[p. 23]
Los Angeles, Calif.
Dear Tom:
This is a follow-up to the letter I wrote you yesterday enclosing a copy of the formal letter I handed to Patrick [Mangan].
Since the Pabloites in Paris had already received from Goonewardene a copy of my letter to him, and will now have our concrete proposals to implement this letter, I think it very important that the International Committee have a meeting on the subject very soon to consider the matter, if the meeting has not already taken place. I am enclosing a copy of this letter for Jerry with the suggestion that he proceed immediately to contact the International Committee and keep them up to date so that they will be fully prepared for any next moves that may be made.
* * *
The only thing definite we got out of the discussions with Patrick here is the information that the Pabloites in Paris have received a copy of the Goonewardene letter since Patrick left there, and that they felt "encouraged" by it. He could not say for sure whether that means they are willing to take the letter as the basis for the discussion of concrete propositions. Since this is the real point, we thought it necessary to put it bluntly in the letter to Patrick so that we can get a "yes" or "no" answer and know how to proceed from there.
Tonight we are arranging a meeting of the full NC group where Patrick will be present, mainly for the purpose of giving him a chance to explain his mission to the whole body. I think it would be useful for Farrell and other NC members to talk more with Patrick when he returns to New York, just to get a clearer picture of the Pablo cult as it is represented by one of its devotees.
There has undoubtedly been a change in the Pabloite political line since the time of the split, but the British are dead right in their opinion that Pabloism remains pretty much what it was in other respects. We have to proceed cautiously with full awareness at every step that a possible unification with the Pabloites is a calculated risk. That is why we must absolutely insist upon certain guarantees and, beyond that, keep fully prepared for any eventuality in case the guarantees are violated.
At the same time, in view of the consistent approach toward political agreement, we simply cannot justify or explain a refusal to discuss and negotiate the offer of unity or refuse to go through with it if our demand for guarantees is accepted by them. For that reason, I think it very important that there be no further delay in bringing the matter before the International Committee and the leading comrades of the French and Swiss parties, so that they will be fully prepared for the next steps, either way the negotiations go.
I think it highly essential now for the British leadership to keep all the members of their organization fully informed of the new developments, and to give all the new people a complete review of the past experiences which led to the split, so that any steps that may be necessary to take in the near future, one way or the other, will have the full conscious support of the membership, and further as preparation of the ranks to deal with any possible attempts at factional disruption in case the formal unification goes through.
Meantime, our own NC members around the country should be kept fully informed of the new developments, so that the preconvention plenum will be prepared to present a report and recommendation for action by the convention.
Yours fraternally,
James P. Cannon
JPC:rh
AIRMAIL
Enc.