Consultative meeting will
help build communist unity

’ Following are extracts from the
front page editorial in Pravda,
organ of the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union, on the forth-
coming Consultative Meeting in
Budapest,

HE Communist and Work-
ers’. Parties of Australia, Ar-
gentina, .Bulgaria, Brazil,
Great Britain, Hungary, the Ger-
man Democratic Republic, the
Federal Republic of Germany,
India, Italy, Mongolia, Poland,
Syria, the Soviet Union, the

United States, Finland; France .

and Czechoslovakia issued a call
for the convocation of a Consul-
tative meeting to collectively ox-
change opinions on the prepara-
tions for an international meet-
ing of the Communist and Work-
ers’ Parties.
The overwhelming majority of
the fraternal parties came out in
favor of the calling of a new
international meeting. The pro-
posal -on the convocation of a
Consultative Meeting puts the
preparations for an international
meeting on a practical footing
and advances such an organiza-
tional form which from the very
outset ensures the possibility to

conatigt the entire preparatory.

work @n a broad democratic
basis. The Consultaive Meeting
makes it possible to collectively
discuss questions regarding the
aims and procedure of conven-
ing th¢forthcoming meeting, to
reach #u jynderstanding on the
practic? aeasures to ensure the
successful work of the world
forum of Communists.

The idea of holding the inter-
national meeting of representa-
tives of Communist and Work-
ers’ Parties fully conforms to
the principles of proletarian in-
ternationalism. The documents
of the Moscow 1957 and 1960.
Meetings -which determined the
general line of the international
communist movement stressed
the great significance of this
form for strengthening the mili-
tant unity of the fraternal par-
ties. International meetings of
Communist and Workers’ Par-
ties, as pointed out in the State-
ment of 1960, “are an effective
form of exchanging views and
experience, enriching’ Marxist-
Leninist theory by collective ef-
fort and elaborating a common
attitude in the struggle for com-
mon: objectives.” The partici-
pants in the Consultative Meet-
ing in March 1965 in Moscow
pointed out in the joint commu-
nique that “Such meetings, held
with observance of the prin-
ciples of complete equality and
independence of each party, can
render good service to the cause
of surmounting differences and
cementing the communist move-
ment on the basis of Marxism-

Leninism, proletarian
tionalism.” ;
In the course of 1965-1967 the
fraternal parties convened re-
gional meetings and many bila-
teral consultations in the course
of which the question of the pre-
paration for a new international,
Meeting was discussed among
other urgent problems. As a re-
sult of these broad exchanges of
cpinion the principles’ and nieth-
ods were determined for the pre-_
paration of the Meeting. These
principles also determine the
joint initiative of the 18 Com-
munist and Workers’ Parties
which proceed from the premise
that the meeting will ensure the
equal participation of the fra-
ternal parties in deciding ail po-
litical and organizations ques-
tions regarding the preparations
for an international meeting, and
open up to each’ party the possi-
bility to actively participate in
this work at all its stages. The
Consultative Meeting will help
to take pressing steps in uniting
all the fraternal parties, in
strengthening the entire anti-
imperialist front. 5

The time has come now to
continue and intensify the Marx-
ist-Leninist analysis of all the,
new processes that have appear-'
ed in the international situation
and to answer the new questions
which the communist movement
is confronted with. And the con-
vocation of the Consultative
meeting will, doubtlessly, give
the Communist and Workers’
Parties the possibility of jointly
working out the most expedient
forms of organizing such collec-
tive efforts and of adequately
preparing the international con-
ference. ;

The Consultative meeting is
bound to become a forum at
which the nature and purposes
of the new international Confer-
ence will be discussed in every
aspect. The coordination of the
revolutionary forces’ activities
and the consolidation of a united
anti-imperialist front are impera-
tive requirements of world de-
velopment on the present stage.
The rallying of Marxist-Leninist
parties is.a prerequisite essen-
tial for attaining this lofty ‘aim.
. The present international situ-
ation is distinguished for being
extremely complicated. On the
one hand, it is evident that the
Soviet Union and the other so-
cialist countries which are head-
ed by Marxist-Leninist Parties
have been scoring serious suc-
cesses in their economic con-
struction, extending their eco-
nomic, military and political co-
operation, and fostering the po-
sitions of the world socialist
system in the international are-
na. Important successes have in
recent years been scored by the

interna-

* countries,

‘ national

Communist Parties of capitalist
which have gained
new important bridgeheads in
the struggle against the forces
of state-monopoly capital. The
liberation movement
has made good headway too, a
number of young national states
embarking upon the road of non-

‘ Capitalist development.

