JOHN Mathieson (SA 37) may not like Bob Pennington's version of the history of the Communist Party, but there is a considerable body of evidence to support what the article says.
It is no accident that Klugman's official history of the CP in Britain ends at 1926 because they have been unable to produce a credible account of their subsequent behaviour.
No doubt the rank and file were sincere, sacrificing members of working class. But Pollit, Gallagher and their like knew exacth what was going on — see for example JR Campbell's Soviet Policy and its Critics (Left Book London 328 Upper St. London N1 telephone 01-226 0571 Birmingham 137 Digbeth Birmingham B5 telephone (021) 643-5904 Open — Mon-Sat 10-6 Closed Wed.
Mail Order Service - Add 20% for P&P activities, subs to Granma week v review and newsletters from 29 Islington : St, London N1.
Womens study tour of Cuba 4-20 April, information from BCRC, 29 Islington Park St, London NI.
Yiddish lessons. Learn the language of the Jewish labour movement. Beginner and intermediate classes commence weekly in January, Central London. Teacher, Barry Smerin, organised by the Jewish Socialist Group cultural and anti-fascist project. Further details from JCARP, Southbank House, Black Prince Road, London SE1.
• Day school on Ireland Sat 8 January, 11am Chetwynd Room , Kings College, Cambridge. Club 1939).
They defended mass murder and slander, declared that a vote for Fenner Brockway was a vote for Hitler.
Was this 'carrying the inner oran socialism' as Mathieson allege claims that he never met a Trotskyist. But if he was in the CP he wouldn't. The policy was to 'treat a Trotskyist as you would a nazi' see Clear out Hitler's Agents! by William Wainwright in 1942 Odd that so much warning had to be given about almost non-existent people!
RHONA BADHAM, East Ham, London.
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