Editorial: Some forgotten Communist Party policies

The Communist Party of Great Britain is at present supporting strikes for higher wages and announce plans to put forward a large number of candidates at the next election in opposition to Tory, Liberal and Labour alike. It should, however, be remembered that it will only require some new turn of Russian government policy to cause the Communists to reverse their line, as has happened so often before. It is opportune to recall what the Communists were doing a few years ago. Here are some examples.

At the annual conference of the C.P.G.B. in November, 1945, which incidentally was after the .end of the war with Germany and Japan, Mr. Pollitt strongly opposed strikes. Extracts from his speech were published in the News-Chronicle (26/11/45).

“You are either in favour of the party line as set out in the report or of the line that mass strikes are the only way to realise the workers’ ends. If you are in favour of strikes I warn you that you are playing with fire in a way that can help to lose the peace and reduce this country to ashes …. You can get a coal strike in the coal fields tomorrow if you want it. But if yon do will it advance the working class movement of this country or the prospect of our nation remaining first rate in the family of the United Nations.”

Earlier still, during the war, the C.P.G.B. published a pamphlet “Where Does Britain Stand,” by Mr. Pollitt. In it he opposed strikes and accused he “Fifth Column” of promoting them. He wrote:

“They are not unhappy when strikes take place, for they know that their aim of appeasement is helped by .strikes, which dislocate production, divide the working-class. Strikes do not harm the employers, they do and can produce ultimate results that are a grave danger to everything the Labour movement is fighting for.” (P.12.)

In another pamphlet, “Miner’s Target,” Mr. Pollitt wrote :

“Avoidable absenteeism, lockouts or strikes, do not damage vested interests. They are daggers stuck in the backs of men of our own class in Europe, of the workers and soldiers of the Soviet Union, of the people in Britain, who depend on us for weapons and warmth.” (Quoted in News-Chronicle, 21/1/43.)

And as late as September, 1947, when the Grimethorpe miners ere out on strike, their Communist Secretary, Mr. Arthur Horner, strongly condemned them, and the Daily Worker (9/9/47) splashed the condemnation across its front page.

On the political field the Communists have been just as unscrupulous in changing their line in tune with Russian government policy. After Russia was invaded, though not before, they gave their support to almost every Tory candidate at by-elections. On 7th June, 1943, Mr. Pollitt spoke at a meeting at Newark in support of the Tory candidate (Daily Express, 7/6/43). In October, 1941, a Communist deputation went to Tory headquarters at Lancaster to offer their support for the National Conservative candidate (Daily Telegraph 14/10/41). In April, 1942, from Rugby, ‘the following was reported : “The Communists, whom I heard earlier in the campaign passionately urging electors not to vote, have now received instructions from their regional headquarters to vote for Sir Claude Holbrook.” (Daily Telegraph, 25/4/42.)

Other occasions were at Wallasey in April, 1942, Putney in May, 1942, and Bristol in February, 1943.

And just in case any short-memoried Communist challenges the authenticity of the statement that his Party supported Conservatives it was put beyond all question in an election address by Mr. W. Gallacher, Communist M.P., at the 1945 General Election. He wrote:

“Since the government in 1941 made an alliance with the Soviet Union for the defeat of Fascism, we have given whole-hearted support to the government. In by-elections we have supported candidates, whatever their particular label, who were behind the government in carrying on the war through to a finish in alliance with the Soviet
Union. But we never had any illusions about the part the Tories would play on all issues affecting the welfare of the people, even while the war was going on.” (“General Election Special.” Published by the Scottish Committee of the Communist Party.)

It will be noticed from Mr. Gallacher’s statement that the decision to support the Tory enemies of the working-class did not turn on the Tory record at home but on the alliance with Russia. So it will be again. When Russia turns they will all turn and nobody can say in advance in what direction it will be, least of all the members of the Communist Party.