THE LEFT BOOK CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 14, 14 December 1939, Page 10

THE LEFT BOOK CLUB.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Although “Pop-Eye” has made no direct reference to me, I must congratulate him on his timely awakening to a world so strange as it all must seem to him, since he knows not the reasons for his existence therein. He is even yet in a semi-coma since he refers to happenings of a year or two ago as medievalbut he is quite right when he says that these attacks come from an organisation. They are also inspired-inspired by a love of truth, and emanating from the organisation of a balanced mind which seeks to find reasons for its existence, and all things that concern it. This state of reasoning cannot, however, be obtained from a set standard of mental nourishment. The diet, as with the body, must be good and varied, and a.ble to. sustain the faculties required for mental alertness.

This latest attempt bv “Pop-Eye” gives a fairly reliable index to his line of thought. Since ho is unable to arrive at any satisfactory explanation of affairs himself, he thinks that others must also have to rely on organisations for any knowledge they possess. I would advise “Pop-Eye,” now that the awakening has come to keep awa.ke and' to join some other library than that to which he now belongs. I know of one that puts its books up in a nice.little red cover, and all sorts of publications can be obtained there. I can also arrange for “Pop-Eye” to get copies of the papers T have quoted, if he so desires, but I have no doubt that some more authoritative source would suit him better as the clippings I have bear only part of the paper’s title. I would also like to tell “PopEye” that there is in the world to-day a very efficient postal service, through the medium of which one can correspond with one’s relations in other parts of the world. 1 happen to have cousins in England and America, and I can give “Pop-Eye” the address of one of the gentlemen who is a teacher, and the other who is a lawyer in Meridan. Conn. Both of these men are students of world affairs, and it is not surprising that I correspond with them, and exchange views and paj>ers, etc.

What a pity “Pop-Eye” could not correspond with some relation in U.S.S.R., where he would get direct information. I, unfortunately, have none there, but it is my keen desire to learn all about this country, and to this end I listen to the Radio Centre (Moscow) broadcasts in English, and read all I can of Russian authors and others, so that I can keep my mental balance. This process has the effect of helping to broaden the mind, but I am afraid that “Pon-Eye’s” mind would become like the great river—the broader, the shallower. I would like to take this opportunity of'telling “Pop-Eye” that I detest Fascism as much as any other “ism,” and T maintain that when dictatorships hold sway the mind of the people degenerates or becomes suppressed. Since they have someone to think for them, why trouble to think themselves, or why trouble to express those thoughts when the act of so doing would be considered treasonable if directed against the powers that be? You should be careful, “PopEye,” lest your mind becomes degenerate through one-track thinking.—l am, etc., R. P. RYAN. 39 Cuba Street, 12-12-39.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —May I thank you and your correspondents for the gratuitous advertisement given to the Left Book Club group in this centre. We must now consider obtaining a larger room for our meetings. Your readers will have noticed that tho question of the merits of “Waiting for Lefty” has now been dropped and the issue raised is whether the Left Book Club is Communist or not. The aim of the club is obviously best known to the members of the club. There is nothing secret about it. Anyone calling at the N.Z.I. Co. or writing to me can receive, free of charge, the official particulars of the club and can subscribo for the books. The critics of the club choose not to believe plain statements of fact, but prefer to raise the bogey of Communism. The bravo “Gladiator” attempts to -brand the L. as a branch of the Communist International. By so doing he only brands himself as a despicable scan-dal-monger, and an illogical and ignorant thinker. As to his facts, the first two books were published together in May, 1936; one was by Maurice Thorez on “France and People’s Front” and the other was by the famous American biologist, Professor H. J. Muller, on “Out oi the Night.’ Since then over a hundred books have been published, the authors being politically, Labour, Liberal, Communist, Fascist, and many of no party allegiance at all. According to “Gladiator’s” logic the club must therefore be branches of all those political organisations or of none. Mr Harry Pollitt has praised the club and so have hundreds of other well-known persons. The most enthusiastic praise I have seen came from Professor J. M. Keynes, the famous Liberal economist, in a letter to the New Statesman. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Richard Acland, M. have also praised the club, so that it must be a branch of the Liberal Party (according to “Gladiator s peculiar logic). What Mr Pollitt says Mr Pollitt is responsible for. The club is not responsible to or for anyone who praises or slanders it. Mr John Stracbey, as a political writer, advocates Socialism and Marxism. Mr Victor Gollancz, the publisher of the books, is a member of tho British Labour Party and therefore not a Communist. Professor Ha,rold Laski is on the national executive of the British Labour Party and therefore also not a Communist, for Communists are not admitted to the British Labour Party. Again, using “Gladiator’s” peculiar logic, that makes the club a branch of the Labour Party (2 to 1). , , The real truth is that the club exists to promote'' the knowledge of facts and theories which “help in the struggle for world peace and a better social and economic order and against Fascism.” “It is a way of buying good books cheaply.” The local group exists to promote tho further study of those books and assist members to equip themselves as active citizens of a progressive community. We do not confine ourselves solely to the L.B.C. books. We use them, and others, as sources of information, and anyone who pretends to be interested in world conditions and political thought and neglects to make use of these books so shows himself as incompetent. ,1 have heard praise of individual books. (e.g., “Fallen Bastions,” by Gedye,. who is now such a severe critic of the Soviet in his cables from Moscow) from Nationalist Party members. I know personally two Nationalist Party members who subscribe lor the books and thoroughly appreciate most of them. Every library which professes to supply its readers with,

