[p. 35]
May 23, 1957
Dear Farrell:
We have just received your letter dated May 20th.
As we see it, one of the most important things is to study Pablo's resolutions for his congress. This is the only real way you can judge his line.
We do not see how real unification can be achieved on the basis of his politics which are substantially the same as in 1953 so far as method goes.
The best we can hope to get is some sort of joint working relationship which would help us win over the closest people to us who still remain trapped inside his organization. Jim's proposals would help towards this end, but the backbone of the whole process would be the drive towards political clarification. We badly need a study of the development of World movement since the end of the War. Michael Banda is working on this, but it will take time, and that is a commodity we are very short of just now. We have not yet placed Pabloism in political perspective, in the same way as we were able to do with the Shachtmanites, and this leaves a gap which could very easily transform any unification into a swamp in which 1953 may well be repeated once again.
We would like you to understand that we are just as ready as you to do anything to speed a better situation internationally, but it is essentially a political question, and we do not see any way round that except the principled way. . . .
Warmest regards,
s/ Jerry