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This was a remarkable and most instructive
experience. In this newsletter I summarize the tragic events in that South
American country.
Despite the ominous
rumblings from Brazil and the history of the Peoples Progressive Party, the
administration appears to be relatively unconcerned about the election of
Dr. Cheddi Jagan, first premier of the emerging nation of British Guiana.
Reporters are being told that Jagan is a confirmed "neutralist",
not to be considered under Communist control. This is hardly the verdict of
the State Department’s own Office of Intelligence and Research. Only last
year, in report No. 4489R-12, Jagan was described as a Communist agent. The
report entitled "World Strength of the Communist Party
Organizations" said of British Guiana, "Although the Peoples
Progressive Party had been considerably weakened by its division in 1955
into two racial factions, one Negro and the other Indian, the victory of
Jaganite [predominantly Indian group] in the 1957 election was a victory for
the faction that is openly pro-communist. The party’s leadership [Cheddi
and Janet Jagan] are recognized as the representatives in British Guiana of
the international Communist movement and have contacts with Communists in
the United Kingdom and in the United States."
The history of
Communism in British Guiana has followed the classically predictable course
of Communist conquest. Only the last two steps of the irrevocable seizure of
power and its final consolidation remain to be accomplished. The first step
in the drama of conquest began when Janet Rosenberg, a former member of the
Young Communist League, met and married Cheddi Jagan while a student of
Dentistry at Northwestern University. She was educated at Wayne University,
the University of Chicago and Cook County School of Nursing. She has trained
in Marxist-Leninist schools, traveled behind the iron curtain with her
husband and contributed to the London Daily Worker. Cheddi Jagan, a native
born son of British Guiana, was first projected into political prominence
through labor unrest on the sugar plantations. He organized the Peoples
Progressive Party in 1948 and was first elected into power in 1953. The
Party’s subsequent strategy and tactics followed an easily recognizable
Communist pattern. As a result, the constitution was suspended, the Jagans
were arrested and an interim government was in control until 1957. The PPP
wa re-elected into power in 1957 with a 47 percent plurality.
Jagan then became more
careful and did not again attempt violent revolution, but decided to wait
until the restraining force of British control could be removed. The next
years were utilized to the fullest, in developing a grass roots
organization, always with an eye on the election of 1961, when the British
would grant the colony full internal self-government, with independence soon
to follow.
I first visited British
Guiana in February, 1961. Dr. Schwarz and I conducted a seminar about the
nature of Communism in Georgetown and New Amsterdam in April of 1961. From
June 20, 1961 until after the general election on August 21, 1961, three
East Indians, two other Americans and I conducted nightly meetings
throughout the villages and towns of British Guiana, showing films,
distributing literature, speaking and answering questions about communism.
Our presence was heralded in one of the local newspapers under the headline
"Anti-Red Books Flooding B.G." and the sub-title "Six Mystery
Men Launch Colony Wide Campaign."
We travelled throughout
the country and were received with remarkable warmth and hospitality by all
racial groups. 45 percent of the population are the descendants of
indentured East Indian laborers who engage primarily in rice farming and
work on the sugar estates. They are closely knit, industrious, friendly and
often strongly nationalistic, retaining, in many places, their Hindu and
Moslems customs and religion. It became evident that a few young people in
practically every village had been thoroughly trained and indoctrinated in
Marxist-Leninist teachings. Some of them would bring copies of the Peking
Review or the Communist Manifesto to the meetings to engage in lively
debate. Through the years a few known Communists had made regular visits as
lecturers to British Guiana; a six month training program by Anna Greenwood
at the invitation of the Peoples Progressive Party, for example, trained
many young recruits throughout the country. Cheddi Jagan consistently
brushed aside the question of his membership in the Communist Party and
repeatedly side stepped it by saying that the PPP was not "a Communist
Party."
Many people were
genuinely concerned about the danger and evil of Communism but few had a
clear concept of the nature and evil of Communism. The occasional episodes
of rowdyism were minor and infrequent at our meetings. This was in contrast
to reported episodes of violence at a number of meetings of the local
political parties.
