THESE ARE THE LONDON FORUMS’ AIMS

The Newsletter, vol. 1 no. 28, 16 November 1957 · scan pages 3, 4

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.

We print below the revised Statement of Aims of the London Socialist Forums, as adopted at the London Conference on October 20.

To facilitate comparison with the draft statement drawn up by the London Liaison Committee (see The Newsletter, September 21, pp. 141-2) amended passages are given in bold type.

An amendment submitted by Hornsey Forum in favour of regional assemblies being held every quarter and national conferences every year was not called, and another from the same source urging that Forums should charge a basic membership fee and should contribute to a central Forums’ fund was referred to the Liaison Committee.

Articles by prominent members of the Forum movement (Pauline Harrison, Richard Goss and Joe Young) appeared in The Newsletter of October 19, and a report of the London conference on October 26.

1) The London Liaison Committee of Socialist Forums considers that the Forums should continue to be independent discussion centres bringing together as many shades of socialist opinion as possible.

They should not aim to become, as such, rivals or alternatives to existing political parties or fractions within these parties. Their aims should be:

La) To discuss problems of socialist theory. b) To maintain regular appraisal and criticism of the current policies and actions of socialist parties at home and abroad.

Gc) To help to evolve a clearer perspective for the achievement of socialism in Britain by improving the knowledge and understanding of individual Forum members so as to strengthen their work as socialists.

2) For the furtherance of these aims the following methods are strongly recommended:

implies that think that Deutscher’s work is definitive, that [ accept his conclusions or consider that such policy recommendations as may follow from them merit support. But Lam sure that you will agree that the oversight—which it must have been—which led to these books’ being omitted from your list needs to be rectified.

Hull Tom Kemp ‘STIMULATING’

Please accept my congratulations on a most creditable and useful publication. Inevitably, with such a range of articles, authors and interests. the quality’ was a bit uneven. but all the contributions are stimulating and instructive.

Will you convey my congratulations to your printers on a thoroughly effective and craltsmanlike job?

London. S.W.17 D.K.

NovEMBER 16. 1957 COMMUNIST PARTY (Continued from front page) a circular inviting Communist Party members to attend a Forum meeting to hear a report on the Labour Party conference by a delegate.

The five were ‘instructed’ to withdraw their support from the Forum meeting in line with the district committee's decision. but they refused.

The area committee has recommended to the district committee that three of them be expelled.

One of the five, Mick Dean. a member of the area commiltee. has resigned from the party. ‘he others include Gertie Roche. Miriam Stone and Peter Thompson.

By a Correspondent