On the other hand, we cannot

help realizing some negative fac- .

tors of the present world situa-
tion. On a number of sectors of
the anti-imperialist front, im-
perialism tries to launch coun-
ter-attacks, not stopping at mak-
ing direct use of its armed
forces. American imperialism is
waging a predatory war in
South-East Asia against the her-

‘oic people of Vietnam. A dan-

gerous crisis has broken out in
the Middle East where the ag-
gressive forces of Israel, directed
by international imperialism, at-
tacked a number of Arab states
and go on occupying the invad-
ed Arab territories to this day.

The situation imperatively de-
mands the mobilization and uni-
ty of all the anti-imperialist
forces. Communists take’ into
account that imperialism is put-
ting its stakes today not only on
the use of its own considerable
forces, but also on the use of
the differences within the world
revolutionary movement. And in
these conditions, the sacred duty
of the Marxists-Leninists is to
respond to the actions of imperi-
alism by strengthening the unity
of the communist movement on

‘the basis of a joint struggle

against imperialism, for peace,
democracy, national indepen-
dence and socialism.

The report on the convocation
of the Consultative Meeting of
the Communist and Workers’
Parties was met with the widest
response in the world. The Marx-
ist-Leninist Parties, hailing the
appeal of the 18 parties, stress
that this appeal accords with
the interests of all communists.
The progressive forces note that
the collective initiative of the 18
parties leads to the unity of the
main detachment of the revolu-
tionary movement—the Commu-
nist parties. It is quite natural,
that the reactionary bourgeois
press met the announcement of
the convocation of the Consul-

tative Meeting with obvious dis- ©

pleasure. For the umpteenth
time, its prophecies about the
“decline” of the communist
movement have been shattered.
The communist movment is con-
sistently and firmly coming out
in the forefront of the struggle
against imperialism and colonial-
ism, for the sake of the triumph

.of the cause of the working

class, of ‘all the working people.\

‘Wilson government.

ILLIAM KASHTAN, Gene-
ral Secretary of the Can-
adian Communist Party,

was‘among the 18 fraternal dele-
gates, including delegates from
Africa, Greece, Cyprus and the
USA, attending the Thirtieth
Congress of the British Com-
munist Party. In an interview on
his return from Britain, Mr.
Kashtan said:

“What struck me was, of the
424 delegates to the Congress,
only 40 were not members of the
trade union movement. This
points up the considerable

' strength of the British Commun-

ist Party in the trade union
movement and the growing sup-
port it is receiving for its poli-
cies. ee

“The central theme for the

Congress was unity of the left
—Labor Party and all progres-
sive forces—for the defeat of
right wing policies of the govern-
ment—policies which found ex-
pression in support of the U.S.
war in Vietnam, British imperial-
ist policy east of Suez, and in
support of devaluation of the
pound which is directed to over-
come the former crisis of British
imperialism by slashing living
standards and raising prices for
the workers, and throwing work-
ers out of work. This policy
coupled with the incomes policy
of the Wilson government is
bringing about a crisis of con-
fidence on the part of the labor
movement with respect to the
The con-
gress gave considerable atten-
tion to these conditions, placing
unity of the left as the key to
defeating them and the men who
advocate them. ©

“In this regard there were
those who advocated that the
Communist Party turn against
the Labor Party and look for

short cuts to solving the com-~

plex problems which beset
Britain.

“The Congress opposed leftist
and opportunist tendencies and
outlined a course for strength-
ening the left which will result
in defeat of right wing policies.

“Considerable attention was
given to the Party program —
The British Road To Socialism—
which is now being redrafted
and will be presented to the next
Congress for adoption.