The evidence of
Communist influence in the Peoples Progressive Party, however, was
overwhelming. For example one of the more articulate government spokesmen
and minister, Brindley Benn put it this way in the local Guiana Graphic
"You can stop tomorrow but you can’t stop Communism". On another
occasion Mr. Benn stated that the PPP was the Party which believes in
"the regeneration of mankind by the methods of science." During
the campaign, the Minister of Education, Balram Singh Rai, banned an
excellent pictorial book against totalitarianism distributed by the American
consul and entitled "What Can a Man Believe." This was the same
government which, in 1953, succeeded in getting the British Government to
lift the ban on propaganda material coming in from Communist Russia and
China. On July 1, 1961, fifty one denominational schools were taken over in
their entirety by the government. A mass demonstration was held by the
Defenders of Freedom and many parents in protest against this government
action. Mrs. Jagan wrote an article openly confirming her Marxist-Leninist
views and states her strong admiration of Castro and the Cuban Revolution.
During the campaign
some rather remarkable incidents took place. The World Bank, largely
supported by U.S. government funds, extended a $2,000,000 loan to Jagan’s
government about one month prior to the election. This action was repeatedly
used by the PPP to illustrate that they could get help from the West without
difficulty and if it was not forthcoming they would be happy to turn to
Cuba, Russia or China for assistance. This World Bank Loan was bannered in
the headlines of the local newspaper and I leave it to you to judge as
whether it helped or hindered the cause of Communism.
Mr. Sidney King,
Secretary of the Peoples National Congress had been identified as a
Communist in the Robertson Report of 1953, and about 3 weeks prior to the
election, defected from the Peoples National Congress, the party largely
composed of Africans and comprising 38 percent of B.G.’s population. This
focused tremendous attention on racial tensions between the East Indians and
the Africans. Many East Indians although concerned about the PPP’s land
policies, schools and friendly attitude to Cuba, as a result, increasingly
feared the possibility of an African victory and banded together to vote for
their East Indian leader, Cheddi Jagan. The African leader, Forbes Burnham,
prior to the election, made the amazing statement that he would support
Jagan in a plea for independence even if Jagan should win the election; he
appears to have altered his view following the election. These
"unusual" events become meaningful only when we understand the
third step of Communist conquest, namely, the utilization of social forces
to bring the Communists to power. As Jagan made his triumphal entry into
Georgetown, Brindley Benn announced "Comrades and friends. . . . the
enemies we have defeated are the imperialists. We offer the hand of
friendship to our fellow Guianese who unwittingly assisted them."
The electoral and
plural results of the election were both interesting and instructive. The
Peoples Progressive Party under the leadership of Cheddi Jagan received 20
seats out of 35 with only 42.7 percent of the plural vote; the Peoples
National Congress under Burnham, received 11 seats with a plural vote of 41%
and the United Force with leader Peter D’Aguiar, received 4 seats with a
plural vote of 16 percent. It is worthy to note that the actual plural
percentage of the PPP decreased from 47 percent in 1957 to 42.7 percent in
1961 and the Peoples National Congress increased its voting percentage from
35 percent in 1957 to 41 percent in 1961. This occurred despite the fact
that the East Indian population is growing more rapidly than the African
population; thus the actual voting strength of the PPP has significantly
decreased. Nevertheless, the tragedy has occurred where a state with full
internal self-government, for the first time in history, has elected a
Communist controlled government into power. This government does not have
control of its foreign policy as yet, however, and the British government is
committed to reconsider independence within two years; presently is seems
likely, that this will be granted before Christmas 1962. From the voting it
is evident that the present majority government hardly has a clear cut
mandate from the people for demanding immediate independence even though
Jagan is already clamoring for it. If granted independence, British Guiana
will become the first constitutionally elected Soviet satellite on the South
American continent. The implications are obvious especially since British
Guiana has contiguous borders with Venezuala, Brazil and Dutch Guiana.
