[p. 88]
New York, N.Y.
Los Angeles
Dear Jim:
Enclosed are copies of several letters about the world movement which require thought in connection with the report to be presented to the plenum on this question.
Objectively several factors are operating in favor of Trotskyism in the steady, though contradictory, advance of the world revolution. In the colonial sphere the conflict against imperialism continues to broaden and deepen. Within the imperialist countries themselves there are varying signs of upturn in the class struggle. The growing strength of the workers states and the shrinking ring of imperialist encirclement implies greater opposition to bureaucratic rule. Internal conflicts are sharpening within the Stalinist and social democratic tendencies across the world. New centrist formations susceptible to revolutionary-socialist influence are emerging.
At the same time there appears to be new prospects of resolving the internal crisis of the world Trotskyist movement and thereby gaining maximum potential for intervention in the favorable objective situation. Events have refuted the Pabloite ideology responsible for the world split. The Pablo-Santen affair has shaken the Pabloite ranks and brought about a marked change in the functioning leadership.
Members of the IS, especially Germain, are raising anew the question of reunification. True to form they continue to gloss over important political questions. They reject the parity proposals on a "point of principle." But they nevertheless indicate a more flexible approach to organizational compromise, thus reflecting the pressures of their internal difficulties.
On the International Committee side the Japanese are pressing hard for speedy action to create a unified world leadership on a principled basis. You will note their proposals about direct intervention at the congress of the Pabloite faction. Although a somewhat impatient approach organizationally, it reflects no conciliatory attitude toward Pabloite ideology. They evaluate the recent unification in Japan as the direct result of overcoming Pabloism. They project from that experience a world solution of the split by throwing the Pabloites out of the unified world leadership they hope to attain.
The British, on the other hand, say they are perturbed by what they consider a reluctance to come to grips with the theoretical problems of Pabloism. They think there can be no real progress toward reunification until this is done. They report they are now preparing a draft resolution on international perspectives to help get things moving in this direction.
On the organizational side of the unity question the British appear reluctant to move while the Japanese show an eagerness for intervention. Yet they manifest similar approaches to the political side of the question, as indicated by the Japanese report that they, too, are preparing their own draft program criticizing the Pabloite program.
At the root of the matter there seems to be concern about a clear expression of fundamental political line as the first step toward reunification on whatever organizational basis. Further apprehension no doubt arises over the relative political weights within a functioning unified leadership as determined by the actual component parts of such a leadership. These concerns probably become sharpened by remarks such as Germain's statement that parity would paralyze the central leadership politically.
In considering what to do next, it seems the first order of business should be to arrange an informal consultation among International Committee supporters. The British have agreed with the suggestion that a March gathering be held at the North. What can be arranged with the Japanese will depend on whether they have actually sent a delegation to the Pabloite congress. (Note our suggestion to them if this should be the case.) Whether or not there can be any participation from Latin America at this time will have to be determined by a probe of the situation there.
Meantime these factors seem to require main attention on our part: Participation in the discussion being initiated by the British and Japanese draft resolutions. Advancement of the general line of the parity proposals. Determination of what activities we might be able to undertake with respect to the leadership problem.
Comradely,
/s/Farrell Dobbs
FD:ra
cc: Jerry, Ross