Dear Comrades:
I am very sorry of not having the possibility to participate in this important session of the IC (the reason of which I have just explained in my letter to Comrade Betty [Hamilton]). Hence, I can only state here briefly my opinions on the important problems confronting us:
(1) On the question of unification—In principle, either on national or international plane, unification of the Trotskyist movement is absolutely necessary. In the present conditions of a world situation favorable to the development of revolutionary movements, especially of the new situation most particularly favorable to the Trotskyist movement created by a general and deep-going crisis within the CP's since the 20th Congress of the CPSU and the revolutionary upsurges of Poland and Hungary, we should exert all possible efforts to unite the Trotskyist forces on the basis of reaffirming the fundamental principles of Trotskyism so to adapt ourselves to the exigencies of history.
From this point of view, I therefore consider the concrete proposals put forward by Comrade Cannon on the unification (re Cannon's letter to Patrick [Mangan] on the 29 April) as opportune. The I.C. should support such proposals and facilitate their realization.
The British comrades have pointed out (see Burns' [Healy] letter to Cannon on the 10 May) that Pablo has not corrected his revisionist methods. I not only entirely agree with this just reproach, but I personally deem it most difficult for Pablo to change his revisionist viewpoints based on impressionism and his bureaucratic methods and maneuvers in organizational matters. Nevertheless, we cannot refuse or delay the unification for this reason only, because if we want unification, our objective is not a few individuals like Pablo, etc., but the majority of the comrades in the national sections remaining with the I.S. who are loyal to the Trotskyist movement. Besides, it is only in the process of unification, in the discussions in view of a common political agreement that the complete liquidation of the influence exercised on the Trotskyist movement by Pablo's revisionism is then possible.
The British comrades complain that the I.S. did not pass by the IC but negotiated directly with Comrade Cannon and the SWP. This is a fact, alas! But this is precisely the necessary consequence of the light and irresponsible manner in which the IC treated the "Parity Commission" in the past, and is worthy of a serious reflection.
(2) The British comrades insist that full preparations are necessary for unification. This is quite correct. Yet it is on this very point that the IC has been very negligent, at least in the past period. For instance, although the IC has decided long ago to convoke a world conference, but has not yet until today organized any discussion and taken any official motion on the drafts of political resolutions indispensable for such a world conference. This attitude of extreme negligence towards political questions is worth recalling and to be particularly noted.
Consequently, I propose to the IC to proceed most rapidly as possible to a serious discussion of all political resolutions already drafted in order to arrive at common positions agreed upon by a majority as the basis of discussion for the coming conference and for unification.
Fraternally,
/s/ S. T. Peng