Agricultural workers: The Agricultural Workers Union of USSR is desirous of opening up correspondence with a responsible comrade, and I have recommended that Dan Huxstep be communicated with and probably you will receive a letter for him next week. If you do agree with this recommendation the letter need not be sent and you could forward us your recommendation. Trade Union Law : I am requested to ssk you to send pamphlets "Trade Union Law" by Arthur Henderson. I would be glad if you would forward me a copy of this pamphlet separately as there is a great scramble for this material when it arrives and I never get a chance to see a copy. I should be glad if you would send me a copy of all pamphlets and books separately to ensure receiving a copy. Trades Council decision: I am not able to give you anything definite regarding the Comintern decision as the question has now been sent to the Presidium. I reported last Thursday night to the Trade Union Commission and after a discussion which lasted four hours the Commission was unanimously against the Party decision. However I hear that Piatnitsky is inclined to agree with the Party decision, so a big discussion is likely to take place at the CI Presidium meeting. I will try to obtain a copy of the verbatim report and send to you next week, giving all the points made against our decision. Anti-Trade Union Legislation: I gave a lengthy report at the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Profintern a few days ago which appeared in the Moscow press almost verbatim. You can therefore see how interested the Russians are in this campaign. There is a Tass wire in the Russian press to-day regarding our conferences last week end, which is in agreement with my report to the E.C. on these conferences, as I connected them with my report on the above question. General: Could you send us the membership of the Trades Councils affiliated to the Minority Movement and reports of the Trades Council conferences held under the auspices of the General Council. I have written an article for our magazine which was merely informative regarding the disaffiliation of Trades Councils, but since I reported last week, comrade Murphy has written an article in "Pravda" showing that our decision is absolutely wrong, which will lead to the liquidation of the M.M. I have now been requested to extend my article, along the same lines, but I am refraining from this as I do not care to extend it until some decision has been taken by the Comintern and then only if the comrades challenge the decision B 4 [16197] if it is against me. I have looked at this question from all angles and I cannot agree to the decision even as a tactical our strategical manœuvre. Seafarer: I am enclosing you an article for the "Seafarer" and I am informed that you have sufficient material there for the May issue. The last issue is, I think, a very good one. The necessary bulletins will be sent by the IPC next week. The latters for the IPC of Building, Woodworkers, Transport have been received and delivered, also the letter for B., together with a copy of the letter sent to the General Council on the All Indian Trade Union Congress. I sent you 10-R. last week. Have you received it? Many thanks for the news regarding Mrs. Hardy and I hope that she is much benefitted by her treatment at the hospital and that she will soon be well. Kind regards to Wally and Nat. I suppose they will think I am a hell of a man for not writing. I am now anxiously waiting for the delegation to arrive as I am expecting to return soon after my question is settled by the Political Secretariat of the Comintern. I presume that you know that I have raised the question there. If I get an adverse decision I shall go to the International Control Commission with it. As far as my position is concerned here now I am accepted by everyone as the representative of the M.M. In fact it was the Comintern that made the decision that I should report at the Trade Union Commission on the withdrawal of the Trades Councils. I am serving on more Committees of Organisations here than I can possibly accomplish, and my name appears in the press as a member of these Commissions and of the E.C. of the Profintern. Best of luck to everyone, Yours fraternally, HALL. Indian Del.: Go ahead as previously instructed. Dear Comrade, Moscow, 29th April, 1927. I have taken the matter up of IPC supplements in the "Worker," and I am informed by the Transport Workers that it is impossible for them to give a decision due to the lack of funds. The IPC of Metal and Building Workers have decided to accept your offer, and the Textile Workers will give a reply next week. Everyone complains about the cost and think that the sum of £20 an issue is too high. I have assured the, however, that this is not overcharging but if it is possible to reduce this price a little, I would advise you to see what can be done and to inform us next week. The Building Workers also agree to the publication of a pamphlet and suggest that a comrade be assigned to do the job immediately. With best wishes, Yours fraternally, (c.) Letter dated Moscow, 26th April, 1927, from (Sophie?) to Comrade Atkin. Enclosed in an envelope marked "Mr. Atkin, 29 April, 1927, 580." Dear Comrade? 29 Apr. 1927. 580. N 8/12 Moscow, April 3éth, 1927. I am sending you today 240 bulettins for distribution among the readers of the "Worker," 318 for general distribution and 32 for the Transport Workers%%-total 585/Five hundred and xxxxxx Eighty Five/ Bullatens. Receipt. ? SOPHIE. I have received Five Hundred and Eighty Five Bulletins. Date...... Signed..... (d.) Letters dated Moscow, 29th April, 1927, from G. Sloutsky, Secretariat Miners' International Propaganda Committee to Comrades Aitken and Bob Ellis. Enclosed in an envelope marked "Comrade Aitken, London, 29th April, 1927, 582." Dear Comrade Aitken, Moscow, April 29, 1927. You are probably aware of the results of the meeting of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain held in the first half of April, at which the question of the Anglo-Soviet Committee of Miners and the attitude of Hodges and Cook were discussed. We already have certain information on these points but we should like to have fuller and more exhaustive details which we hope you will be able to send us by the next post. The German press-capitalist, reformist and Communist—refers to the impending fresh lowering of wages for British miners from June and of the possibility of a conflict