BRITISH LABOUR EXTREMISTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 210, 2 June 1936, Page 3

BRITISH LABOUR EXTREMISTS

Proletarians’ Aims

A DISSCUSSION ON DICTATORSHSIP

The London division at the closing session of the annual conference of the 1.L.P., recently -moved an amendment to the constitution to add to the party’s objects “the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat.” Mr. Campbell Stephen, M.P., said that the National Council considered that this was unnecessary. The consti-

tution already provided that the party should endeavour to organise the workers’ forces aud prepare them for the capture of power. Mr. J. Southall (Birmingham) reminded the conference that they were living in Britain in the year 1936 and not in Russia in the year 1917. The word “dictatorship” had a very ill meaning to the people in this country. It was associated with the kind of regime that prevailed iu Germany, Italy, and elsewhere. It was better to avoid this phrase altogether, because it would only be used as :i handle against them. The London proposal was rejected. 1 London later moved to add to the constitution that “the 1.L.1’. will work for the turning of imperialistic war into civil war aud the overthrow of its own capitalist Government.” Mr. Campbell Stephen said that this amendment would do nothing to add to the strength of the party, but would weaken it. It was like sending a message to a chief constable intimating an intention to organise a society of burglars. The only result would be that the authorities would get the people concerned certified and send them to a madhouse. “You have got to keep this party a legal party as long as. you can in its efforts to overthrow the capitalist system.” be said. “You may think that by advocating civil wax jyou, are but iu

my opinion you are only showing that there is something soft on your top.” The amendment was defeated. On a card vote, the conference, by 69 votes to 33, also? rejected another London proposal that the party should use the struggle against the threat of war as a means of organising the work-ing-class forces for civil war. Mr. Maxton, making presentations to local officials, told an amusing story of the vote which disaffiliated the I.L.P from the Labour Party. He said that they got for disaffiliation 129.000 votes. They knew they were only carrying 30,000, and they could not imagine ■ where the other 99.000 came from. It was then discovered that a prominent trade union official had held a “66” card upside down. (Laughter.) Mr. J. Aplin (London), moving a resolution on organisation, said that they must face up to some unpleasant facts. Twenty per cent, of the branches had almost failed to pay the fees or to make their basic contribution to the party’s finances. On the fighting fund and the election fund over half the branches had failed to do their duty, and on the quota fund something like 75 per cent, had not figured ou the lists handled by the head office. (Cries of “Shame.”) If the parry were to make progress, that position must be rectified by the branches, otherwise all the talk at the annual conference of the past few days would have been so much hot air. A Welsh delegate complained that the theorists in the party did not explain how their theories were to be applied. They talked over the beads of ■ the working class. “Yon are split on every issue,” lie said. “You are divided on the question of war. Many of our members do not ■ understand what Revolutionary So- i cialism means. They shut their eyes and imagine rivers of blood. (Laughter.) “You have got to understand that when the party has reached a decision the policy must be carried out.” The chairman (Mr. J. Maxton) said that for three or four years be had felt that the theoretical side bad been too dominant over the practical side. The resolution was carried uud Hid -MuullamMXi ssndedt