We have lost a battle,
but we must go on to win the war. Our government’s attitude appears to be
that Jagan is a confirmed "neutralist", not to be considered under
Communist control. Only hours after his victory, Jagan met with Everett
Melby, American Consul at Georgetown and discussed the matter of American
Foreign Aid under the Alliance for Progress Program. Yet is we should make
the assumption that he is a Communist what could we expect them to do until
he achieves complete independence? From a Communist’s viewpoint would it
not be foolish to use violence or dictatorial methods when you can be
completely certain of absolute victory after you achieve independence and
you know that that is a great likelihood in the near future? One of the best
evidences of Communist control of the present Guianese government would be a
continuing policy, of mildness and moderation until independence is
achieved. Our failure to understand and grasp the Communist dialectic
philosophy could well become a major factor in the consolidation of another
Soviet satellite in the Western Hemisphere and the first on the South
American Continent itself.
It is my sincere hope
and prayer that catastrophe can be avoided in a highly dangerous situation.
We need to find motivated people in every village to whom we can channel
knowledge and support. A full time native Guianese worker is now spending
nearly full time in developing such a program. He spent many weeks with us
during our efforts in British Guiana. We want to make his support a project
of the Northern California Branch of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. I
have just received a long letter from him about his present project and
needs. We want to provide him with a meeting place in Georgetown, a tape
recorder, the minimal needs for setting up a small office and a small
salary. In addition, he should have a station wagon or car to be able to
travel extensively to the villages to develop trained personnel in every
area. Other groups continue to merit our support such as the Defenders of
Freedom and a number of individuals who are willing to dedicate themselves
to the struggle.
If it is at all
possible independence should be delayed until the people are genuinely in a
position of making an intelligent choice regarding the people whom they wish
to govern British Guianese affairs. Obviously the central Communist
objective is to come to complete power and establish the dictatorship of the
Communist Party. I urge you to read and study an excellent editorial on the
problem of British Guiana in the Saturday Evening Post of September 30,
1961, page 114.
There are those in our
government, including Senator Thomas J. Dodd, Congressman Walter Judd, and
others, who are deeply concerned about this problem. You can do a great deal
in writing your representatives in Congress and supporting this office in
this vital project. Your contributions to the work of the local branch of
the CACC will be used for this purpose you designate and you may use the
enclosed envelope for the purpose.
MISUNDERSTANDING
OF WORLDWIDE COMMUNISM
The following article appeared in the editorial page of the Alameda Times
Star. It is reproduced here in full. It illustrates remarkably the lack of
real understanding of the nature of our Communist enemy, at most levels of
our society. Probably this is the most important single factor in their
continuing worldwide advance.
"Creeping Capitalism Goes Ahead in
USSR
Friday, Sept. 22, 1961
"‘It appears that the Soviet
Union may be gravitating away from the government-planned economy and
adopting some of the ways of a free economy while we are gravitating away
from a free economy and adopting a government-planned economy.’
"That
significant observation was made by Edwin Vennard, managing director of
the Edison Electric Institute. He based it on a recent article in Barron’s
magazine, written by Paul Wohl, which dealt at length with ‘creeping
capitalism’ in the Soviet Union. For example, Mr. Wohl pointed out that
the Soviet government now officially tolerates free collective farm
markets – and these are a very important part of the economy indeed, as
they supply the bulk of the fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, eggs,
poultry and meat consumed by Russian city dwellers. As another example, he
observes that close to a third of all the new housing which went up in the
cities between 1957 and 1957 were privately built.
"Actually, the
Soviets have long been moving away from what might be called pure
Communism – simply because it didn’t work. They have had to offer
incentives – and any incentive system is capitalistic in nature.
"It’s ironical
that while this is going on in Russia, we give more and more authority to
government, and move closer and closer to a planned economy."
Response
My letter to the Forum in response
follows:
The Forum
Alameda Times Star
Times Star Building
Alameda, California
Dear Sir:
Your article entitled "Creeping Capitalism Goes Ahead in U.S.S.R."
in the Alameda Times Star of Sept. 22, 1961 is of considerable interest.