“Lively debate took place on
the question of peaceful transi-
tion to socialism and the pos-
sibility of a multi-party govern-
men. These positions were over-
whelmingly adopted and will be
included in the new draft.

“One ‘new’ question of inter-

Canadians support world meet

HE DECISION to hold a
consultative conference of
all world Communist and

Workers parties is a welcome
one indeed,” said William Kash-
tan, General Secertary of the
Communist Party of Canada. “It
arises after intense discussion by
world parties that one should
take place.”

“The conference would be a
consultative meeting to which
all Communist and Workers
parties would be invited, and at
which time there would be dis-
cussion of an international meet-

ing, of its time, date, and agen-
da.

“We, in our party, take the
position that such a conference
is necessary and that its main
purpose should be to unite all
Communist and Workers parties
in common action against im-
perialism.

“There is no question that :

U.S. imperialism, has taken ad-
vantage of the division of Com-
munist and Workers parties, to
advance its aggressive aims.”
Mr. Kashtan referred to Viet-
nam as a vivid example of U.S.

DECEMBER 15, 1967—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 6

imperialism taking advantage of
the lack of coordination and ef-

‘fort of China and the Soviet

Union on the Vietnam war ef-
fort, due to ideological difieren-
ces between the two countries.
He said:

“This situation emphasises
how urgent it is to overcome

these divisions and check and

curb U.S. imperialism.
“Unfortunately not all of Com-
munist and Workers parties are
in agreement with the need for
such a conference. These, how-
ever, are a minority. Sixty-seven

parties have declared support for
the conference. Some think the
purpose of the conference would
be to oust China from the world
communist movement. This of
course is totally wrong. The
main purpose as we see it is’to
achieve cooperation among par-
ties irrespective of differences

on some ideological questions. -

There can be no talk of exclud-
ing anyone from a conference to
which all parties are invited.
“The capitalist press has been
doing everything in its power
to misrepresent the purpose of

est was the position taken On
the national question, particu
larly with respect to Scotland
and Wales. Both Scotland and
Wales have seen upsurges %
national sentiment, finding &*
pression in the election of 13”
tionalists to parliament. Com
gress called for Scottish am
Welsh parliaments which would
give solutions to problems of t0-
day and strengthen the working —
class. ;
“The Congress gave considel-
able attention to foreign policy —
and expressed strong support for
national liberation movements
and supported the meeting % |
Communist and Workers parties —
this February in Budapest.
“The . questions of
growth and the press — the”
Morning Star — were cen
points of discussion for the Com
gress. As John Gollan, General
Secretary of the British
said, to bring about unity of the —
left requires a stronger Com
munist Party, more firmly @-
trenched in the working class
than other sections of the POPU"
lation! There was no attempt 10
hide concern over the temporary
drop in the size of the party
Circulation of the press. fe
was something that the capitalist
press picked up in trying
show that the Communist P.
is losing support. Some dele
gates, and some resolutions from
prabehes tried to use this ve
10n to change party policy in?
leftist direction These reso Me
tions were defeated: by ove
whelming majorities. It i
pointed out that the real caus
in the decline in growth has
do with ebbs and flows of the
class struggle and with a certaill
stage of consciousness of the
British working class. Pe
“There is no reason to doubt
that the ruinous policies of
Wilson government will lead
Sharp changes in the party
an upsurge of the left and re
in increasing strength and inf
€nce of the British Comm
Party and increased circulatid
for the Morning Star. ;
“The point was made (and
useful for progressives in
da) that disillusionment
right wing policies does not 16
to growth of the left, for grow!
is due to conscious effort
Communists and it is with
understanding the Congress 8
puee Ase to new possibilities

tions before the British people
It can be expected this policy
will be widely debated and ac

on and thereby ‘influence
course of events in Britain.”

this conference and infers tha
the Communist and worké
parties will be unable to unl
on common aims and objecti¥!
Events however, will prove the™
completely wrong.

“Now that the conferel
date has been set, we expect
get an invitation to attend V
shortly. Our party will be 4
cussing what we think would
the important issues for
agenda and other questions
should be discussed. We will v
everything possible to help %
Sure a successful conference) _

fe