From the splits to reunification 1952-1963 › After the Third World Congress (1952–1954)

Letter from the International Secretariat to Sam Gordon

3 Sept. 1953 · After the Third World Congress (1952–1954) · 161 words

Published English text: Towards a History of the Fourth International, Part 4, vol. 4: Struggle in the Fourth International: International Secretariat Documents, 1951-1954, Volume 4 of 4 volumes (Education for Socialists, Socialist Workers Party, New York, March 1974), pp. 150 · International Secretariat of the Fourth International. Read from the scan and corrected against the page image. Reproduced with the permission of Pathfinder Press.

As soon as it became clear that Gerry Healy, the leader of the British Trotskyists, was planning to support the SWP majority against Pablo's political line, a pro-Pablo faction surfaced in the British section. Organizational threats were made against Sam Gordon who was charged with "factional activity against the International" for participating in the preparation of an anti-Pablo tendency.

[p. 150]

To Comrade Tom

Comrade,

The IS, as you should know, is informed in detail on your factional activity against the International. It profoundly regrets this irresponsible attitude on the part of a leading comrade, who has at other times participated in the international leadership, and to whom it had in full confidence even recently confided important tasks. We insistently request that you cease such activity which places you in flagrant opposition with the statutes and the rules of functioning of the International. Temporarily residing in England, we ask you to integrate yourself in our national section as a member as is stipulated in the statutes of the International and to submit to its discipline. We call upon you also to utilize, for the expression of your differences with the International, as we have recommended to you on several occasions, the normal discussion channels through written documents which we will submit to the entire International.

The IS

3 Sept. 1953

← 1946 Fourth International Resolution on Soviet Occupation of Eastern Europe · Letter from the International Secretariat of the Fourth International to the National Committee of the SWP →

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