Los Angeles, Calif.
Dear Patrick [Mangan]:
I think we have gone about as far as we can go in our formal exploration of the possibilities of unification. The next step should be a formal consideration by your friends of the propositions we have drawn up and the transmission of an official answer to them. My letter to Goonewardene was approved by our Political Committee, as well as by all the NC members resident in Los Angeles before it was sent. Therefore it can be taken as a considered statement of our position.
The first question to be answered is whether this letter to Goonewardene is acceptable as a basis for discussion of concrete measures to bring about the unification. If the answer is "no," then it would be useless to continue discussions until a counter-statement is proposed. If, on the other hand, my letter to Goonewardene is acceptable as a basis, then the next step is to consider the proposals we have drawn up to implement the general idea outlined in the letter.
The other night I gave these proposals to you verbally in a rather telescoped form. Here I will state them more precisely, as they have been previously considered and approved both by our Political Committee in New York and the NC members resident in California:
"1. The International Committee and the International Executive Committee should draw up a joint 'Memorandum of Agreement' on the basic principles of our movement as laid down in the Founding Congress of 1938 and the political positions taken by both sides during the past year, and call for the immediate unification of Trotskyist forces in all countries, without waiting for a congress.
"2. The two International Committees should then set up a joint sub-committee to prepare 'The Fourth World Congress of Unification' and to represent the present International Executive Committee and the International Committee in the political and administrative direction of all international work, pending the joint world congress.
"3. The 'Memorandum of Agreement' should also declare that the united International committees obligate themselves to recommend to the Fourth World Congress of Unification that the new International Executive Committee, and whatever sub-committees it may set up, shall be constructed on a parity basis; that they endeavor to arrive at decisions by agreement and refrain from disciplinary actions or threats of same throughout the period while the possibility of harmonious collaboration is being thoroughly tested out in practice.
"4. In France the two organizations should be consulted as to their ideas of steps to be taken to facilitate their cooperation as sections of the same international organization. If their decision is to maintain separate organizations for the next period, it should be suggested that a Liaison Committee of representatives of both parties be established, with a chairman who would be acceptable to both sides, to coordinate the activities of the two organizations and regulate their relations with each other. This Liaison Committee should be a consultative and advisory, not a disciplinary body.
"5. In all other countries where the movement is divided, a similar procedure should be followed to facilitate the fusion of the two organizations, allowing for proportional representation in the leadership of the united body."
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I suggest that you forward these proposals to your friends, and that further consideration of the entire question on our part await a reply from them. The reply can be sent to Comrade Smith [Dobbs] in New York at an address which Tom [Kerry] will give you.
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I might add another point of clarification. The question of representation, whether it be more or less than we would be normally entitled to according to the rules agreed upon at the time of the Second World Congress, is not of great importance to us. Because of the exceptionally difficult conditions imposed upon our movement at the present time—geographical problems, material difficulties, travel restrictions, etc.—our prime concern is about the question of organizational guarantees to effectuate the general proposals contained in my letter to Goonewardene.
Yours fraternally,
James P. Cannon