It illustrated how our failure to see and understand the totality of the
problems of Communism is a major factor in our ineffectiveness in dealing
with it. Two months ago Khrushchev said, "We Communists believe in
the triumph of the great ideas of Marxism-Leninism . . ." [Soviet
Union, August, 1961]. These ideas mean to Khrushchev, however paradoxical
they may seem to us, that their free trading and use of incentives are a
completely essential part of the process of moving toward Communism, not,
as you state, "–away from what might be called pure
Communism." Lenin introduced incentives after the revolution of 1917
and private trading with the New Economic Policy of 1921.
One of the most
amazingly "capitalistic" utterances from a Communist came from
Joseph Stalin in a speech given June 23, 1931 in the book "Problems
of Leninism" [the section on wages]:
"In order to put
an end to this evil we must abolish wage equalization and discard the old
wage scales. In order to put an end to this evil we must draw up wage
scales that will take into account the difference between skilled and
unskilled labor, between heavy and light work. We cannot tolerate a
situation where a rolling-mill hand in a steel mill earns no more than a
sweeper. We cannot tolerate a situation where a locomotive driver earns
only as much as a copying clerk. Marx and Lenin said that the difference
between skilled and unskilled labor would exist even under socialism, even
after classes had been abolished; that only under communism would this
difference disappear and that, consequently, even under socialism
"wages" must be paid according to work performed and not
according to needs."
Stalin goes on to
say, "But if that is so," [if Marx and Engels are right]
"it follows that whoever draws up wage scales on the ‘principle’
of wage equalization, without taking into account the difference between
skilled and unskilled labor, breaks with Marxism, breaks with
Leninism."
The Communist’s
system of thought, his philosophy, unifies, directs and integrates his
every action and gives him the complete moral flexibility and strategic
mobility to move forward and backward toward the unchanging objective of
world conquest. The Communists are what they say they are; they are
Communists and, as a result, become predictable. May I suggest to you and
your readers the study of the book by Dr. Fred C. Schwarz entitled,
"You Can Trust the Communists" and his testimony on "The
Communist Mind" to the House Committee on Un-American Activities?
The tragedy is that,
according to informed sources, at least twenty million Chinese have paid
with their lives for failure to grasp the very nature of the Communist
program and thought. With one billion people now being systematically
trained, indoctrinated and militarily armed for the conquest of our great
country, I think it behooves every citizen to begin to know and understand
the true nature of our mortal enemy.
Sincerely Yours,
Joost Sluis, M.D.
2822 Clay Street
Alameda, California
ANTI-COMMUNISM
SCHOOL
The Southern California School for Anti-Communism was an overwhelming
success. It was made possible because of literally hundreds of dedicated
workers who worked long hours selling tickets and books, telephoning their
friends, and devoting unlimited time and energy to the School. The smallest
crowd at the morning to night sessions were 5,000 gradually increasing to
10,000 on the last day. The Sports Arena was filled to capacity, which is
18,000, on Youth Night with thousands unable to get in. The immediate result
has been the formation of literally thousands of study groups in the
Southern California area. Already the effects are being felt in the Bay
Region by local people who attended the school and by the fact that one of
the local television stations has expressed its desire to cover a local
school when it is held.
On September 6th
an organizing luncheon with Dr. Fred Schwarz was held at the Hotel
Leamington and a local citizens committee was formed to organize a San
Francisco Bay Region School for Anti-Communism. That evening a large public
meeting was held at the Leamington with 350 people in attendance and a final
total offering of $2,154 towards the school, probably to be held in
February.
The reaction of our
opponents is interesting and informative. I genuinely appreciate the
criticism, for it affords an opportunity to tell the truth. It has been our
experience that an objective evaluation of these schools and the crusade has
enabled us to make friends rather than enemies. The following article
appeared in the East Bay Labor Journal of September 15, 1961, and is
reproduced in full.
