[p. 199]
Colombo
April 12, 1954
The IS
Dear Comrades,
The CC of the LSSP at its meeting of April 7th considered your letter of March 24th and has instructed me to write to you as follows:
We regret that our proposal for the postponement of the World Congress is not acceptable to the IS.
Whatever may be the motives of Comrade Cannon, we think that the postponement of the World Congress will afford an opportunity to set going processes which can lead to a re-unification of the movement.
While appreciating the difficulties of the IS in the present situation, we do not see that a postponement will make the situation impossible for members of the IS, especially as the circulars of the IS itself point out that the large majority of the sections have declared that they recognize the authority of the IS and IEC.
We recognize the difficulties and financial losses which will be entailed by a postponement; but we regard it to be a much more important consideration that no opportunity should be missed for seeking the re-unification of the movement.
We have therefore to request you to place our proposal for a postponement of the World Congress before the IEC. We have also to state that if the IEC finds itself unable to accept this proposal, we give notice that we shall move this proposal at the World Congress.
We would also request that our letter of March 13th, your reply of March 24th, and this letter be circulated to all sections as soon as possible.
Yours fraternally,
Leslie Goonewardene
Secretary