information, say, on China, Spain, Russia, and England, Fascism and Nazism, war and peace, and political theories subscribes for the books just as jmey might subscribe for the Right Book Club issues. Some of your anonymous correspondents profess to have special inside information but none or them dare to give the source. P® r ' haps they know also the source of the silly stories about the play and how its performance was to be interrupted. They certainly seem to childishly enjoy saying, “Bogey, bogey, I smell a Communist.” I’m sure they must look under their beds at night before getting into them. Now as to the questions on international affairs which two correspondents ask, many of our members could answer them competently because of their reading and our group discussions. But tho answers would v* those of individuals and not representative of the club. If you car© to commission one of our members to write an article or two your readers could be amply satisfied. One question of “A Disappointed Reader” is dangerously near sedition. It asks: “Has any country the right to attack a neighbour whose Government it finds undesirable?” According to the statement of war aims by Lord Halifax oil November 7 the present war is an attack on tho Nazi Government of Germany because it is “undesirable” for the security of England to allow it to remain in power, and peace will be signed with another German Government which is not undesirable. Incidentally, our subject on Thursday next is “War Aims,” and your correspondents can come along and assist in the discussion. Finally, sir, your readers will be interested to know that “Gladiator” has not been decent enough to take my offer to compare our respective club issues amicably and reasonably. He thereby shows that, despite his professed Christianity, he is a man of ill-will to his fellow citizens, concerned only with throwing dirt in the hope that some will stick. —I am, etc., S. J. BENNETT, Hon. Secretary. 29 Worcester Street. 13-12-39.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —“Gladiator” has again spoken, saying, “1 again brand the Left Book Club as being a branch of the Communist International, existing for the specific purpose of propagating Marxist ideals in the British Empire. ’ This sweeping and inspired assertion is so emphatic that one almost trembles to refute it. However, i’ll take the risk, seeing that Nazism has not arrived in full force in New Zealand yet. “Gladiator's” heart bleeds for we poor souls attached to the Left Book Club, whose sheeplike intellect cannot perceive or appreciate the tragedy in camouflage and the dangers which lie ahead as a result of the concealed treachery coming to the club via Moscow. It is no doubt sad to think that we are such help less creatures to be so led like lambs to the slaughterhouse as it were. T o prove that the Left Book Club is a non-party organisation “Gladiator” demands that I deny three statements: (1) By Maurice Thorez, t2) Harry Pollitt, (3) John Stracliev, Victor Gollancz and Professor Harold Laski, known in order as Marxists one, two and three. As a preliminary to my answer I would like to say that if “Gladiator’’ and his kidney prefer to bury their heads in the sand rather than face up to realities, well and good; but it would be a mark of tolerance and good taste if they allowed others to do the opposite. Thorez, a French Communist, wrote a book, a right that should be extended to everybody. As a Left Book Club member 1 read it, but in using the God-given faculty of reasoning I either accept or reject the author’s philosophy, a privilege and right, “Gladiator,” that you would like to destroy. Harry Pollitt, an English Communist, 1 believe, gave his opinion that the Left Book Club was of support. Well, what about it? Had be no right to give an opinion? The last three gentlemen are allegedly known as Marxists 1-2-3. Well, again, what of that? 1 know nothing of Marxist- philosophy, blit I would congratulate the selection committee on their general, varied, and instructive choice of books and authors. That Mr Stracliey was refused admission into the U.S.A. on the grounds of being an alleged Communist counts for nothing. In the British House of Commons there is a full-blooded Communist who represents an industrial constituency in Scotland, and Britain’s greatness to a large extent lies in the fact of her realising that free speech is a nation’s safety valve, explosion being the co-relation of repression. If the above replies are a denial of the statements quoted or not is of no moment to me; what does concern and interest me ‘is the subject matter within the book, and not dissecting the author’s name on the cover. 'The fact may not penetrate “Gladiator’s” politically armour-plated mentality, but I am not a member of the Communist Party. lam an ardent member of the Labour Party, and it is not so long ago that our respected and beloved Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage, was maligned in a somewhat similar manner, as others are being maligned now and by so much like the same people. We remember his lineage was suspected and scandalised; lie was mentioned as a disrupting agency to the Empire, etc.; and so it goes on, and though “Gladiator” may be in deep sympathy with us and would imposo his saving grace upon us, I can assure him it is not needed, as I am confident members of the Left Book Club are quite capable of thinking for themselves and doing the right thiiigP His lengthy and vacuous explanation of the underground agencies and tactics and the disguise of naked Communism to eventually win out and undermine the British Empire is certainly alarming, but if we could only forget that “Gladiator” urns endeavouring to be serious for a moment, it would make delightful comedy. His atmospheric loyalty and patriotism, too, is typical of the Right Wing; we of the Left take second place to no one in regard to those two essentials, but we prefer the tangible and solid fund and are prepared to fight for it, too. Since “Gladiator” would give your readers the impression that to say the Left Book Club is non-party was untrue and that we were all dupes of the head office in Moscow, may I quote from a Loft Book Club booklet with the title, “Act Now” —an appeal to the mind and heart of Britain by the Dean of Canterbury? The venerable Dean says this: “When people ask, as they do, why I, a Dean and a minister of religion, leave my spiritual job and meddle with material needs and economic questions and write pamphlets like this on behalf of starved children, hopeless youth, and despairing men and women, I refer them to Jesus of Nazareth for the answer.” Then to-

wards the end of the booklet he savs this: Become a student of real affairs; educate yourself, educate others. Seek help such, lor example, as the Left Book Club can give at an absurdly low price. Join a Left Book Club circle', or any other social or political group which struggles for justice, libertv, creative abundanco of life, and fullness of fellowship for all.” These are ■words written by a revered and responsible minister of the Church, and if Gladiator ’ and his kind were a little more conversant with this aspect of the Left Book Club it might possibly have the effect , of dislodging some of the political barnacles so°em crusted on their mcntalitv.—l am etc., T ROE 10 Morris Street. 12-12-39