"East Bay Labor Journal
The Only Official Newspaper of Organized Labor in Alameda County
"From the Editor’s Chair
Red Hunters
"Russ Crowell, president, and Bob Ash, executive secretary of the
Central Labor Council, attended a meeting the other day which was supposed
to include labor, business and professional groups.
"It turned out
to be largely a gathering of right-to-work and other right wing types.
Their announced aim was to launch a "Christian Anti-Communist
Crusade" in the East Bay.
"The speaker was
one Dr. Fritz Schwarz. Ask described his speech as ‘rabble rousing’
and told Central Labor Council delegates Monday night that Schwarz
predicted ‘doomsday by Communism by 1973.’
"Crowell pointed
out that such extremists present a threat to the labor movement and other
liberal groups. They purport to train experts on Communism. But the ‘experts,’
in their zeal to ferret out subversives, aren’t always objective. They
sometimes confuse honest liberals with Communists.
"The Central
Labor Council concurred in Ash’s recommendation that labor have nothing
whatsoever to do with the so-called Crusade."
My reply to
the above editorial follows.
September 25, 1961
Mr. Paul S. Williams, Editor
East Bay Labor Jounal
1622 East 12th Street
Oakland, California
Dear Sir:
Thank you for the publicity given to a meeting of local citizens planning
a San Francisco Bay Region School of Anti-Communism and to the Christian
Anti-Communism Crusade. As a physician and one of the participants in the
meetings, my gratitude is somewhat tempered by the innuendos and
inaccuracies of fact. Not only was the meeting "supposed to include
labor, business and professional groups" but it did, in fact,
represent prominent leaders in each of these groups, as well as Roman
Catholic, Jewish and Protestant clergymen.
Its clearly announced
aim was not to launch a "Christian Anti-Communist Crusade" in
the East Bay. It purpose was to form a committee of local citizens, acting
entirely as individuals, but representing every segment of the community
for the purpose of planning and organizing a San Francisco Bay Region
School of Anti-Communism, probably early next year. It would be patterned
after the recently tremendously successful Southern California School of
Anti-Communism. At the discretion of the local citizens the Christian
Anti-Communism Crusade is invited as a service organization to such
school. The local committee controls finances, publicity, arrangements,
etc., and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade reserves the privilege of
providing the faculty which included, in Southern California, Senator
Thomas J. Dodd, Congressman Walter Judd, Cleon Skousen, Dr. C. C.
Trillingham, Herbert Philbrick and others.
For your information
the speakers’ name is spelled Dr. Fred C. Schwarz, a physician from
Sydney, Australia. In view of these inaccuracies of fact, can we place any
significant value on the opinions expressed? Might it be safe to assume
that these existed prior to the evidence?
At the meeting, Dr.
Schwarz centralized the urgent need for individual responsibility on the
part of every American citizen in the face of the menacing danger of
Communism.
These Anti-Communism
Schools do not attack the character or motives of any individuals or
organizations. They may question the understanding and judgment of people
in responsible positions: this is an essential part of the democratic
process. This fact can be corroborated by the availability of every
message, on tape, given at the Anti-Communism Schools.
During the question
period, Dr. Schwarz expressed his admiration for the many people in the
labor movement who have been greatly effective in dealing with and
understanding the problem of Communism. The necessary prerequisite for
victory over Communism is knowledge of the enemy. It is this function
which these schools attempt to fulfill.
Sincerely Yours,
Joost Sluis, M.D.
Director, Northern California Branch
Christian Anti-Communism Crusade
FILMS
The following additional 16mm films are now available from the San Francisco
Office and can be used by study groups, clubs, churches, etc. The rental fee
is $15.00 per showing.
"Red China – Outlaw"
[35 minutes]
A new documentary film to teach the truth about Communist China. This issue
is particularly vital now and I urge you and your friends to view it.
Narrated by Lowell Thomas, major speakers include Senator Thomas J. Dodd,
Representative Walter H. Judd and Senator Paul H. Douglas.
"Communist Blueprint for
Conquest"
An excellent 35-minute film detailing Communist infiltration and subversion
and to the governmental apparatus of any free country.
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