arising in this connection. This is also spoken of by the "Manchester Guardian" of the 20th April. We have seen no echoes to this question in our British press, although it is undoubtedly one of great importance for the British miners. Please let us know the attitude adopted by the Minority Movement to this question and inform us of the size and nature of the impending cut in wages, the extent to which it is connected with the agreements contracted after the lockout, and its effect on the miners' spirit. Apparently re-elections of South Wales representatives to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain Executive are in the offing. Comrade Horner told us at the last International Conference that the Minority Movement candidates should include comrades S. O. Davis, Tom Thomas, and himself. How are the preparations for these elections going on and what are our chances? According to the Rules the next Congress of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain should be held this year. You have probably already taken the necessary preliminary steps. Do you think of calling a conference of the Miners' Minority Movement by way of preparation for the Congress and what measures do you suggest taking? Last year's struggle, the present attack of the Government and the Right elements against the Communist Party and the Minority Movement, and the fact that the questions of the AngloSoviet Committee and the International will arise for discussion will undoubtedly make this Congress one of exceptional importance for the International Miners' Movement. We don't know the exact date of the Congress, but according to the Rules it ought to be during the next two months and we should therefore like to know if any proposals are to be put before the Congress by the organisations in which we have influence. Please let us know everything having reference to this question. Comrade Williams has so far not attended any of the meetings of the Secretariat. I am informed by comrades that he is very busy. I will have a talk with him in the next few days. I hope you have written to him or will do so and let me know. Have you had our latest informative letter in sufficient numbers for distribution in the districts? Do you find them satisfactory? Please let us have your opinion and also what you and the comrades in the districts think could be done for the improvement of these. letters. How is Comrade Watkins? Did he get our invitation and when does he think of coming to the U.S.S.R.? Please give him. our very best regards. With fraternal greetings, G. SLOUTSKY, Secretariat, Miners' I.P.C. 29 Apr. 1927. 582. Dear Comrade Bob Ellis, Moscow, April 29, 1927. Many thanks for your letter of the 7th April. First of all we must inform you that the list of Agreements and short draft of them, published by the Miners' Federation of Great Britain have not been received by us- Please send them to us, which you can do by the ordinary post. We are also not in possession of the Rules of district federations of the Miners' Union and should be very grateful if you would let us have them. This can also be done by the ordinary post. We consider your replies to our questions quite satisfactory. The only thing we don't quite understand is the difference between membership dues and entrance fees (replies to questions 9 and 3). We should be very grateful if you would enlighten us on this point. Please also send us a few membership cards and dues stamps if you are able to do so, such as are used for receipting dues paid up. According to the latest press information Cook is coming forward openly against the plan of the Single Union. We are very desirous of finding out-we have already asked you to write us about this— what form the reformists' criticism of your plan takes, for we have seen nothing in the press on this point. Awaiting your immediate reply, With fraternal greetings, G. SLOUTSKY, Secretariat, Miners' I.P.C. (e) Letter dated Moscow, 26th April, 1927, from Jusefovitch, General Secretary Revolutionary Leather Workers' International Committee of Propaganda and Action to Comrade Bixby, Workers' Party of U.S.A., New York. Enclosed in an envelope marked "To the Workers' Party of U.S.A., New York, 29 April, 1927, 581." JN/ISh. Comrade Bixby, New York. 29 Apr. 1927. 581. Dear Comrade Bixby, Moscow, April 26, 1927. We received your letter and are very glad to note your agreement to accept a mandate as member of the International Committee of Propaganda and Action of Revolutionary Workers and to participate in its activities. Re your enquiry on your duties we would point out that first of all we shall expect to receive from you a monthly report on the position of the left-wing movement among workers in the leather, boot & shoe, saddle and glove-making trades. At the same time we are also interested in the position of the general trade-union movement among these trades. We know that in America there are a great number of organisations in the leather industry. Information giving exhaustive details on existing trade union organisations, outlining their policy and practical activities will undoubtedly enable us to orientate our activities to these movements and at the same time will enhance the possibility of strengthening the work of the left-wing. Should you have at your disposal material outlining the condition of the industry that too would be of great interest to us. Some time ago we sent the material on our International Conference to the States, but this matter was returned since the addressee Comrade Zaks was not located. We are now forwarding this material to you. From this material you will see that the question of the situation in the world leather and boot & shoe industry as well as the position of the workers was on the agenda of this Conference. Unfortunately at that time we had not sufficient actual figures and material to make up a more fuller and detailed report or to give an exact picture of the position of things. Ford systems are being adopted in the large scale and modern plant of the American boot & shoe industry. The position of the workers in these conditions is a question that directly concerns us. You for your part, Comrade Bixby, will receive our information letters and material and notification on decisions of outstanding questions which you will have to illuminate, popularise and as far as possible put into effect in America. Your efforts must also be directed to strengthen the left-wing in the |