The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-16

! front III defense Oh CnS heroic
Spanish workers. Sixty thou
sand of our Spanish brothers,
Socialists, Communists and Syndi-
calists are in fascist dungeons
Today or tomorrow the Executive
Committee of the Socialist Inter-
national, now meeting in Paris. will
publish its resolution in answer to
the Communist InternationSls ap-
peal for united front.
In the very midst of the fighting in
I Spain, when the cannons and ma
chine guns of the Lerroux- Robes
regime were splitting their deadly
fire against the Asturias workers,
the Communist International, on
october IL, issued an appeal to the
Socialist International for "imme-
date joint action!"
IN October Is, Marcel Cachin and
" Louis Thorez, designated by the
Communist International as official
representatives, went to Belgium
and met with Emile Vandervelde
and Friedrich Adler, president and
secretary Of the Labor and Socialist
international The answer of the
Socialist leaders at that time, when
bombing planes, cannons, machine
guns, were reigning death on 5000
| Spanish workers, was typical.
Vandervelde and Adler declared
in part: "The letter and kilograms
in which you informed us that the
Communist International had in~
structed you to get in touch with
us did not reach us until October
II. The great majority of our bu-
reau Immediately agreed to accepts
ing the proposal for this interview,
for purposes of information, all
though the suddennness of your
step gave rise to doubts on the part
of certain Of its members" New
Leader, Nov. 8, 1934)
WHAT was the situation9 In Spain
W Socialists and Communists were
uniting not "for purposes of in
formation" but for armed struggle
against fascism. They were being
haraSsed by superior armed forces,
despite one Of the most heroic
struggles in all revolutionary his
tory World action was needed i'm
mediately to arouse the workers in
their defense. Yet the Socialist
leaders declare their surprise be-
cause Of "the suddenness OF your
step"
However, later news seems more
hopeful for the achievement of the
united front in defense of the Span
ish proletariat. On November 10,
the Executive of the Socialist In
ternational met in Paris, the main
question before them being the pro-
posal of the Communist Interna-
tional for joint action in defense Of
the Spanish workers. Emile VAN
dervelde first called attention to
Socialist Parties everywhere that in
France, Italy, the Saar and Spain
the united front between Socialists
and Communists had already been
achieved and that these pacts, and
pacts yet to be concluded, should be
respected by all Socialist Parties
/ INDICATIONS were that some
l announcement would be made in
favor of the united front. Opposed
to any agreement on united action
in behalf of the Spanish workers
were the Socialist leaders of Hol-
land, Czechoslovakia and the Scan.
dinavian countries The British
Labor Party representatives, as Ha-
vas put it, were on the fence" All
other Socialist Party representa-
tives present were for the united
front.
The action of each of these par
ties on this question is not difficult
to explain. The Scandinavian So
cialist Parties, especially the Nor
wegian and Danish, work very
closely with their capitalist govern
ments. The Dutch Socialist leaders,
as well as the Scandinavian Social
ist press, berated the Socialist work.
ers OF Spain for ever taking up arms
against faScism. The British Labor
Party leaders feel the mighty left
ward sweep Of the British workers,
especially against fascism. Fur
thermore, Births h imperialism
stands behind the Lerroux- Robes
government. With the passage of
the Sedition Bill in England, it is
difficult for the British Labor Party
leaders to come before the masses
! against the united front of Social
lists and Communists. Hence, the
usual hypocritical attitude of sit
i ting on the fence.
I'LL other Socialist Parties which
n have had experience with the
united front with the Communist
Parties are for the extension of this
united front, especially on the issue
of Spain.
What is to happen now? Havas
cables as follows: 1.-THE committee
adjourned with the majority in
tending to draw up the text of a
resolution providing for limited &C
cord between the two internation-
ais. In all likelihood the motion
may be passed tomorrow Nov. 14)
or the next day."
Here in the United States we can
lose no time in realizing joint ac-
tions between Socialists and Com
munists everywhere in a mighty
movement for the defense OF the
Spanish workers.
RESCUE WORLD 'FRONT.'.
Are the readers who enjoy Com
rade Cannes column for its inter-
est and significance going to allow
him to continue to drag along after
Burck. Gold and the Medical
Board? Less than 5000 raised-not