e . , a revolutionary Marxist Party. But this is precisely the point oet-

ween u s .

Allow us to elaborate this point. The Communist League stands upon its theses and ita organ, "The Workers’ Voice". The Workers Party stands upon its theses and "The Spark", flhat is tnere in common between these two organisations? In our opinion, there is only one thing common to both: both organisations proclaim tzie need for the Fourth International. On all other questions the two organ­isations hold opposing views. These views can be examined by any worker in the publications of the two organisations.

The one point common to both organisations, their int­ernational orientation, is not a sufficient basis for fusion, parti icularly in view of the greater and sharper differences oa all thj fundamental problems of South Africa and on the flar Question. state of affairs, two organisations for the Fourth International but against one another, exists also in the U .S .A ., Aeisbord uroup,

Field Croup, etc.)

It is because of these fundamental differences that >ve propose discussions for the purpose of achieving o U r it y a s » • top -towards unity. In our opinion, the unification of our two organis­ations could be a decisive step forward, but only on one g°*ditlan.I f our unification is to make any impression upon the workers

«n revolutionary movement, it must be made before their «ves The i s s u e s Sust b f brought to their attention as much as poss-

R 5 #a n d th ij ~ t “ Siren thf opportunity to ”» l ithe various discussions on those problems that affect them so •r ? * h « workers are not permitted to study the course of the discuss- l o J 2 * no? enSoiraged to participate In 41acus3 lon=, the

unification of our organisations would mean very internal

r.jsTAss.sK* B-wsrs ».cussion

cusslons In "The Spark", or, If you will, In special public bullet­ins which could be attached to "The Spark" and to the "Workers' Voice".

We must also reject your proposal for a "United Front on the Italian-Abyssinian War". The War Question was the first question on which a split occurred, if you will remember, in the Theses Sub­committee of the Lenin Club and, if you will remember, two theses on the War Question were presented. Hothing has happened since that time to cause us to accept the slogan of "neutrality" put forward in your Thesis.

As to the Hative Bills, we have had no way of learning your attitude to these Bills. The "Workers’ Voice" has not published any articles on these Bills.

We cannot agree that "harmonious and comradely relations" can be established between our organisations by "united action on specified issues" when these very issues themselves have been the cause of greatest difference.

Before there can be any fruitful unification, there must be clarity. It is in the interests of clarity that we re-new our ofxer for open discussions.

for the Revolutionary Workers movement in 3 .A.,

General Secretary

iQth December ,1

The Chairman,Communist League of South Africa, 35 Waterkant Street,CAPE TOWN.

Dear Comrades,

We have your letter of the 2 7tii JSovemoer.

We are nappy to see that you agree tnat agreement on fundamental principles is essential for a fruitful and lasting unif­ication of our two organisations, naturally, we agree that complete unanimity on all theoretical questions is not required as a prelude -to unity". But what is in question between us is not so much a mat­ter of "theoretical differences" that have arisen from a common oasis in the course of activity, hut is rather a matter of finding a common basis. The principle of Democratic Centralism does not enter into this question because this principle guarantees the growth and inter­nal life of a Party that has already been formed on a certain bs.aia. Democratic Centralism does not guarantee the correctness ox a xferty a line except in the case of a revolutionary Marxist ±^rty *kere cratic Centralism affords all members of tne Party the rifcht **je duty to examine, criticise, and. if necessary, cheek the ^dership. The principle of Democratic Centralism can function only on one condition - that the Party is a communist ^ e’'.a revolutionary Marxist Party. But this is precisely the point bet­

ween u s .

Allow us to elaborate tills point. The Communist League stands upon its theses and Its organ, "The Jjorkers' rfoloe .

E S ^ n ' l S S S S S f l S T o i the°twoVor!janlsatlons^a *

The one point common to both organisations, their int-

S B S T u ^ a S e ^ r \ « £ - e r r o e s ^ i i n

r S S r ~against one another, exists also in the U.S.A., aeiscora urouv,

Field Group, etc.)

