BOOKS
By Robert Black
1972Robert BlackCommunist Party and Stalinism Read the scan at ETOL (PDF) →Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: headlines and words can be misread, and a caption or advert can run into the text. For anything you quote, read the scan.
'What is said to be the biggest obstacle in winning Labour workers to support our policy when the government candidate is a Tory. That they refuse to vote for a Tory?' In their attempts to break down class-consciousness, The Stalinists ran into considerable trouble on the Clyde. One Jack Owen, a CP stalwart and prominent campaigner for speed-up, wrote in his book 'Spotlight on the Clyde': 'It is impossible to go through vicious years [i.e., the 1930s] without acquiring bitter hatred and a deep sense of solidarity with one's class.
'Yes I understand too well and deeply sympathize with my mates on the • Clyde. I know many look askance, for they wonder why I, for one, now advocate collaborating with that same boss' One of Owen's 14 points for raising production in the same pamphlet read as follows: 'More output targets to be fixed and the exposure of managements ment making the lying inference that their donation to the Young Socialists' Right-to-Work* campaign had been obtained under false pretences.
When one of the Right-toWork marchers returned to the yard to ask for further support, he was physically ejected on the orders of the Stalinist leaders.
On another occasion they confiscated a notebook from our reporter Stephen Johns and had him escorted from the yards.
Clearly Reid and. his cronies have something to hide. It -is not just their present collaboration with the boss, but their Party's stinking history of betrayal.
Quotations in this article are taken from 'Stalinism in Britain' New Park Publications, 186a Clapham High _St, London, SW4 7UG. £1.25. Readers who want more information about the Stalinists' wartime activities are recommended to obtain and read this important book.
Press,