It is because of these fundamental wepropose discussions for * * purpose t«“o ^ n l Ltowards unity. In our opinion, the unification ox ^ condition.

i V ' m unification^is t^make any impression^upon their

©rested in the revolutionary their Xtentioa as muoh as poss-

^ M f i o r t e r s ^ r . not perjl ^ « ‘. * d ? f e ^ s l ^ !“thiions and are not encouraged to pa very uttle to them. Forunification of our organisations tQ lssJe a bulletin internalthis reason we must reject JP offer to carry on the dis-to our two organisations. We repeat our orrer ™

ous s i on

cuasions in "The Spark", or, if you will, in special public bullet­ins which could be attached to "The Spark” and to the "Workers’ Voice".

We must also reject your proposal for a "United Front on the Italian-Abyss inian War". The War Question was the first question on which a split occurred, if you will remember, in the Theses sub­committee of the Lenin Club and, if you will remember, two theses on the War Question were presented. Nothing has happened since that time to cause us to accept the slogan of "neutrality" put forwai & in your Thesis.

As to the Native Bills, we have had no way of learning your attitude to these Bills. The "Workers’ Voice" has not publishedany articles on these Bills.

We cannot agree that "harmonious and comradely relations" can be established between our organisations by "united action on specified issues" when these very issues themselves have been tne cause of greatest difference.

Before there can be any fruitful nnlfleatloa, there must be clarity. It is in the interests of clarity that *e re-new our offer for open d iscu ss io n s .

For the Bevo lut ionary Workers Movement in o .A . ,

General se c re ta ry

"THE SPARK”(Organ of the Workers Party of S.A.)

14 th December ,1 935

The Secretary, All-3antu Conference, BLOEKFONTEIN.

Dear Sir,

The bearer, Hiss Jaineb Cool, purposes to attend the

Bloemfontein All-Bantu Conference as an observer.

We shall be grateful for any courtesy that y®u can show

her.

Yours faithfully,

Editor.

1 9 t h December, 1935

The S e c re ta ry ,The Lenin Club,CAPE TOWN.

Dear Comrade,

I enclose herewith a l e t t e r , rece ived 17 th i n s t . ,

from the Russian B u l l e t i n .

I t i s obvious that th is l e t t e r was mis-addressed and

shot\ld have been sent to you. We do not re c e iv e any copies of the

Russian B u l l e t i n .

Yours for Communism,

Secretary.

COPYP a r i s , 21 November, 1935

Werte Genossen,

Ihren Y;'unschen gemass schicken wir Ihnen regelm assig unser B u l l e t i n . Wir haben Ihnen b is J e t z t k e in e r le i Keehnungen ges- eh ickt , haben aber ab und zu gewisse Geldbetrage von den v e r la u f .en Eummern duroh S ie einbekommen. Wir haben aber schon s e i t langer Z e it n ichts e rh a l ten . Da wir unter Geldschwierigkeiten den und hoffen, dass es Euch gelungen 1 s t einen gewissen T a i l das B u i l e t in s zu verkaufen, wurden wir sehr dankbar s e in , wenn S ie uns die x>etrageuberweisen wurden. ^ ^ gen0sse n sc h a ft l ic h e n urussen

(Signed) Lieichler

B u l le t in De L'Opposit ion L ib r a i r i e du T r a v a i l ,1 7 , Rue oambre-et-Meuse,Paris !0 e.

(RAOIO A C TI V E W A T E R S '

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T E R M S :10/6 P E R D A Y , £ 3 P E R W E E K ,

£ 10 P E R M O N T HChildren under 12 years half rate.

Babies for what is required. Servants half rate and supply own

bedding.Rooms will be charged for from

date of reservation.No allowance will be made for

absence, sitors leaving before date booked

will be charged full term.

&c. y cs£+_

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Collection Number: AG2722

WORKER’S PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1933-1935

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